Great Depression and New Deal Biographies | Molly Dewson Biography

Born February 18, 1874
Quincy, Massachusetts

Died October 21, 1962
Castine, Maine

Social reformer, Democratic Party leader, promoter of women in government

"Molly Dewson arrived in Washington to take over as head of the country's Democratic women and to inaugurate a new deal of her own—a new deal for women in politics."

From Ladies of Courage

During the 1930s, Molly Dewson became America's first woman to take the lead role in a political organization. She was the driving force behind securing prominent positions for women in the Roosevelt administration. From 1932 until 1937 Dewson was director of the Women's Division of the Democratic National Committee. Director of the Women's Division was a full-time job on the staff of the national committee, and whoever held the position was the most powerful woman...