Hansen, Julia Butler, 1907-1988

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Julia Butler Hansen (June 14, 1907 – May 3, 1988), was an author, playwright, and politician. served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1960 to 1974. She was the second woman elected to Congress from Washington.

Born Julia Caroline Butler in Portland, Oregon, she attended public school in Washington before moving on to Oregon State College from 1924 to 1926; while working as a dietician and swimming instructor, she graduated from the University of Washington in 1930 with a degree in home economics. Two years before marrying blacksmith Henry Hansen in July 1939, she was elected to the city council of Cathlamet, Washington, where she served until 1946. Between 1939 and 1960, Julia Hansen served in the Washington state house of representatives, eventually rising to speaker pro tempore from 1955 to 1960 and chairing several committees.

In 1960 Hansen won the Democratic primary for the special election to fill the southwestern Washington seat held by Representative Russell Vernon Mack, who had died in office. On November 8, 1960, Hansen defeated Republican Dale M. Nordquist, 53 to 47 percent, to fill Mack’s unexpired term in the 86th Congress. On the same November 8 ballot, Hansen prevailed by the same margin against Nordquist for the full term to the 87th Congress. In Congresswoman Hansen’s six subsequent bids for re-election, she was never seriously challenged, winning with a range from 57 to 70 percent of the vote, including a 66-to-34 percent win in her final campaign in 1972.

Citing overwork and the grind of being “pursued by an endless string of people who want everything from post offices to gasoline", Hansen retired from Congress at the end of her seventh term, resigning on the last day of 1974. Hansen had been a prize-winning author long before entering politics, writing a work of juvenile fiction, Singing Paddles (1935). In retirement she continued her writing endeavors as an author and playwright. She also stayed active in government administration. In 1975 she was appointed to a six-year term on the Washington state toll bridge authority and state highway commission, which she had helped create during her years in the state legislature. She chaired the Washington state transportation commission from 1979 until her resignation in 1980. Hansen resided in Cathlamet until her death.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Dillis Charles Knapp papers, circa 1920-1981 University of Washington Libraries Special Collections
creatorOf Carl Bert Albert Congressional papers, 1910-1998, bulk 1946-1998. University of Oklahoma, Bizzell Memorial Library
referencedIn Marion S. Kinney papers, circa 1940-1981 University of Washington Libraries Special Collections
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf Hansen, Julia Butler, 1907-1988. That day remembered [a play in three acts], 1952 Washington State University, Holland and Terrell Libraries
referencedIn Papers of Sherwin J. Markman. 1951 - 1972. Agency for International Development Files Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
creatorOf Former Members of Congress, Inc. (U.S.). Oral history collection, 1974-1980, audio materials [sound recording]. Library of Congress
referencedIn Hightower, Larry. Larry Hightower's collection from "goodwill" tour of the United States given to Earl Coe, Washington Secretary of State, 1946-1948. Washington State Library, Office of Secretary of State
referencedIn Alexander, Dolores, 1931-2008. NOW officer papers, 1960-1973 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records of the Fishermen's Wives of Gloucester (Association), (inclusive), (bulk), 1950-2009, 1977-2004 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Julia Butler Hansen Committee Papers, 1961-1974 Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
creatorOf That day remembered [a play in three acts], 1952 Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
referencedIn Alexander, Dolores. Papers, 1960-1973 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Julia Butler Hansen Committee. Records, 1961-1974. Washington State University, Holland and Terrell Libraries
creatorOf Julia Butler Hansen papers, 1930-1984, 1961-1974 University of Washington Libraries Special Collections
referencedIn Louchheim, Katie, 1903-. Oral histories, 1974-1976 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Albert, Carl Bert, 1908-2000. person
associatedWith Alexander, Dolores. person
associatedWith American Revolution Bicentennial Commission corporateBody
associatedWith Birnie family family
associatedWith Birnie, James person
associatedWith Dolores Alexander corporateBody
correspondedWith Fishermen's Wives of Gloucester (Association) corporateBody
associatedWith Former Members of Congress, Inc. (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Hightower, Larry. person
correspondedWith Julia Butler Hansen Committee. corporateBody
associatedWith Kinney, Marion S. person
associatedWith Knapp, Dillis Charles person
associatedWith Louchheim, Katie, 1903- person
almaMaterOf Oregon State university corporateBody
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
associatedWith Tanzer, Shirley person
memberOf United States. Congress. House person
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee on Foreign Operations corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. Committee on Education and Labor corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf University of Washington, Seattle corporateBody
associatedWith Wanamaker, Pearl Anderson, 1899- person
memberOf Washington (State). Legislature. House of Representatives corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Seattle WA US
Portland OR US
Cathlamet WA US
Corvallis OR US
Subject
Birnie, James
Burney family
Political campaigns
Literature
Performing arts
Public works
Transportation
Washington (State)
Women legislators
Women legislators
Occupation
Authors
City council members
Dietitians
Playwrights
Representatives, U.S. Congress
State Government Employee
State Representative
Activity

Person

Birth 1907-06-14

Death 1988-05-03

Female

Americans

English

Information

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