Beyer, Clara M. (Clara Mortenson)

Labor law specialist. Clara Mortenson Beyer (1892- ) began her career with the U.S. government as executive assistant on the War Labor Policies Board in 1918. She was executive secretary for the Washington, D.C. Minimum Wage Board, 1919-1921. In the Department of Labor she served as economist for the Children's Bureau, 1928-1931, as director of the industrial division, 1931-1934, as associate director, 1934-1957, and from 1957 to 1958 as acting director of the Bureau of Labor Standards. She was advisor in the International Cooperation Administration, 1958-1961, and the Agency for International Development, and served in various capacities in other federal, international, and women's agencies.

Labor law specialist. Clara Mortenson (Mrs. Otto) Beyer (1892- ) began her career for the U.S. government as executive assistant on the War Labor Policies Board in 1918. She was executive secretary for the DC Minimum Wage Board from 1919 to 1921. In the Department of Labor she served as economist for the Children's Bureau, 1928-1931, as director of the industrial division, 1931-1934, as associate director, 1934-1957, and from 1957 to 1958 as acting director of the Bureau of Labor Standards. She then served as advisor in the International Cooperation Administration, 1958-1961, and the Agency for International Development, and in various capacities with the Organization of American States, the International Labor Organisation, and other federal, international, and women's agencies.

Labor law specialist Clara Mortenson (Mrs. Otto) Beyer (1892-1990) began her career for the United States government as executive assistant on the War Labor Policies Board in 1918. She was executive secretary for the District of Columbia Minimum Wage Board from 1919 to 1921. In the Department of Labor she served as economist for the Children's Bureau, 1928-1931, as director of the industrial division, 1931-1934, as associate director, 1934-1957, and from 1957 to 1958 as acting director of the Bureau of Labor Standards. She then served as advisor in the International Cooperation Administration, 1958-1961, and the Agency for International Development, and in various capacities with the Organization of American States, the International Labour Organisation, and other federal, international, and women's agencies.

Clara Mortenson Beyer, connected with the U.S. Department of Labor from 1921-1958 and specialist in labor law, was born April 13, 1892 near Middletown, Lake County, California. She was the sixth daughter of Morten Mortenson and Mary Frederickson. Her parents were Danish immigrants, and when her father died at an early age, her mother worked as an unskilled laborer. It was as a participant in the hard life of the unskilled that Clara Mortenson became interested in the problems of the laboring classes. She received a B.S. from the University of California in 1915 and an M.S. from the same university in 1916. She stayed at California from 1915 to 1917 as an instructor and then moved to Bryn Mawr to become an instructor in labor economics from 1917 to 1918.

Clara Mortenson began her government career in the labor field in 1918. At this time she served as executive assistant on the War Labor Policies Board. From 1919 to 1921 she was executive secretary for the D.C. Minimum Wage Board. On July 30, 1920 she married Otto Sternoff-Beyer. They had three children; Morten, Donald, and Richard.

Mrs. Beyer came to the U.S. Department of Labor in 1928 where she served as economist for the Children's Bureau until 1931. She then became director of the industrial division from 1931 to 1934, and from 1934 to 1957 she was associate director of the Bureau of Labor Standards. During 1957-1958 Mrs. Beyer was acting director of the Bureau of Labor Standards.

After her retirement from the Department of Labor in 1958, Mrs. Beyer was continually active in labor related government projects. In 1958, she became technical assistance program advisor for the International Cooperation Administration. In 1961, she went to the Agency for International Development as an advisor in labor law administration.

From 1938-1953 Mrs. Beyer attended the International Labor Organization's annual conferences as a United States Government Advisor. Her other interests include, the National Consumers League, National Child Labor Committee, League of Women Voters, Overseas Education Fund, and the McLean Civic League.