Heide, Wilma Scott, 1921-1985

Wilma Scott Heide, daughter of William Robert and Ada Catherine (Long) Scott, was a sociologist and chair and president of the National Organization for Women. She was born February 26, 1921, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. She obtained her R.N. from Brooklyn State Hospital (1945), her B.A. in sociology (1950) and a Litt.M. (1955) from the University of Pittsburgh, and her Ph.D. in feminist theory and public policy from the Union of Experimenting Colleges and Universities (1978). She was married to Eugene E. Heide from 1951 to 1972; they had two children, Tamara and Terry.

WSH was a resident nurse at Chatham College (1948-1950), nursing instructor at the State University of New York, Oswego (1950-1951), teacher and director of nursing education at Pennsylvania State University (1957-1967), research assistant and project director for the American Institutes for Research (1967-1971), behavioral scientist and human resources and education consultant (1970-1985), and professor of women's studies and innovative and experimental studies and director of women's studies at Sangamon State University (1980-1982). She held visiting professorships at the University of Massachusetts (1974-1976), Wellesley College (1974-1975) and Goddard College (1978-1980). She was chair of the education committee of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Committee (1969-1971). From 1970 to 1971, WSH was the chair of NOW, and served as president of the organization from 1971 to 1974. In 1973, she helped form the Women's Coalition for the Third Century and served as the organization's vice president.

WSH died from a heart attack on May 8, 1985. Prior to her death, WSH interviewed by Frances (Arick) Kolb in preparation for a book on the history of the National Organization for Women. This interview was later included in the Tully-Crenshaw Feminist Oral History Project (see T-301), and is administered as part of that collection.

Wilma Scott Heide was a sociologist and former chair and president of the National Organization for Women. She obtained her R.N. from Brooklyn State Hospital (1945), her B.A. in sociology (1950) and a Litt.M. (1955) from the University of Pittsburgh, and her Ph.D. in feminist theory and public policy from the Union of Experimenting Colleges and Universities (1978). She was married to Eugene E. Heide from 1951 to 1972; they had two children, Tamara and Terry.

Heide was a resident nurse at Chatham College (1948-1950), nursing instructor at the State University of New York, Oswego (1950-1951), teacher and director of nursing education at Pennsylvania State University (1957-1967), research assistant and project director for the American Institute for Research (1967-1971), behavioral scientist and human resources and education consultant (1970-1985), and professor of women's studies and innovative and experimental studies and director of women's studies at Sangamon State University (1980-1982). She held visiting professorships at the University of Massachusetts (1974-1976), Wellesley College (1974-1975) and Goddard College (1978-1980). She was chair of the education committee of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Committee (1969-1971). From 1970 to 1971, WSH was the chair of NOW, and served as president of the organization from 1971 to 1974. In 1973, she helped form the Women's Coalition for the Third Century and served as the organization's vice president.