Welling, Harriet Walker, 1892-

Political activist.

From the description of Papers, 1939-1959 (inclusive). (University of Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 52247488

Welling, Harriet Walker (1892-1989) was an active leader member of many civic and political organizations in Chicago.

From 1939 to 1940, Welling was secretary of "Stop Arming Japan," a group that aimed to prevent the sale of scrap iron and other materials to Japan by American companies. At Welling's suggestion a Gallup Poll determined that most Americans favored prohibitions on the sale of raw materials to Japan. Welling also encouraged US economic and military aid to Great Britain.

In the fall of 1944, Welling organized an intensive and successful campaign to re-elect Scott W. Lucas to the United States Senate. She explained, "This campaign was undertaken not for party reasons (first time I voted Democratic!) but because Lucas' Senate vote was 100% non-isolationist..."

After the war, Welling served as Chair of the Steering Committee of the Chicago Emergency Committee for Civilian Control of Atomic Energy, organized in March 1946 in response to the proposed Vandenberg Amendment to the McMahon Bill, authorizing military control of atomic energy. The Chicago committee worked closely with the recently organized Federation of American Scientists. Welling organized an intensive campaign to lobby Congress concerning the bill. On July 26, Welling and fellow activists celebrated the final passage by both the House and the Senate of the McMahon Bill. The amendment regarding military involvement in the development of future atomic research had been defeated, and the bill as assured civilian control of atomic energy.

In the spring of 1945, Welling worked to encourage local support for the new United Nations. She participated in the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, and was a charter member and director of the International Relations Center, begun with funding from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Walker died in 1989. She was the daughter of Circuit Court Judge Charles M. Walker, and married John Paul Welling.

From the guide to the Welling, Harriet Walker. Papers, 1939-1959, (Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)