Hart, Adelaide, 1900-

Vice chairman of the Democratic Party State Central Committee, primarily during the gubernatorial administration of G. Mennen Williams.

From the description of Adelaide Hart papers, 1948-1971. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34419325

Adelaide Hart was a devoted and tireless worker for the Michigan Democratic party throughout the Williams's era and into the 1960s. Along with Democratic state chairman Neil Staebler, Hart, as vice chairman, was a talented and meticulous organizer of party affairs. Given responsibility for the details of fund raising, party meetings, and women's activities, Hart deserves much credit for the revitalization of the party in the 1950s, especially for the increased participation of women in party activities.

Born April 24, 1900 in Saginaw, Michigan, Hart was educated and employed as a music teacher in the Detroit school system. Politics, however, was her first love. She began her active, political involvement on the local level in 1948 when she was elected precinct delegate and member of the executive board of the 17th congressional district in Wayne County. In 1951, the party in convention selected her as vice chairman. She served here from 1951 to 1961 and then again from 1963 to 1967. Within the party, Hart was chairman of the Michigan Federation of Democratic Women, where she helped to develop the annual Democratic Women's Day.

Beyond Democratic party affairs, Hart also served as a delegate and Democratic caucus chairman at the Michigan constitutional convention of 1961-1962, and as a member of the Michigan Mental Health Commission, 1960-1963. She was also vice president and executive secretary of the Detroit Federation of Teachers.

Adelaide J. Hart died July 22, 1995.

From the guide to the Adelaide J. Hart papers, 1948-1980, 1995, 1948-1970, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)