Parrish, Marguerite, 1895-1983

Marguerite H. Parrish (1895-1983) was an active Democratic leader for over sixty years. She began her career during the 1930's and lobbied for the "50-50 bill" which demanded equal rights for women. She worked with women's groups on the local level as well as on the state and national level. She held such positions as the President of the Women's Democratic Club of Montgomery County, the President of the Women's Democratic Council of Dayton and Montgomery County, and the President of the Federated Democratic Women of Ohio. While she was President of the Federated Democratic Women of Ohio the organization sponsored the first woman to run for a state office in Ohio, Gertrude Donahey.

Marguerite Parrish was very active with the main body of the Democratic Party where she held a State Central Committeewoman position for twelve years (1966-1978) representing the third Congressional District. Locally, she held positions which included a County central Committee post from about 1954-1972 and the 1974 Democratic Precinct Committeewoman for Kettering. Mrs. Parrish was also a delegate to the Democratic National Convention six times and attended several others. The first she attended was the National Convention of 1944 where she was the first Ohio delegate to vote for Harry Truman for Vice President.

Her years of service also earned her numerous awards including the 1970 Democratic Woman of the Year from the Federated Democratic Women of Ohio. Through the years she gained many acquaintances including such individuals as Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and their families.

In addition to her political career Marguerite Parrish was married, raised a daughter, and was active in many community and service projects. Marguerite was married to Rial T. Parrish, a local architect who designed such buildings as the Fairmont West High School and Kennedy Junior High School in Kettering. Rial Parrish preceded her in death in 1968. They had one child, a daughter, also named Marguerite M. Parrish.

Mrs. Parrish's social and community work included such campaigns as the Porchlight Parade for Polio for which she was the Commander General in 1952, Child Nutrition Association, American Cancer Society, Charter member of the Isabella Saint Anne Circle #396, and the 1971 White House Conference on Aging.

From the guide to the Marguerite Parrish Papers, 1930-1980, (Wright State University, Special Collections and Archives)