Johnson, Kate Burr, 1881-1968

Kate Ancrum Burr Johnson was born in Morganton, N.C., on February 14, 1881, the daughter of Frederick Hill Burr and Lillian Walton Burr. She was educated at Queen's College, Charlotte, N.C., New York School of Social Work, and the University of North Carolina. She married Clarence A. Johnson in 1903 and had two sons. Mrs. Johnson began her public career when she became director of the Bureau of Child Welfare of the North Carolina State Board of Charities and Public Welfare (1919-1921). Next she was commissioner of Public Welfare of North Carolina (1921-1930) before resigning to become superintendent of the New Jersey State Home for Girls (1930-1948). In 1948 she accepted a position on the Prison Advisory Commission in North Carolina under Governor W. Kerr Scott, serving until 1953. In 1954 her contributions to the state and country were acknowledged by the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award for Women by the Chi Omega Sorority and the awarding of an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Mrs. Johnson also participated in the White House Conference on Child Health and Protection, the American Association of Social Workers, the N.C. Federation of Women's Clubs, the National Probation Association, and the League of Women Voters. She died in Raleigh in 1968 at the age of 87.