Frances Penrose Owen
Encyclopedia
Frances Penrose Owen was a noted community volunteer in Seattle, Washington, a 22-year member of the Seattle School Board
and the first woman on the Board of Regents of Washington State University
, the state's land-grant research institution, serving from 1957 to 1975.
. She was the second of six children of Stephen Beasley Linnard Penrose, long-time president of Whitman College
, and his wife Mary Deming Shipman Penrose.
She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Greek from Whitman College in 1919. In 1920, she became a charter member of Whitman's Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Frances continued her education with graduate studies at Bryn Mawr College
and earned a master's degree in education from Harvard University
in 1922.
Frances also earned a certificate in merchandizing and personnel work from the Prince School in Boston
, affiliated with Simmons College
and Harvard University. In 1925, she took a position as a personnel training officer with the Frederick & Nelson
Department Store in Seattle. She also was a training director for a Minneapolis department store before marriage.
In 1945, Frances was elected to the Seattle School Board, serving until 1967. She was just the second woman on the school board. During her 22-year tenure, she was board president four times. Then, in 1957, then Gov. Albert Rosellini appointed Frances to the WSU Board of Regents, the first woman in that role. She served for 18 years and was twice elected board president.
Her public service career was wide ranging, including the Seattle Community Chest, board membership of the Ryther Child Center in Seattle and the National Child Welfare League.
presented Owen the state's Medal of Merit
for her service to education. In 1989, the Seattle School Board dedicated the Frances Penrose Owen Auditorium at Seattle School Board headquarters in her honor.
In 1979, Washington State University honored her 18 years of service as a regent by naming a major new library on the Pullman campus the Frances Penrose Owen Science and Engineering Library.
In 1966-1968, she received Citizen of the Year honors from two Seattle organizations, including the Seattle-King County Board of Realtors. In 1949, she received the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Whitman College, her undergraduate alma mater.
families to have settled in Pennsylvania.
Frances was the daughter of Stephen Beasley Linnard Penrose, born December 20, 1864, in Philadelphia to the Honorable Clement Biddle Penrose and his wife Mary Beasley Linnard. He went to Dayton, Washington, in the late nineteenth century as a Congregational missionary and pastor, then led Whitman College from 1894-1934. Stephen married, on June 17, 1896, Mary Deming Shipman of Hartford, Connecticut, the daughter of the Honorable Nathaniel Shipman and his wife Mary Caroline Robinson.
On March 18, 1934, Frances married Henry Barlow Owen in Walla Walla. He was vice president for personnel at Frederick & Nelson. She was then known publicly for four decades as Mrs. Henry B. Owen. She and Henry had a daughter, Frances Penrose Owen, whose married name is Frances Owen Pease. In 1946, Henry became founding manager of KING Radio
in Seattle, a station founded by his wife's good friend Dorothy Stimson Bullitt
. He later was executive vice president of King Broadcasting Company. Frances began to use the name Frances Penrose Owen only after her husband died in August 1976.
Frances Penrose Owen died March 9, 2002, not long after celebrating her 102nd birthday. The Seattle Times newspaper called her one of the most important women in the state of Washington.
Seattle Public Schools
Seattle Public Schools is the school district serving Seattle, Washington, USA. Its headquarters are in the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence.-List of schools:...
and the first woman on the Board of Regents of Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, the state's land-grant research institution, serving from 1957 to 1975.
Early life and education
Frances Shipman Penrose was born in Walla Walla, WashingtonWalla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
. She was the second of six children of Stephen Beasley Linnard Penrose, long-time president of Whitman College
Whitman College
Whitman College is a private, co-educational, non-sectarian, residential undergraduate liberal arts college located in Walla Walla, Washington. Initially founded as a seminary by a territorial legislative charter in 1859, the school became a four year degree granting institution in 1883...
, and his wife Mary Deming Shipman Penrose.
She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Greek from Whitman College in 1919. In 1920, she became a charter member of Whitman's Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Frances continued her education with graduate studies at Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
and earned a master's degree in education from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1922.
Frances also earned a certificate in merchandizing and personnel work from the Prince School in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, affiliated with Simmons College
Simmons College (Massachusetts)
Simmons College, established in 1899, is a private women's undergraduate college and private co-educational graduate school in Boston, Massachusetts.-History:Simmons was founded in 1899 with a bequest by John Simmons a wealthy clothing manufacturer in Boston...
and Harvard University. In 1925, she took a position as a personnel training officer with the Frederick & Nelson
Frederick & Nelson
Frederick & Nelson was a department store chain in the northwestern United States, based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1891 as a furniture store, it later expanded to sell other types of merchandise. The company was acquired by Marshall Field & Company in 1929...
Department Store in Seattle. She also was a training director for a Minneapolis department store before marriage.
Public service
Following her marriage in 1934, Frances joined the Board of Trustees of Children’s Orthopedic Hospital, today Seattle Children's Hospital. Thus began her many decades of public service to Seattle and the State of Washington. She was on the hospital board for 36 years.In 1945, Frances was elected to the Seattle School Board, serving until 1967. She was just the second woman on the school board. During her 22-year tenure, she was board president four times. Then, in 1957, then Gov. Albert Rosellini appointed Frances to the WSU Board of Regents, the first woman in that role. She served for 18 years and was twice elected board president.
Her public service career was wide ranging, including the Seattle Community Chest, board membership of the Ryther Child Center in Seattle and the National Child Welfare League.
Recognition
In 1990, then Washington Gov. Booth GardnerBooth Gardner
Booth Gardner , an heir to the Weyerhaeuser fortune, was the 19th Governor of the U.S state of Washington between 1985 and 1993. He also served as the ambassador of the GATT. He is a Democrat. Before serving as governor, Gardner was Pierce County Executive...
presented Owen the state's Medal of Merit
The Washington Medal of Merit
In Washington State The Medal of Merit is given for exceptional conduct in providing outstanding services to the citizens.- Recipients :1987*Warren G. Magnuson – Seattle *Dorothy Bullitt – Seattle...
for her service to education. In 1989, the Seattle School Board dedicated the Frances Penrose Owen Auditorium at Seattle School Board headquarters in her honor.
In 1979, Washington State University honored her 18 years of service as a regent by naming a major new library on the Pullman campus the Frances Penrose Owen Science and Engineering Library.
In 1966-1968, she received Citizen of the Year honors from two Seattle organizations, including the Seattle-King County Board of Realtors. In 1949, she received the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Whitman College, her undergraduate alma mater.
Family
The Penrose family of Philadelphia is one of the most prominent Cornish AmericanCornish American
Cornish Americans are citizens of the United States who describe themselves as having Cornish ancestry. Cornish ancestry is not recognised on the United States Census, although the Cornish people are recognised as a separate ethnic group and national identity for the United Kingdom Census...
families to have settled in Pennsylvania.
Frances was the daughter of Stephen Beasley Linnard Penrose, born December 20, 1864, in Philadelphia to the Honorable Clement Biddle Penrose and his wife Mary Beasley Linnard. He went to Dayton, Washington, in the late nineteenth century as a Congregational missionary and pastor, then led Whitman College from 1894-1934. Stephen married, on June 17, 1896, Mary Deming Shipman of Hartford, Connecticut, the daughter of the Honorable Nathaniel Shipman and his wife Mary Caroline Robinson.
On March 18, 1934, Frances married Henry Barlow Owen in Walla Walla. He was vice president for personnel at Frederick & Nelson. She was then known publicly for four decades as Mrs. Henry B. Owen. She and Henry had a daughter, Frances Penrose Owen, whose married name is Frances Owen Pease. In 1946, Henry became founding manager of KING Radio
King Broadcasting Company
King Broadcasting Company is a Seattle, Washington media conglmerate founded by Dorothy Stimson Bullitt. It began with one AM radio station and later an FM radio station, and grew to include a large group of broadcast television and radio stations, as well as a cable television network.-History:In...
in Seattle, a station founded by his wife's good friend Dorothy Stimson Bullitt
Dorothy Stimson Bullitt
Dorothy Stimson Bullitt was a radio and television pioneer who founded King Broadcasting Company, a major owner of broadcast stations in Seattle, Washington...
. He later was executive vice president of King Broadcasting Company. Frances began to use the name Frances Penrose Owen only after her husband died in August 1976.
Frances Penrose Owen died March 9, 2002, not long after celebrating her 102nd birthday. The Seattle Times newspaper called her one of the most important women in the state of Washington.
External links
- Frances Penrose Owen Profile at HistoryLink.org
- Frances Penrose Owen '19, obituary and photo, Whitman College Magazine, May 2002
- Frances Penrose Owen dies March 9 at 102, obituary and photo in Washington State Magazine, May 2002