Julia Butler Hansen
Encyclopedia
Julia Butler Hansen born Julia Caroline Butler, June 14, 1907, in Portland, Oregon
, USA, served as a member of the United States House of Representatives
from 1960-1974. She represented Washington's Third Congressional District as a Democrat
. She was the second woman and first Democratic woman elected to Congress from Washington.
Her father, Donald C. Butler, was sheriff of Wahkiakum County and her mother, Maude (Kimball), was named Washington's "Mother of the Year" in 1960. Hansen attended public school in Washington. She attended Oregon State College
from 1924–1926, and graduated from the University of Washington
(Seattle) with a Bachelor of Arts in home economics in 1930.
Hansen's political career began as a member of the Cathlamet, Washington
, city council, where she served from 1938-1946. She served in the Washington State Legislature
as a member of the State House of Representatives from January 1939 until November 1960, serving as the first woman speaker pro tempore from 1955-1960. She served as chairman of the Western Interstate Committee on Highway Policies for 11 western states from 1951-1961.
She was elected simultaneously as a Democrat to the Eighty-sixth Congress and to the Eighty-seventh Congress by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative Russell V. Mack
, and was reelected to the six succeeding Congresses (November 8, 1960-December 31, 1974). She served on the House Appropriations Committee
after serving for years on Education, Labor, Veteran's Affairs, Interior and Insular Affairs Committees. She did not run for reelection in 1974, and was appointed in 1975 to a six-year term on the Washington State Toll Bridge Authority and State Highway Commission. She served as chairman of the Washington State Transportation Commission from 1979-1981.
Outside of politics, she also was manager of Wahkiakum County Abstract Company and the G. Henry Hanigan Insurance Co. in Cathlamet, and served as chairman and member of the board of trustees of Century 21
, State of Washington, beginning in 1958. She was the author of a book for children titled Singing Paddles, published by Binfords and Mort, which won the Julia Ellsworth Ford Foundation Award for Juvenile Literature.
She is honored by the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer
, a National Wildlife Refuge
established in 1972 in Cathlamet; the Julia Butler Hansen Elementary School, opened in 1994 in Olympia, Washington
; and the Julia Butler Hansen Bridge
connecting Cathlamet to Puget Island, Washington
.
Hansen was married to Henry Hansen, a logger; they were parents of one natural son, David, and Henry's adopted son Richard. She lived in Cathlamet until her death there on May 3, 1988.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, USA, served as a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1960-1974. She represented Washington's Third Congressional District as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. She was the second woman and first Democratic woman elected to Congress from Washington.
Her father, Donald C. Butler, was sheriff of Wahkiakum County and her mother, Maude (Kimball), was named Washington's "Mother of the Year" in 1960. Hansen attended public school in Washington. She attended Oregon State College
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
from 1924–1926, and graduated from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
(Seattle) with a Bachelor of Arts in home economics in 1930.
Hansen's political career began as a member of the Cathlamet, Washington
Cathlamet, Washington
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 565 people, 246 households, and 138 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,426.2 people per square mile . There were 278 housing units at an average density of 701.7 per square mile...
, city council, where she served from 1938-1946. She served in the Washington State Legislature
Washington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bipartisan, bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 Senators.The State Legislature...
as a member of the State House of Representatives from January 1939 until November 1960, serving as the first woman speaker pro tempore from 1955-1960. She served as chairman of the Western Interstate Committee on Highway Policies for 11 western states from 1951-1961.
She was elected simultaneously as a Democrat to the Eighty-sixth Congress and to the Eighty-seventh Congress by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative Russell V. Mack
Russell V. Mack
Russell Vernon Mack born on July 13, 1891 in Hillman, Michigan, served as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing Washington State's 3rd District from 1947 to 1960. Mack moved to Aberdeen, Washington in 1895. Mack was educated at Stanford University in California, and...
, and was reelected to the six succeeding Congresses (November 8, 1960-December 31, 1974). She served on the House Appropriations Committee
United States House Committee on Appropriations
The Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is in charge of setting the specific expenditures of money by the government of the United States...
after serving for years on Education, Labor, Veteran's Affairs, Interior and Insular Affairs Committees. She did not run for reelection in 1974, and was appointed in 1975 to a six-year term on the Washington State Toll Bridge Authority and State Highway Commission. She served as chairman of the Washington State Transportation Commission from 1979-1981.
Outside of politics, she also was manager of Wahkiakum County Abstract Company and the G. Henry Hanigan Insurance Co. in Cathlamet, and served as chairman and member of the board of trustees of Century 21
Century 21 Real Estate
Century 21 Real Estate LLC is a real estate agent franchise company founded in 1971. The Century 21 System consists of over 8,000 independently owned and operated offices. Other examples of such a system are Coldwell Banker, Engel & Völkers, ERA Real Estate, ...Century 21 has offices in more than...
, State of Washington, beginning in 1958. She was the author of a book for children titled Singing Paddles, published by Binfords and Mort, which won the Julia Ellsworth Ford Foundation Award for Juvenile Literature.
She is honored by the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer
Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer
Located in southwestern Washington and northwestern Oregon, the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer was established in 1972 specifically to protect and manage the endangered Columbian white-tailed deer...
, a National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's premiere system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants...
established in 1972 in Cathlamet; the Julia Butler Hansen Elementary School, opened in 1994 in Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
; and the Julia Butler Hansen Bridge
Julia Butler Hansen Bridge
The Julia Butler Hansen Bridge in Wahkiakum County, Washington connects Cathlamet to Puget Island. It spans the Cathlamet Channel of the Columbia River. Ferry Wahkiakum connects Puget Island to Westport, Oregon...
connecting Cathlamet to Puget Island, Washington
Puget Island, Washington
Puget Island is a 19.365 km² island and unincorporated rural community in the Columbia River in Wahkiakum County, Washington, United States. The Julia Butler Hansen Bridge carries State Route 409 across the Cathlamet Channel to connect the island to the town of Cathlamet, Washington...
.
Hansen was married to Henry Hansen, a logger; they were parents of one natural son, David, and Henry's adopted son Richard. She lived in Cathlamet until her death there on May 3, 1988.
See also
- Washington state congressional delegates
- Eighty-sixth United States Congress
- Eighty-seventh United States Congress
- Eighty-eighth United States Congress
- Eighty-ninth United States Congress
- Ninetieth United States Congress
- Ninety-first United States Congress
- Ninety-second United States Congress
- Ninety-third United States Congress
- Ninety-fourth United States Congress
External links
- Julia Butler Hansen in the Biographical Directory of the United States CongressBiographical Directory of the United States CongressThe Biographical Directory of the United States Congress is a biographical dictionary of all present and former members of the United States Congress as well as its predecessor, the Continental Congress...
- Julia Butler Hansen Committee Papers - Washington State University Libraries
- Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge