Katherine G. Howard
Encyclopedia
Katherine Graham Howard (b. September 30, 1898, d. 1986) was born in Guyton, Georgia
and grew up there and in North Carolina. She was the daughter of Margaret Nowell Graham
and Joseph L. Graham, who was Chairman of the Board of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
in the early 1900s. Howard attended Salem Academy
and Salem College
in North Carolina (majoring in fine arts at the latter) before completing her bachelor’s degree in politics and government at Smith College
in Massachusetts. She was the elder sister of John Stephens Graham
and a cousin of Gone with the Wind
author Margaret Mitchell
.
In 1921 she married Charles P. Howard, but without the approval of her father, who for a short period of time disinherited her. Mr. Howard (1887–1967), an attorney, maintained a Boston Law practice and served in public service posts, including State Senator, Massachusetts State Commissioner of Administration and Finance (1928–1938), and Commissioner for Banks. In World War I
and in World War II
he served overseas in the Army.
During his absence, her interest in politics grew and resulted in a series of key positions in the Massachusetts Republican Party. After the war she became a member of the Republican National Committee
, serving as Secretary (1948–1952), and ultimately participated in Dwight D. Eisenhower
’s 1952 election campaign as a member of his Campaign Policy & Strategy Committee. During this period of increasing political involvement, Howard developed lasting relationships with many leading Republicans, most notably those from Massachusetts such as Everett Saltonstal and Sinclair Weeks
.
In 1953, Howard, a dedicated Republican, began her public service career in the Eisenhower administration with positions in the Federal Civil Defense Administration
(1935–1957), U.S. delegate to NATO committee on civil defense (1953–56); Deputy U.S. Commissioner General to the Brussels World Fair (1957–58).
Beginning with Howard’s early involvement in politics and continuing throughout her service in the Eisenhower Administration, she advocated a larger role for women in politics and government. But first and foremost Howard was involved in the process of enlarging that role. With a commitment to a career in public service, she sought realistic opportunities for service in what was almost exclusively a man’s world.
Guyton, Georgia
Guyton is a city in Effingham County, Georgia, United States. The population was 917 at the 2000 census, although a 2008 estimate by the Census Bureau places the population above 1,900. Guyton is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and grew up there and in North Carolina. She was the daughter of Margaret Nowell Graham
Margaret Nowell Graham
Margaret Nowell Graham, American Artist, best known for her watercolors of flowers and landscapes from Marblehead, Massachusetts and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her paintings are primarily in private collections. Some are held by institutions, such as Wake Forest University.Wife of John L....
and Joseph L. Graham, who was Chairman of the Board of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
The R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company , based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and founded by R. J. Reynolds in 1875, is the second-largest tobacco company in the U.S. . RJR is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc...
in the early 1900s. Howard attended Salem Academy
Salem Academy
Salem Academy is a boarding and day school for high school girls in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is formally known as Salem Academy and College where it shares its campus with Salem College, located near historic Old Salem...
and Salem College
Salem College
Salem College is a liberal arts women's college in Winston-Salem, North Carolina founded in 1772. Originally established as a primary school, it later became an academy and finally a college. It is the oldest female educational establishment that is still a women's college...
in North Carolina (majoring in fine arts at the latter) before completing her bachelor’s degree in politics and government at Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
in Massachusetts. She was the elder sister of John Stephens Graham
John Stephens Graham
John Stephens Graham was a Washington, D.C. attorney and political appointee.He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, son of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company executive Joseph L. Graham and Margaret Nowell Graham. He was the younger brother of Katherine G. Howard...
and a cousin of Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind
The slaves depicted in Gone with the Wind are primarily loyal house servants, such as Mammy, Pork and Uncle Peter, and these slaves stay on with their masters even after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 sets them free...
author Margaret Mitchell
Margaret Mitchell
Margaret Munnerlyn Mitchell was an American author and journalist. Mitchell won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1937 for her epic American Civil War era novel, Gone with the Wind, which was the only novel by Mitchell published during her lifetime.-Family:Margaret Mitchell was born in Atlanta,...
.
In 1921 she married Charles P. Howard, but without the approval of her father, who for a short period of time disinherited her. Mr. Howard (1887–1967), an attorney, maintained a Boston Law practice and served in public service posts, including State Senator, Massachusetts State Commissioner of Administration and Finance (1928–1938), and Commissioner for Banks. In World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served overseas in the Army.
During his absence, her interest in politics grew and resulted in a series of key positions in the Massachusetts Republican Party. After the war she became a member of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
, serving as Secretary (1948–1952), and ultimately participated in Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
’s 1952 election campaign as a member of his Campaign Policy & Strategy Committee. During this period of increasing political involvement, Howard developed lasting relationships with many leading Republicans, most notably those from Massachusetts such as Everett Saltonstal and Sinclair Weeks
Sinclair Weeks
Charles Sinclair Weeks , better known as Sinclair Weeks, was United States Secretary of Commerce from January 21, 1953 to November 10, 1958 under Dwight D. Eisenhower...
.
In 1953, Howard, a dedicated Republican, began her public service career in the Eisenhower administration with positions in the Federal Civil Defense Administration
Federal Civil Defense Administration
The Federal Civil Defense Administration was organized by Democratic president Harry S. Truman on December 1, 1950, and became an official government agency on January 12, 1951...
(1935–1957), U.S. delegate to NATO committee on civil defense (1953–56); Deputy U.S. Commissioner General to the Brussels World Fair (1957–58).
Beginning with Howard’s early involvement in politics and continuing throughout her service in the Eisenhower Administration, she advocated a larger role for women in politics and government. But first and foremost Howard was involved in the process of enlarging that role. With a commitment to a career in public service, she sought realistic opportunities for service in what was almost exclusively a man’s world.
External links
- http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Finding_Aids/H.html Papers of Katherine Howard, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library