Margaret Kelly (civil servant)
Encyclopedia
Margaret Kelly was an American civil servant, notable for being the first female Assistant Director of the United States Mint
, at that time the highest official position held by a woman.
She grew up in New Hampshire
, in a politically unconnected family, and was educated in Boston
. In 1896 she passed the stenography test and entered the civil service
. For the first year she worked in the office of the Appointments Clerk in the Treasury Department
. Then she transferred to the Mint, and worked her way up from stenographer over 14 years, to assistant to George E. Roberts
.
Edward T. Taylor
, a Representative from Colorado, considered her position "an epoch in the history and development of women in the business world". Kelly supported votes for women and equal pay for men and women, but was not an active suffragette. Popular Mechanics
magazine called her the best paid woman on the government payroll.
United States Mint
The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint was created by Congress with the Coinage Act of 1792, and placed within the Department of State...
, at that time the highest official position held by a woman.
She grew up in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, in a politically unconnected family, and was educated 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...
. In 1896 she passed the stenography test and entered the civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
. For the first year she worked in the office of the Appointments Clerk in the Treasury Department
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
. Then she transferred to the Mint, and worked her way up from stenographer over 14 years, to assistant to George E. Roberts
George E. Roberts
George Evan Roberts was Director of the United States Mint from 1898 to 1907, and again from 1910 to 1914.-Biography:...
.
Edward T. Taylor
Edward T. Taylor
Edward Thomas Taylor was a U.S. Representative from Colorado.Taylor was born on a farm near Metamora, Illinois. He attended the common schools of Illinois and Kansas, and graduated from the high school at Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1881. Taylor moved to Leadville, Colorado and was principal of...
, a Representative from Colorado, considered her position "an epoch in the history and development of women in the business world". Kelly supported votes for women and equal pay for men and women, but was not an active suffragette. Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics is an American magazine first published January 11, 1902 by H. H. Windsor, and has been owned since 1958 by the Hearst Corporation...
magazine called her the best paid woman on the government payroll.
Sources
- New York Times Sunday Magazine, 6 August 1911. Reprinted 6 August 2011 here.