Mary Pillsbury Lord
Encyclopedia
Mary Pillsbury Lord was a civic worker and officer in several charitable organizations, as well as serving as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations General Assembly
.
, the daughter of Charles Stinson Pillsbury and Helen Pendleton Winston. She was a granddaughter of the founder of the Pillsbury Company. She graduated cum laude from Smith College
in 1927. After graduating from college, Pillsbury would join the Junior League of Minneapolis
before relocating to New York City and becoming President of the New York Junior League
.
she served as Assistant Regional Director of the Office of Civilian Defense and in 1944 was appointed chairman of the National Civilian Advisory Committee of the Women's Army Corps WAC
.
On December 7, 1929, in Minneapolis, she married Oswald Bates Lord, a businessman and author. They had three sons. The second one, Richard, was born on July 30, 1935, and died in October of the same year. Their third child, Winston Lord
, was born in 1937. He was preceded by Charles Pillsbury Lord in 1933.
From 1948-1952 she chaired and organized the U.S. Committee of UNICEF and in 1952 was co-chairman of the Citizens for Eisenhower organization. In 1953 President Dwight D. Eisenhower
appointed Lord to succeed Eleanor Roosevelt
as the U.S. representative to the United Nations Human Rights Commission. She also was a U.S. alternate representative and U.S. delegate to the United Nations General Assembly
.
After resigning from the United Nations in 1961 she chaired the New York Governor’s Committee on the Education and Employment of Women; worked with the Citizens for Peace with Freedom in Vietnam Committee; was president of the International Rescue Committee
; and a governor of the Atlantic Institute.
Mary, along with her sister, Katherine Pillsbury McKee, was a survivor of the sinking of the Ward Line steam ship SS Mohawk, which occurred on January 24, 1935. The 6000 ton-steam ship collided with a Norwegian freighter off the New Jersey coast. 47 passengers died.
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
.
Early life
Lord was born Mary Stinson Pillsbury in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, the daughter of Charles Stinson Pillsbury and Helen Pendleton Winston. She was a granddaughter of the founder of the Pillsbury Company. She graduated cum laude from 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 1927. After graduating from college, Pillsbury would join the Junior League of Minneapolis
Junior League
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is a non-profit organization of 292 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States. Junior Leagues are educational and charitable women's organizations aimed at improving their communities through volunteerism and...
before relocating to New York City and becoming President of the New York Junior League
Junior League
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is a non-profit organization of 292 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States. Junior Leagues are educational and charitable women's organizations aimed at improving their communities through volunteerism and...
.
Career
Lord began her career with family welfare work in Minneapolis from 1927–1929, and then became a volunteer case work for the Charity Organization Society in New York City. She was also the president of the Junior League of the City of New York from 1936 to 1938. During World War IIWorld 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...
she served as Assistant Regional Director of the Office of Civilian Defense and in 1944 was appointed chairman of the National Civilian Advisory Committee of the Women's Army Corps WAC
WAC
WAC is a three-letter acronym and may refer to:* WAC Corporal, the first U.S. sounding rocket* Walker Art Center, a modern art museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA...
.
On December 7, 1929, in Minneapolis, she married Oswald Bates Lord, a businessman and author. They had three sons. The second one, Richard, was born on July 30, 1935, and died in October of the same year. Their third child, Winston Lord
Winston Lord
Winston Lord is a United States diplomat and leader of non-governmental foreign policy organizations...
, was born in 1937. He was preceded by Charles Pillsbury Lord in 1933.
From 1948-1952 she chaired and organized the U.S. Committee of UNICEF and in 1952 was co-chairman of the Citizens for Eisenhower organization. In 1953 President 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...
appointed Lord to succeed Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, distant cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and became an advocate for civil rights. After her husband's death in 1945, Roosevelt continued to be an international...
as the U.S. representative to the United Nations Human Rights Commission. She also was a U.S. alternate representative and U.S. delegate to the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
.
After resigning from the United Nations in 1961 she chaired the New York Governor’s Committee on the Education and Employment of Women; worked with the Citizens for Peace with Freedom in Vietnam Committee; was president of the International Rescue Committee
International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee is a leading nonsectarian, nongovernmental international relief and development organization based in the United States, with operations in over 40 countries...
; and a governor of the Atlantic Institute.
Mary, along with her sister, Katherine Pillsbury McKee, was a survivor of the sinking of the Ward Line steam ship SS Mohawk, which occurred on January 24, 1935. The 6000 ton-steam ship collided with a Norwegian freighter off the New Jersey coast. 47 passengers died.