Ruth Baker Pratt
Encyclopedia
Ruth Baker Pratt was an American politician and the first congresswoman to be elected from New York.
, where her father, Edwin K. Baker, was a dry-goods merchant. She studied at Wellesley College.
in 1925, being the first woman to serve; re-elected in 1927 and served until March 1, 1929. She was a member of the Republican National Committee
1929-1943; delegate to the Republican National Convention
s in 1924, 1932, 1936, 1940; delegate to the Republican State conventions in 1922, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1930, 1936, and 1938. She served as president of the Women's National Republican Club 1943-1946
She was elected as a Republican to the 71st and 72nd Congresses (1929–1933), being the first woman elected to Congress from New York, beating out her primary competitor Phelps Phelps
.
, she introduced the Pratt-Smoot Act
, passed by the United States
Congress, and signed into law by President Herbert Hoover
on March 3, 1931. The Act provided $100,000, to be administered by the Library of Congress
, to provide blind adults with books. The program, which is known as Books for the Blind
, has been heavily amended and expanded over the years, and remains in place today.
, a corporate attorney, philanthropist, music impresario, and financier.
Together, they had five children:
Early life
She was born Ruth Sears Baker in Ware, MassachusettsWare, Massachusetts
Ware is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,707 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.Part of the town comprises the census-designated place of Ware....
, where her father, Edwin K. Baker, was a dry-goods merchant. She studied at Wellesley College.
Political career
She was a member of the board of aldermen of New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1925, being the first woman to serve; re-elected in 1927 and served until March 1, 1929. She was 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...
1929-1943; delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
s in 1924, 1932, 1936, 1940; delegate to the Republican State conventions in 1922, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1930, 1936, and 1938. She served as president of the Women's National Republican Club 1943-1946
She was elected as a Republican to the 71st and 72nd Congresses (1929–1933), being the first woman elected to Congress from New York, beating out her primary competitor Phelps Phelps
Phelps Phelps
Phelps Phelps , born Phelps von Rottenburg, was an American politician who held a number of offices in New York before becoming the 38th Governor of American Samoa and the United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic. Phelps' parents divorced in 1899 and he later took his mother's maiden name...
.
Pratt-Smoot Act
Together with Reed SmootReed Smoot (U. S. Senator)
Reed Owen Smoot was a native-born Utahn who was first elected to the United States Senate from Utah in 1903, and served as a Senator until 1933...
, she introduced the Pratt-Smoot Act
Pratt-Smoot Act
The Pratt-Smoot Act was passed by the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Herbert Hoover on March 3, 1931. It was introduced by Ruth Baker Pratt and Reed Smoot. J...
, passed by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Congress, and signed into law by President Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
on March 3, 1931. The Act provided $100,000, to be administered by the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, to provide blind adults with books. The program, which is known as Books for the Blind
Books for the Blind
Books for the Blind also referred to as Talking Books is a program in the United States which provides audio recordings of books in a proprietary cassette tape format, along with a cassette player supporting that format, free of charge to people who are blind or visually impaired...
, has been heavily amended and expanded over the years, and remains in place today.
Later life
She died on 23 August 1965 at the family house and estate, Manor House, Glen Cove, Long Island; she was one day shy of her 88th birthday. She was interred at the Pratt Family Mausoleum, Old Tappan Road, Glen Cove.Marriage and children
She married John Teele PrattJohn Teele Pratt
John Teele Pratt was an American corporate attorney, philanthropist, music impresario, and financier.- Early life :...
, a corporate attorney, philanthropist, music impresario, and financier.
Together, they had five children:
- John Teele Pratt Jr;
- Virginia Pratt (1905–1979), who married Robert H. ThayerRobert H. ThayerRobert Helyer Thayer was an American lawyer, naval officer and diplomat.-Early life:Thayer was born in Southborough, Massachusetts, the son of Rev. William Greenough Thayer , headmaster of St. Mark's School from 1894–1930, and Violet Otis Thayer . He attended St...
; - Phyllis Pratt (1912–1987), who married Paul Henry NitzePaul NitzePaul Henry Nitze was a high-ranking United States government official who helped shape Cold War defense policy over the course of numerous presidential administrations.-Early life, education, and family:...
; - Edwin H Baker PrattEdwin H Baker PrattEdwin Howard Baker Pratt , was an American educator and headmaster of Buckingham Browne & Nichols.-Early life:...
(1913–1975), who's son is singer-songwriter Andy PrattAndy Pratt (singer-songwriter)Andy Pratt is an American rock music singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In the 1970s, he made a number of experimental records that were appreciated by small audiences, and scored a commercial hit with "Avenging Annie"....
; and - Sally Pratt, who married James Jackson