Ruth P. Smith
Encyclopedia
Ruth Proskauer Smith was a pro-choice
and reproductive rights advocate.
. As an executive secretary of the organization, she unsuccessfully attempted to overturn the state's banning of birth control
. In 1953, she moved to New York to work at Mount Sinai Hospital
, where she managed the family planning
service. Two years later, she became the executive director of the Human Betterment Association (later renamed Emergence of the World Population Control Movement), where she worked until 1964.
In 1959, Smith's mother died an agonizing death. Smith became shocked at this occurrence and became one of the foremost leaders of voluntary euthanasia
. Even though she was almost ninety years old at the time, Smith donated and strategized for a campaign that culminated in the passing of Oregon
's right-to-die law. Historian Ian Dowbiggin
said that Smith "played a pivotal role in the struggle for birth control, for euthanasia, and for abortion." Along with eleven other people, she helped establish the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (now called NARAL Pro-Choice America
) in the 1960s.
In 1962, she moved into a two-bedroom apartment in The Dakota
on 72nd Street and Central Park West in New York City; and she continued to live in this fifth floor home for the next fifty years.
Until 2009, she held seminars four times a week for Quest, a program at the City College of New York
for retirees, where she taught them about the history
of the Supreme Court
. She lived in The Dakota
, an Upper West Side
apartment building.
, to Joseph M. Proskauer and Alice Naumburg. Her father served on the New York Supreme Court
, was an adviser to New York governor
Alfred E. Smith, and was a partner in the law firm Proskauer Rose
. Her mother was one of the founders of the Euthanasia Society of America. Smith grew up in Manhattan
.
On June 11, 1932, she married Theodore Smith and had a son, Anthony, and a daughter, Gael. The marriage later ended in divorce in 1946.
For her secondary education, she attended Ethical Culture Fieldston School
in New York City. In 1929, Radcliffe College
awarded her a bachelor's degree. Two years later, she received a Master of Fine Arts
in medieval art from the same educational institution.
Smith died on January 22, 2010, in New York at her home in Manhattan's Upper West Side
. Her son, Anthony, said that she "died where she wanted to, when she wanted to, and as she wanted to." At the time of her death, she had six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
and reproductive rights advocate.
Career
In the 1940s, Smith worked for the Massachusetts chapter of Planned ParenthoodPlanned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
. As an executive secretary of the organization, she unsuccessfully attempted to overturn the state's banning of birth control
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
. In 1953, she moved to New York to work at Mount Sinai Hospital
Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is one of the oldest and largest teaching hospitals in the United States. In 2011-2012, Mount Sinai Hospital was ranked as one of America's best hospitals by U.S...
, where she managed the family planning
Family planning
Family planning is the planning of when to have children, and the use of birth control and other techniques to implement such plans. Other techniques commonly used include sexuality education, prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections, pre-conception counseling and...
service. Two years later, she became the executive director of the Human Betterment Association (later renamed Emergence of the World Population Control Movement), where she worked until 1964.
In 1959, Smith's mother died an agonizing death. Smith became shocked at this occurrence and became one of the foremost leaders of voluntary euthanasia
Voluntary euthanasia
Voluntary euthanasia refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner...
. Even though she was almost ninety years old at the time, Smith donated and strategized for a campaign that culminated in the passing of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
's right-to-die law. Historian Ian Dowbiggin
Ian Dowbiggin
Ian Robert Dowbiggin is an academic historian, a historian of medicine, a prominent commentator on Catholicism, and an opponent of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. He is a professor in the History department at the University of Prince Edward Island...
said that Smith "played a pivotal role in the struggle for birth control, for euthanasia, and for abortion." Along with eleven other people, she helped establish the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (now called NARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice America , formerly the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, then National Abortion Rights Action League, and later National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, is an organization in the United States that engages in political action to oppose...
) in the 1960s.
In 1962, she moved into a two-bedroom apartment in The Dakota
The Dakota
The Dakota, constructed from October 25, 1880 to October 27, 1884, is a co-op apartment building located on the northwest corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City...
on 72nd Street and Central Park West in New York City; and she continued to live in this fifth floor home for the next fifty years.
Until 2009, she held seminars four times a week for Quest, a program at the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
for retirees, where she taught them about the history
History of the Supreme Court of the United States
The following is a history of the Supreme Court of the United States, organized by Chief Justice. The Supreme Court of the United States is the only court specifically established by the Constitution of the United States, implemented in 1789; under the Judiciary Act of 1789, the Court was to be...
of the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. She lived in The Dakota
The Dakota
The Dakota, constructed from October 25, 1880 to October 27, 1884, is a co-op apartment building located on the northwest corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City...
, an Upper West Side
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River and between West 59th Street and West 125th Street...
apartment building.
Personal life
Smith was born Ruth Proskauer on August 14, 1907, in Deal, New JerseyDeal, New Jersey
Deal is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the borough population was 750.Deal was incorporated as a borough on March 7, 1898, by an act of the New Jersey Legislature, from portions of Ocean Township....
, to Joseph M. Proskauer and Alice Naumburg. Her father served on the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
, was an adviser to New York governor
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
Alfred E. Smith, and was a partner in the law firm Proskauer Rose
Proskauer Rose
Proskauer Rose is one of the largest law firms in the United States, with twelve offices in the United States and around the world...
. Her mother was one of the founders of the Euthanasia Society of America. Smith grew up in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
On June 11, 1932, she married Theodore Smith and had a son, Anthony, and a daughter, Gael. The marriage later ended in divorce in 1946.
For her secondary education, she attended Ethical Culture Fieldston School
Ethical Culture Fieldston School
The Ethical Culture Fieldston School, known as "Fieldston", is a private "independent" school in New York City and a member of the Ivy Preparatory School League. It has about 1600 students and a staff of 400 people , led by Dr. Damian J...
in New York City. In 1929, Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
awarded her a bachelor's degree. Two years later, she received a Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
in medieval art from the same educational institution.
Smith died on January 22, 2010, in New York at her home in Manhattan's Upper West Side
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River and between West 59th Street and West 125th Street...
. Her son, Anthony, said that she "died where she wanted to, when she wanted to, and as she wanted to." At the time of her death, she had six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.