Massachusetts Federation of Republican Women - Massachusetts History

Written by Lucia Cummings

The official date of the founding of the Massachusetts FRW is listed as February 28, 1947. However, the history of the women working for political action in the Republican Party as an organized unit begins actually in 1935.  On November 19 of that year, Mrs. Alfred B. Williams, the Vice-Chair of the Republican State Committee at that time, called a luncheon meeting at the Women's Republican Club of Massachusetts, 46 Beacon Street, Boston.  Invitations were sent to the women members of the Republican State Committee, Vice-Chair and Secretaries of the Republican City, Ward and Town Committees of Massachusetts and Presidents and Secretaries of the WRC of Massachusetts.  Mrs. Hoyle spoke about educating the voters and the fact that this should be the prime function of this particular organization.

So the die was cast…philosophically. The point of view of the MFRW has never varied. The function of the Federation as perceived to this day is still the education of its members in the political arts that make it possible to elect Republicans to office. Giving women the tools to become sophisticated campaign workers is our goal to this day.

On January 8, 1936, the Women's Republican Organization called the first all-day meeting. It was called an open forum but was actually a training session for the elections that would be upcoming. Several working committees were set up with only one goal…the training of its members for "heavy" campaign work.

From February of 1937 on, the Organization meetings were held once a month with the exceptions of July and August.

On February 17, 1937 this group was officially named by Mrs. Alfred B. Williams the Women's Republican Organization.

As an adjunct to this WRO, there was also a Council of Presidents. This group was formed in this way. On May 19, 1938, Mrs. Williams called a meeting of the Presidents of the Women's Republican Club of Massachusetts. At this meeting it was voted that the Presidents of the individual Women's Republican Clubs of Massachusetts associate together as an organization and that the name should be the Council of Presidents of the Women's Republican Committee; that the purpose of the Council of Presidents should be to effect unity of action of the Presidents of the WRC Clubs in cooperation with the Republican State Committee; that the Vice Chair of the RSC should be ex-officio Chair of the Council and should appoint a Director to assist in this work. Maude Johnson of Melrose was the first Director to be appointed.

When the Council of Presidents was organized, it was for the benefit of the Club Presidents only but as time went on, Mrs. Addison Green, at that time Vice Chair of the RSC, thought it advisable to invite all members of the organization to attend. As this time, the Council of Presidents branched out to include the women who represent sections of the State where they had no Clubs.

The entity known as the Massachusetts Federation of Republican Women was organized on February 28, 1947 in Boston, MA and it represented approximately 25,000 Republican women. There were approximately seventy-two unit clubs at the time of the organizing. The first president was Mrs. Raymond Wheeler. It should be noted that from 1947 through May 1964, the presidency was automatically held by the Vice Chair of the MRSC. These Presidents were:

Mrs. Raymond W. Wheeler 1947-1953
Mrs. Beatrice H. Mullaney 1953-1955
Mrs. B. Alden Thresher 1955-1959
Mrs. Emory Ireland 1959-1964

At the Annual Meeting of the Federation in May 1964, the By-Laws of the Federation and the State Committee were changed and the two offices were separated. Since that date, the Federation has elected its President. Presidents since that time were:

Ann Blackham 1964-1969
Betty Amesbury 1969-1973
Maxine Hunter 1973-1977
Anne Witherby 1977-1980
Maudyea Campbell 1980-1985
Alice Morrison 1985-1987
Edna Bogosian 1987-1989

At the time of the organization, the meetings were called "clinics." They were held during the morning with a luncheon at noon and a speaker of national importance. Today we might call these "informational meetings." Ann Blackham, elected in 1964, was what might be called the "transitional President." It was during Ann's term in office that the Federation assumed its present structure.

So after Ann Blackham, there was a formidable pair of shoes to fill. And to fill them, the Federation chose Betty Amesbury, then of Wellesley, now of Cotuit. Betty was President from 1969 to 1973.

It was Betty who initiated a Federation newsletter.  In 1970 it was called "More Firepower with Republican Women." Then in 1971 it was retitled "UPDATE" and "UPDATE" it's been ever since. During all this time only two issues have missed a printing. The first time was a November issue in 1972 when the President and the Editor of the newsletter were involved so deeply in campaigning that there just was no time left. The first Editor of UPDATE was Natalie Baldwin, followed by Mary Wood. In 1971, Lucia Cummings took over and served as editor up to 1980.

Betty established geographical districts for the Federation and created the post of District Director to serve these districts. This position may be unique to MA, so let us expand. District Directors are the liaison between the unit clubs and the President. The District Director is usually closer to the club president and may help her to solve her problems more expeditiously.

A District Director is also on hand to detect any signs that a particular club may be in danger of becoming  inactive and is able to alert the President so that the proper measures may taken to prevent this. The first year the position of DD was created, our Federation held a "School of Politics" across the state…one in each of four Districts.

At this time the chance of women becoming jurors in this state was negligible, just because of the cavalier attitude of those who selected jurors. When a woman's name would come up someone would say "Oh, I know her…she has two small children…she couldn't possibly serve" so that name would go right back in the box. When a bill was coming before our State Legislature to make it mandatory to contact those who were chosen, our Federation conducted an extensive lobbying effort. The law was changed and since then juries have reflected the same average as the male/female population of the state.

Finances are something to which this Federation has never paid much attention; we always felt our aim was to produce workers and voters…but, alas, no Army marches without a wallet, not even the Republican Army. So our Federation has held one Fund Raiser a year. In 1970, Betty began what developed into a yearly series of "Boat Parties." These were held in Boston Harbor aboard an old reconditioned river boat "The Peter Stuyvesant." They were profitable but just as important, enjoyable. We have always tried to combine FUN with FUNDS.

 Club Presidents were introduced into the mysteries of parliamentary procedure mixed with politics at annual workshops. This was a particularly important step because to take a woman, no matter how well-intentioned, and assume that when she is elected President she will immediately know how to conduct a meeting and to run a local campaign is unrealistic. This tutoring has proved invaluable.

1972 was the year the Acton and Duxbury Clubs were formed…they had the distinction of having the largest number of charter members…97 and 102 respectively.

This same year, when Republican prospects for the House were dim, Betty, with Frank Hatch, Minority Leader, initiated a program called SAVE, which targeted House districts for the election of members. SAVE collected funds for distribution to candidates and also held workshops in specific areas directed toward election of Republican candidates.

Betty Amesbury, in 1973, turned the mantle of Federation President over to Maxine Hunter. During Maxine's term the Federation continued to flourish.

During this time we had a Republican governor, Frank Sargent. When Mrs. Sargent wrote a book called "The Governor's Wife/A View from Within", she turned to the Federation to publicize and distribute this book.

Autographing parties were organized in each of our eight districts and the Federation realized it had promotional expertise. We shared in the profits. Lucia Cummings, who was acting as Public Relations Chair, and Maxine Hunter attended all these events and the publicity was excellent for both the book and the Federation.

As with Betty, Maxine always kept politics in the forefront. She began to realize that so many talented women know little about Party structure, so the Federation held a seminar on "How to Run for City/Town Republican Committees, for State Committee and for delegate to the National Convention." It was successful beyond expectations. It doubled the number of woman Town Committee members.

Just to show the popularity of the Federation in Massachusetts, we want to cite the example of the selection of delegates to the 1976 Presidential Convention. Delegates were selected by the number of votes they received at a caucus. Our Federation President, Maxine Hunter, and one of our best-known Republicans, holder of cabinet posts, Ambassador to England, Elliot Richardson, happened to live in the same district. At the caucus Maxine received the larger number of votes and she was the delegate. Elliot Richardson went to the Convention as her alternate.

In 1974, the Federation sponsored a two-day "Mini-Convention."  The motto was "Women Mean More in ‘74." This, again, was geared toward political awareness. Constance Armitage, then NFRW President, attended.

1977…Anne Witherby becomes President and the Federation was going strong with 55unit clubs, but our Republican fortunes in Massachusetts were not keeping pace. In 1978, we were unable to re-elect our beloved Senator Edward Brooke despite the massive efforts of our Federation. During this election we produced 100,000 woman hours of campaign work, not only for our Senator, but for candidates at all levels. This was a massive effort but Anne worked carefully with Club Presidents to ascertain that this massive infusion of help was directed in the most productive manner.

Anne Witherby reorganized the sphere of the District Directors so that they matched geographically our Congressional Districts thus automatically training one person in each Congressional District with grass roots knowledge of that particular District.

In 1978 with an election coming up, the Federation polled MA to determine what was wanted most from State Government. This poll was made available to our Republican candidates.

Anne, herself, meanwhile was representing the Federation in creative and unusual ways, testifying at the State House for Republican-sponsored bills and participating in seminars at Harvard's School of Government.

As President, Anne realized the swing toward women going to work. She began encouraging clubs to have evening meetings to improve membership. In 1977, Harvard's Department of Psychology and Social Relations asked the Federation to participate in a survey "Woman's Role in Our Society"; 40% of our members responded. Among Federation membership we learned that widows were the most liberal; liberals wanted more women to run for office; 35% of those who responded had paying jobs. This forever put to rest the image of the Federation as a haven for rich, under-productive women to get together for tea.

By 1977, Presidential fever was hitting Republicans. There was s gut feeling that Jimmy Carter could be beaten and the trek of potential Republican candidates began. The Federation hosted many Presidential hopefuls in an effort to present to the people of MA a first-hand view of as many candidates as possible. That same year, we also hosted President Betty Heitman who joined us for a Board dinner and a Federation meeting.

Because Anne herself is a Bostonian and Boston is the center of MA politics, emphasis was put on electing Republicans to office in the city. No small credit goes to the Federation for the election of a Republican, John Sears, to the Boston City Council, the first time this feat had been accomplished in over twenty years.

Maudyea Campbell, who had just been re-elected, came to office in the fall of 1979 to finish out the term of Anne Witherby. In 1981, she was elected on her own.

Her feeling is that here in Massachusetts the Federation is more important than ever. No glossing over can erase the fact that Republicans here in Massachusetts are near extinction. The figures speak for themselves. The last election, with the loss of Congresswoman Margaret Heckler, was absolutely devastating.

On the other hand, Maudyea does not dwell on these sobering facts, but tries to focus her attention on the Federation's role in invigorating the Party…"digging in our toes to keep the two-party system, although comatose, alive."

Maudyea started right off with a fund-raiser which featured the Vice President and Mrs. Bush. We called it our own Inaugural Ball and it was a smashing success both socially and financially.

Then, Maudyea began to focus her attention on the dissemination of information. Our long-time newsletter, UPDATE, was made available at Federation expense, to every member. This served as our network between the Federation and its clubs and among the club members themselves. Maudyea has always felt the necessity of keeping every member informed. Because of this attitude she feels it not only a duty but a privilege to visit individual clubs…on these trips she instills the knowledge that each one of us is an individual member of the Federation and the Federation could not exist without each one of its members.

This philosophy is paying off, in fact this year two clubs have been reinstated and two are being added.

In two years, Congressional elections will be coming up again…1984 will be the year of the Presidential primary and election. Maudyea will have the Federation braced and ready.

Maudyea herself has been a feminist activist for long before it was fashionable. Her concern for the position of women in the party is equaled by her concern for some in society as a whole. She is always in the forefront in urging members of her sex to run for office and to throw the role in which we seem to have fallen for so long of being working bystanders instead of elected leaders.

In looking over this history, it is obvious that this Federation has always been led by strong, dedicated women. If we thrived it was because they were able to generate this strength and dedication in their members.

Alice Morrison was elected president in 1985. Her main theme for her term of office was "volunteerism." She had Rosemary Madruga from the Republican National Committee speak on "Caring Partners" at the Annual Meeting in 1986. From that she developed her "Caring for Massachusetts" program. Later in March, she held a two-day conference in Cambridge, featuring outstanding speakers and panel members in different areas where club members could make a difference.

Alice also held a "Tribute to Women" meeting in the fall of 1985 at which the newly elected president of the National Federation of Republican Women, Judy Hughes, was the guest speaker.

President Morrison carried on the National Federation "Hot Line" program which had been set up by the previous president, Maudyea Campbell. She arranged for a special open board meeting to explain the program to club presidents and legislative chairmen.

It was during Alice's term in office that the by-laws were changed to limit the term of president to one two-year term.

In 1987, Edna Bogosian became president and was installed in office along with other newly-elected officers by the special guest of the annual meeting, Parliamentarian of the National Federation, Barnie Shuhie.

Under Edna's leadership the Federation has had an outstanding two years. Her programs have been varied and interesting, including the National Federation President Judy Hughes; National Committeewoman Polly Logan;  Boston Herald columnist, Don Feder; Judy Black, special assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs; Barbara Anderson, Executive Director of "Citizens for Limited Taxation": Governor of Rhode Island, Edward D. DiPrete; Wayne Woodlief, Political reported for the Boston Herald.

Of particular importance was the spring meeting held in May of 1988 which highlighted the drug problem in the country. Among the guest speakers were Connie and Otto Moulton from the National Federation of Concerned Citizens for Drug Prevention; Sharon Rose, National Federation of Parents Against Drugs; and Arlene Seal, Founder of Campuses Without Drugs.

Also, the "Organ Donor" Caring Program held in Worcester April 24-25, 1987. Top level speakers from the State Organ Donor Program were present at the two-day seminar.

Edna had two successful fund raisers during her term. The first held, held in 1987 celebrated the Bi-Centennial of the United States Constitution with honor guests Governor and Mrs. John Sununu of New Hampshire. The second was held at the home of Mr. And Mrs. Alexander Ellis (Nancy Bush Ellis) with guests of honor, former Governor John A. Volpe and Chairman of the Republican State Committee, Ray Shamie and Mrs. Shamie. Money raised from these events made it possible for the Federation to give $10,000 to Republican Candidates, plus a contribution of $1,000 to the Victory '88 Massachusetts Fund (for George Bush).

President Bogosian led the MFRW in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the NFRW at a luncheon in June, 1988, in conjunction with an Open Board meeting at which Huda Jones, First Vice President of the National Federation was the guest speaker. Several members of former Governor Herter's family were present as the Federation planted a white dogwood tree in the Mary Caroline Herter Gardens on M.D.C. property on the Charles River in honor of the former First Lady of Massachusetts who also was a member of the MFRW, in recognition of the NFRW's birthday year.

A new "UPDATE" newsletter was continued during President Bogosian's tenure and was well received by all the members and outside readers.