Beatrice Kravistsky Chernock (May 30, 1908December 13, 1994) was an American educator and politician. She was a member of the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

and served on the

Philadelphia City Council The Philadelphia City Council, the legislative body of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, consists of ten members elected by district and seven members elected at-large. The council president is elected by the members from among their number. Each ...

from 1972 to 1984.

Career

Education and media

Chernock graduated from the Philadelphia Normal School and later earned a bachelor's and a master's degree in education from

Temple University Temple University (Temple or TU) is a public state-related research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1884 by the Baptist minister Russell Conwell and his congregation Grace Baptist Church of Philadelphia then called Ba ...

. She became a teacher in the

School District of Philadelphia The School District of Philadelphia (SDP) is the school district that includes all school district-operated public schools in Philadelphia. Established in 1818, it is the 8th largest school district in the nation, by enrollment, serving over 200 ...

and was later the principal at Charles W. Henry School in the city's Mount Airy neighborhood. Chernock also had an educational radio program called "Classroom of the Air" and a television series "Our America" on

WHYY-TV WHYY-TV (channel 12) is a television station licensed to Wilmington, Delaware, United States, serving as the primary PBS member station for the Philadelphia area. It is owned by WHYY, Inc., alongside NPR member station WHYY-FM 90.9. WHYY-TV and ...

, the local public television station.

Politics

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

, she made her first run for office, taking on incumbent Rep.

William A. Barrett William Aloysius Barrett (August 14, 1896 – April 12, 1976) was an American lawyer, politician, and member of the Democratic Party who served in the United States House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania's 1st congressional dis ...

for the 1st congressional district. Running in a heavily Democratic district, Chernock was defeated in the race by more than 40,000 votes. In 1967, she ran for the 4th Councilmanic District seat held by Councilman

George X. Schwartz George X. Schwartz (January 28, 1915 – March 26, 2010) was a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic politician who served as a member of the Philadelphia City Council for two decades. Early life Though he was born in New York City, Schwa ...

. Schwartz prevailed by less than 5,000 votes. Chernock won her first election to council in 1971 running from the at-large district for council, finishing second in the race for one of the two minority-party seats. Chernock won re-election two more times, in 1975 and 1979. In the 1983 race, the city Republican leaders tried to persuade her to step down; however, she sought re-election.

Joan Specter Joan Levy Specter (born January 1, 1934) is an American businesswoman and politician. She is a former member of the Philadelphia City Council, and the widow of former U.S. Senator Arlen Specter. Professional career Specter holds a BA from Southe ...

, the wife of Senator

Arlen Specter Arlen Specter (February 12, 1930 – October 14, 2012) was an American lawyer, author and politician who served as a United States Senator from Pennsylvania from 1981 to 2011. Specter was a Democrat from 1951 to 1965, then a Republican from ...

and former councilman

Thacher Longstreth William Thacher Longstreth (January 1, 1920April 11, 2003) was a Republican member of the Philadelphia City Council who was perhaps best known for his long tenure and unique image. Longstreth, a graduate of Princeton University, was an eighth-g ...

, finished first and second in the race and sending Chernock to defeat. Over the years, she served in various other capacities, as a member of the

Urban League The National Urban League, formerly known as the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, is a nonpartisan historic civil rights organization based in New York City that advocates on behalf of economic and social justice for African Am ...

, the Civic Ballet and the Citizens Crime Commission of Philadelphia.

Personal life

Her husband, Morris Chernock, was a local attorney who was active in politics, running for the

Pennsylvania House of Representatives The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two-year terms from single member districts. It ...

and also serving as a deputy attorney general in Pennsylvania. Chernock died on December 13, 1994, at the age of 85 in

Wynnewood, Pennsylvania Wynnewood is a suburban unincorporated community, located west of Philadelphia, straddling Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and Haverford Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The community was named in 1691 for Dr. ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chernock, Beatrice 1908 births 1994 deaths Politicians from Philadelphia Educators from Philadelphia Temple University alumni Pennsylvania Republicans Philadelphia City Council members 20th-century American politicians