Beatrice Keene (Webber) Corliss (October 21, 1910 – January 12, 1995) was an American politician who served as the first female Mayor of

Gloucester, Massachusetts Gloucester () is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It sits on Cape Ann and is a part of Massachusetts's North Shore. The population was 29,729 at the 2020 U.S. Census. An important center of the fishing industry and a ...

Early life and business career

Corliss was born on October 21, 1910, in Gloucester. She graduated from

Simmons College Institutions of learning called Simmons College or Simmons University include: * Simmons University, a women's liberal arts college in Boston, Massachusetts * Simmons College of Kentucky, a historically black college in Louisville, Kentucky * Har ...

. Professionally, she worked as an accountant for Birds Eye before becoming the assistant treasurer of Consolidated Lobster. She also aided her husband's business by picking strawberries and raspberries.

Political career

Corliss political involvement began as a member of the Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs of Gloucester, an organization whose activities included supporting candidates for appointed office. In 1951, Corliss attempted her first run for office as a candidate for Gloucester school committee. She was successful and was reelected in 1953. In 1955, she was the highest vote-getter in the city council election and was elected mayor by her fellow councilors; at the time, Gloucester employed a "weak mayor" form of government, and full time administration of the city departments was in the hands of an appointed city manager. She was reelected to the city council in 1957 and was once again chosen to serve as Mayor. In 1960, Corliss was a candidate for the Massachusetts House of Representatives in the 2nd Essex District after incumbent

Barclay H. Warburton III Barclay Harding Warburton III (February 5, 1922 – May 1, 1983) was founder of the American Sail Training Association. Early life Warburton was born to Barclay Harding Warburton II and Rosamund Lancaster. In 1936 his father died in a hunti ...

chose to retire. As the district only included three wards in Gloucester, she had to branch out and campaign in the district's other municipalities (

Amesbury Amesbury () is a town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It is known for the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge which is within the parish. The town is claimed to be the oldest occupied settlement in Great Britain, having been first settle ...

Essex, Georgetown, Ipswich, Newbury,

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, and West Newbury). She defeated six male candidates to win the Republican nomination. During her tenure in the House, Corliss served on the Ways and Means, Towns, and Harbors and Public Lands committees. Corliss was also a delegate to the

1960 Republican National Convention The 1960 Republican National Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois, from July 25 to July 28, 1960, at the International Amphitheatre. It was the 14th and most recent time overall that Chicago hosted the Republican National Convention, more ti ...

. From 1964 to 1969, she served as the appointments secretary for Massachusetts Governor

John A. Volpe John Anthony Volpe (; December 8, 1908November 11, 1994) was an American businessman, diplomat, and politician from Massachusetts. A son of Italian immigrants, he founded and owned a large construction firm. Politically, he was a Republican in i ...

Later life and death

Corliss and her husband later moved to Northfield, Vermont. She died on January 12, 1995, in Northfield.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Corliss, Beatrice 1910 births 1995 deaths American women accountants Mayors of Gloucester, Massachusetts Republican Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives People from Washington County, Vermont Simmons University alumni Women mayors of places in Massachusetts 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American women politicians