Marguerite Stitt Church (September 13, 1892 – May 26, 1990) was an American psychologist and politician who represented Illinois' 13th congressional district as a
Republican from 1951 to 1963.
Early life and education
Church born in 1892 to William J. and Adelaide Stitt (
née
A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...
Forsythe). She grew up in the
New York City metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also commonly referred to as the Tri-State area, is the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban area, urban landmass, at , and one of the list of most populous metropolitan areas, most populous urban agg ...
where she attended St. Agatha School. She traveled abroad with her parents each summer, which helped develop her interest in foreign countries. In 1914, Church graduated from
Wellesley College
Wellesley College is a private women's liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1870 by Henry and Pauline Durant as a female seminary, it is a member of the original Seven Sisters Colleges, an unofficial g ...
where she earned a
B.A. in
psychology, with a minor in
economics and
sociology. She went on to get a
Master's degree from
Columbia University in 1917.
Career
After graduating from Columbia, Church became a consulting psychologist for the State Charities Aid Association of New York City for one year. When her husband,
Ralph Church, was first elected as a
U.S. Representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...
in 1934, she became closely involved with his work.
In March 1950, Ralph died of heart failure during a House committee hearing.
[ Church ran for her husband's now vacant seat and was elected in November 1950 by the highest majority ever had by a candidate from Evanston.][ Church voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and ]1960
It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism.
Events
January
* Ja ...
, as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Personal life
On December 21, 1918, she married Ralph E. Church. The couple settled in Evanston, Illinois and had three children: Ralph Jr., William, and Marjory. She died in Evanston on May 26, 1990.
See also
* Women in the United States House of Representatives
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Church, Marguerite S.
Methodists from Illinois
Columbia University alumni
Female members of the United States House of Representatives
Spouses of Illinois politicians
Wellesley College alumni
Women in Illinois politics
1892 births
1990 deaths
People from Evanston, Illinois
Politicians from New York City
Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois
20th-century American politicians
Burials in Illinois
20th-century American women politicians