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Veronica Grace Boland

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American politician (1899–1982)
Veronica Grace Boland
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 11th district
In office
November 3, 1942 – January 3, 1943
Preceded byPatrick J. Boland
Succeeded byJohn W. Murphy
Personal details
Born(1899-03-18)March 18, 1899
Scranton, Pennsylvania
DiedJune 19, 1982(1982-06-19) (aged 83)
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Political partyDemocratic
SpousePatrick J. Boland
Parent(s)Patrick and Winifred Barrett

Veronica Grace Boland (née Barrett; March 18, 1899 – June 19, 1982) was the first woman from Pennsylvania to serve in the United States Congress. A Democrat, she served in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 77th Session of Congress.

Formative years

Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on March 18, 1899, Veronica Grace Barrett was a daughter of Patrick and Winifred Barrett, who had emigrated from Ireland. She married Patrick J. Boland.

She was educated in the public schools of her community at the Scranton Technical High School.

Political career and later life

Veronica Boland was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-seventh Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the May 18, 1942 heart attack-related death of her husband on the morning before he would have won the Pennsylvania primary election (a victory which would have sent him to the U.S House for a second term). Urged by leaders of the Democratic Party to fill her husband's seat, she ran unopposed and won the seat on November 3 of that year, during the first congressional elections to be held following America's entry into World War II.

Sworn in on November 19, 1942, she represented Pennsylvania's 11th District only until Congress adjourned its 77th session on December 16, 1942, choosing to retire rather than become a candidate for reelection in 1942.

After returning to Scranton, she worked as an executive secretary for the Dutch Manufacturing Company, but retired from that position in 1957 when health issues required that she undergo eye surgery.

Death and interment

Boland died in Scranton on June 19, 1982. She is buried at that city's Cathedral Cemetery.

See also

References

  1. "Boland, Veronica Grace," in History, Art & Archives." Washington, D.C.: U.S. House of Representatives, retrieved online February 23, 2019.
  2. Chamberlin, Hope. A Minority of Members: Women in the U.S. Congress, p. 159. New York, New York: Praeger, 1976.
  3. Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "Boland, Veronica Grace (1899-1982)." Ann Arbor, Michigan: The Political Graveyard, 2015.
  4. "Boland, Veronica Grace," in Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Congress, retrieved online February 23, 2019.
  5. Kestenbaum, "Boland, Veronica Grace," The Political Graveyard.
  6. "United States Census, 1900", FamilySearch, retrieved March 25, 2018
  7. "Boland, Veronica Grace," in History, Art & Archives," U.S. House of Representatives.
  8. "Boland, Veronica Grace," Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, U.S. Congress.
  9. Daniels, Melissa. "Gender equity elusive in Congress as fewer women run for office." Greensburg and Tarentum, Pennsylvania: The Tribune-Review, January 18, 2015.
  10. Olson, Laura. "Pennsylvania voters send a record number of women to Capitol Hill." Allentown, Pennsylvania: Morning Call, November 6, 2018.
  11. "Boland, Veronica Grace," in History, Art & Archives," U.S. House of Representatives.
  12. "Boland, Veronica Grace," Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, U.S. Congress.
  13. Kestenbaum, "Boland, Veronica Grace," The Political Graveyard.
  14. "Boland, Veronica Grace," in History, Art & Archives," U.S. House of Representatives.
  15. "Boland, Veronica Grace," Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, U.S. Congress.
  16. "Boland, Veronica Grace," in History, Art & Archives," U.S. House of Representatives.
  17. "Boland, Veronica Grace," in History, Art & Archives," U.S. House of Representatives.
  18. "Boland, Veronica Grace," Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, U.S. Congress.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded byPatrick J. Boland Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district
1942–1943 		Succeeded byJohn W. Murphy
Pennsylvania's delegation(s) to the 77th United States Congresses (ordered by seniority)
77th Senate: House:
Categories: