Doris Ryer Nixon
Encyclopedia
Doris Ryer Nixon was a civic leader, particularly on the home front during World War II
. The granddaughter of one of California's first doctors, and daughter-in-law of a shipbuilder and industrialist, she became a national vice-president of the American Women's Voluntary Services
(AWVS) during the war.
in the 1840s after serving as an assistant surgeon in General Winfield Scott
's campaign in the Mexican-American War. He married Mary Fletcher of Boston in 1862, and they had one son, Fletcher Ryer. Ryer Island
in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is named in their honor. Fletcher and his wife, Blanche, became wealthy pioneer agriculturalists. In 1906 it was reported that their daughter Doris was placed in a school in Paris, France.
, for the summer of 1915. She was formally presented as a debutante
in Newport that year. As the Oakland Tribune would write, "Mrs. Ryer has had her eye on several members of the British aristocracy for Doris, but this cruel war, of course, smashed all of her well-laid plans to smithereens." (Her mother would later marry Clifford Erskine-Bolst, a British Conservative Party
politician (who was elected to the British House of Commons
in 1923 and again in 1931.)
in 1917 in New York. He was the son of Lewis Nixon I
, a naval architect who briefly led Tammany Hall
, and who was the namesake of Nixon Nitration Works and its home village of Nixon, New Jersey. Stanhope had become a subject of controversy several years before their marriage, after he was arrested for assaulting and seriously injuring a phone company engineer in New Haven following a wine party (an offense for which he was fined but not jailed). Doris and Stanhope were joined the following year by a son, Lewis Nixon III, and in 1923 by a daughter, Blanche Nixon. A second son was born in March 1922 but died two months later.
Doris and Stanhope were often apart, with Stanhope tending to the family business in New Jersey and Doris deeply involved in community activities in California. They were divorced in 1945.
In June 1947 she and 119 other civic leaders signed a letter urging Congress to immediately adopt legislation providing for universal military training.
.
. His service with Easy Company would bring him fame after his 1995 death, when the Company became the subject of the acclaimed 2001 television mini-series "Band of Brothers" based on the Stephen Ambrose
book.
Home front during World War II
The home front covers the activities of the civilians in a nation at war. World War II was a total war; homeland production became even more invaluable to both the Allied and Axis powers. Life on the home front during World War II was a significant part of the war effort for all participants and...
. The granddaughter of one of California's first doctors, and daughter-in-law of a shipbuilder and industrialist, she became a national vice-president of the American Women's Voluntary Services
American Women's Voluntary Services
American Women's Voluntary Services was the largest American women's service organization in the United States during World War II...
(AWVS) during the war.
California upbringing
Nixon's grandfather, Dr. Washington Ryer, was a New York doctor who settled in Stockton, CaliforniaStockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
in the 1840s after serving as an assistant surgeon in General Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
's campaign in the Mexican-American War. He married Mary Fletcher of Boston in 1862, and they had one son, Fletcher Ryer. Ryer Island
Ryer Island
Ryer Island an island in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in Solano County, California surrounded by Miner Slough and Steamboat Slough at their confluence with the Sacramento River, 6.5 miles north-northeast of Rio Vista. The island is named in honor of a California pioneer, Dr. Washington...
in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is named in their honor. Fletcher and his wife, Blanche, became wealthy pioneer agriculturalists. In 1906 it was reported that their daughter Doris was placed in a school in Paris, France.
Debutante
Fletcher Ryer died in 1911, before reaching age fifty. As Doris reached her early twenties, she and her mother became increasingly involved in the social scenes on the east coast, taking Benjamin Thaw's "cottage" in Newport, Rhode IslandNewport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, for the summer of 1915. She was formally presented as a debutante
Debutante
A débutante is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal "début" presentation. It should not be confused with a Debs...
in Newport that year. As the Oakland Tribune would write, "Mrs. Ryer has had her eye on several members of the British aristocracy for Doris, but this cruel war, of course, smashed all of her well-laid plans to smithereens." (Her mother would later marry Clifford Erskine-Bolst, a British Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician (who was elected to the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1923 and again in 1931.)
Marriage and family
She married Stanhope Wood NixonStanhope Wood Nixon
Stanhope Wood Nixon was a vice president of the Nixon Nitration Works during the 1924 Nixon Nitration Works disaster. He later became chairman of the board.-Biography:...
in 1917 in New York. He was the son of Lewis Nixon I
Lewis Nixon (naval architect)
Lewis Nixon I was a naval architect, shipbuilding executive, public servant, and political activist. He designed the United States' first modern battleships, and supervised the construction of its first modern submarines, all before his 40th birthday. He was briefly the leader of Tammany Hall...
, a naval architect who briefly led Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
, and who was the namesake of Nixon Nitration Works and its home village of Nixon, New Jersey. Stanhope had become a subject of controversy several years before their marriage, after he was arrested for assaulting and seriously injuring a phone company engineer in New Haven following a wine party (an offense for which he was fined but not jailed). Doris and Stanhope were joined the following year by a son, Lewis Nixon III, and in 1923 by a daughter, Blanche Nixon. A second son was born in March 1922 but died two months later.
Doris and Stanhope were often apart, with Stanhope tending to the family business in New Jersey and Doris deeply involved in community activities in California. They were divorced in 1945.
Civic leadership
Nixon was the founder and president of Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc., state commander of the California Cancer Society, and national vice-president of the AWVS during World War II. The AWVS was a key organization for coordinating volunteer activities in support of the war effort. She had founded the California chapter, and had served as its first president. She also served as a member of the World Affairs Council and numerous organizations devoted to peace.In June 1947 she and 119 other civic leaders signed a letter urging Congress to immediately adopt legislation providing for universal military training.
Death
Nixon died in her home in San Francisco on June 24, 1948, at age fifty-five. She left an estate valued at approximately $750,000, which included a half interest in a 6600 acres (26.7 km²) ranch on Ryer IslandRyer Island
Ryer Island an island in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in Solano County, California surrounded by Miner Slough and Steamboat Slough at their confluence with the Sacramento River, 6.5 miles north-northeast of Rio Vista. The island is named in honor of a California pioneer, Dr. Washington...
.
Legacy
Her son, Lewis Nixon III, was then serving as an officer in the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of it with Easy CompanyE Company, 506th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Easy Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, the "Screaming Eagles", is one of the most well-known companies in the United States Army. Their experiences in World War II are the subject of the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers based on the book...
. His service with Easy Company would bring him fame after his 1995 death, when the Company became the subject of the acclaimed 2001 television mini-series "Band of Brothers" based on the Stephen Ambrose
Stephen Ambrose
Stephen Edward Ambrose was an American historian and biographer of U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon. He was a long time professor of history at the University of New Orleans and the author of many best selling volumes of American popular history...
book.