Dorothy Kenyon
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Kenyon was a New York
lawyer
, judge
, feminist and political activist in support of civil liberties
. During the era of McCarthyite
persecution, she was accused of being affiliated with 28 communist front organizations.
Kenyon was born in New York City
to Maria Wellington (Stanwood) and William Houston Kenyon, a patent lawyer. She grew up on the Upper West Side
, with a family summer home in Lakeville, Connecticut
. She graduated from Horace Mann School
in 1904 and attended Smith College
, studying economics
and history
. At Smith, she also participated in hockey
, tennis
, and was a Phi Beta Kappa, graduating in 1908. After a year in Mexico, after graduation, she decided to focus on social activism. She graduated from New York University
School of Law in 1917 and in her first job served as a research specialist in the group of lawyers advising delegates to the Versailles Peace Conference
. In the 1920s, she was known for her support of birth control
. In 1920 she was a co-founder of the Consumers Cooperative Services
, which ran a chain of cooperative cafeterias in New York City.
In 1930, Kenyon established the law firm of Straus and Kenyon with Dorothy Straus, with whom she worked in partnership until 1939, when she became a justice of the Municipal Court. From 1938-1943, she worked on the League of Nations Committee and traveled regularly between New York and Europe
. During her membership on the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
, from 1946 until 1950, Kenyon deplored the small role of women in the government
of the United States
. She was not re-appointed.
In response to Joseph McCarthy
's accusations on 8 March 1950 of her involvement with communist organizations, she described him as "an unmitigated liar" and "a coward to take shelter in the cloak of Congressional immunity." The following day, the New York Times published an editorial supporting Kenyon, following which McCarthy claimed to have little interest in the case. A Senate
subcommittee dismissed the charges on 17 July.
McCarthy alleged that Kenyon had been a member of 29 communist front organizations. Two "reliable former members of the Communist party" reportedly told McCarthy that "she had one job and one job only and that was to attach herself to a prominent individual... high in public life and try to influence the writings of that individual," according to a New York Times report from July 28, 1954.
While a U.S. representative on the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, Kenyon supported the Soviet Union against a British effort to re-unite the Russian wives of 15 British soldiers, according to a New York Times report of January 10, 1948.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Kenyon prepared briefs for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and worked for the ACLU.
Kenyon died of stomach cancer
in 1972.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, feminist and political activist in support of civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
. During the era of McCarthyite
McCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
persecution, she was accused of being affiliated with 28 communist front organizations.
Kenyon was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Maria Wellington (Stanwood) and William Houston Kenyon, a patent lawyer. She grew up on the Upper West Side
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River and between West 59th Street and West 125th Street...
, with a family summer home in Lakeville, Connecticut
Lakeville, Connecticut
Lakeville is a village and census-designated place in the town of Salisbury in Litchfield County, Connecticut, on Lake Wononskopomuc. The village includes Lakeville Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The district represents about of the village center...
. She graduated from Horace Mann School
Horace Mann School
Horace Mann School is an independent college preparatory school in New York City, New York, United States founded in 1887 known for its rigorous course of studies. Horace Mann is a member of the Ivy Preparatory School League, educating students from all across the New York tri-state area from...
in 1904 and attended Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
, studying economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. At Smith, she also participated in hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, and was a Phi Beta Kappa, graduating in 1908. After a year in Mexico, after graduation, she decided to focus on social activism. She graduated from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
School of Law in 1917 and in her first job served as a research specialist in the group of lawyers advising delegates to the Versailles Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
. In the 1920s, she was known for her support of birth control
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
. In 1920 she was a co-founder of the Consumers Cooperative Services
Consumers Cooperative Services
Consumers Cooperative Services was a white collar consumers cooperative in New York City which ran a chain of cooperative restaurants, bakeries and grocery stores...
, which ran a chain of cooperative cafeterias in New York City.
In 1930, Kenyon established the law firm of Straus and Kenyon with Dorothy Straus, with whom she worked in partnership until 1939, when she became a justice of the Municipal Court. From 1938-1943, she worked on the League of Nations Committee and traveled regularly between New York and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. During her membership on the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
The Commission on the Status of Women is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council , one of the main UN organs within the United Nations.Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender...
, from 1946 until 1950, Kenyon deplored the small role of women in the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She was not re-appointed.
In response to Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
's accusations on 8 March 1950 of her involvement with communist organizations, she described him as "an unmitigated liar" and "a coward to take shelter in the cloak of Congressional immunity." The following day, the New York Times published an editorial supporting Kenyon, following which McCarthy claimed to have little interest in the case. A Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
subcommittee dismissed the charges on 17 July.
McCarthy alleged that Kenyon had been a member of 29 communist front organizations. Two "reliable former members of the Communist party" reportedly told McCarthy that "she had one job and one job only and that was to attach herself to a prominent individual... high in public life and try to influence the writings of that individual," according to a New York Times report from July 28, 1954.
While a U.S. representative on the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, Kenyon supported the Soviet Union against a British effort to re-unite the Russian wives of 15 British soldiers, according to a New York Times report of January 10, 1948.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Kenyon prepared briefs for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and worked for the ACLU.
Kenyon died of stomach cancer
Stomach cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly referred to as stomach cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus, lungs, lymph nodes, and the liver...
in 1972.