Esther Peterson
Encyclopedia
Esther Eggertsen Peterson (December 9, 1906 – December 20, 1997) was a lifelong consumer
and women's
advocate.
. She graduated from Brigham Young University
in 1927 with a degree in physical education. She moved to New York City
where she married Oliver Peterson. In 1932, the two moved to Boston
, where she taught at a prep school and volunteered at the YWCA
.
and traveled around New England. In 1944, Peterson became the first lobbyist for the National Labor Relations Board
in Washington, D.C.
In 1948, the State Department offered Peterson’s husband a position as a diplomat in Sweden
. The family returned to Washington D.C., in 1957 and Peterson joined the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO
, becoming its first woman lobbyist.
She was Assistant Secretary of Labor
and Director of the United States Women's Bureau
for President John F. Kennedy
, Special Assistant for Consumer Affairs under Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson
and Jimmy Carter
, Vice President for Consumer Affairs at Giant Food
Corporation, and president of the National Consumers League
.
She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
in 1981 and was named a delegate the UN as a UNESCO
representative in 1993.
Consumer protection
Consumer protection laws designed to ensure fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional...
and women's
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
advocate.
Background
The daughter of Danish immigrants, Esther Eggertsen grew up in a Mormon family in Provo, UtahProvo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
. She graduated from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
in 1927 with a degree in physical education. She moved to 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...
where she married Oliver Peterson. In 1932, the two moved to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, where she taught at a prep school and volunteered at the YWCA
YWCA
The YWCA USA is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in...
.
Career
In 1938, Peterson became a paid organizer for the American Federation of TeachersAmerican Federation of Teachers
The American Federation of Teachers is an American labor union founded in 1916 that represents teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; local, state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff, and nurses and other healthcare professionals...
and traveled around New England. In 1944, Peterson became the first lobbyist for the National Labor Relations Board
National Labor Relations Board
The National Labor Relations Board is an independent agency of the United States government charged with conducting elections for labor union representation and with investigating and remedying unfair labor practices. Unfair labor practices may involve union-related situations or instances of...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
In 1948, the State Department offered Peterson’s husband a position as a diplomat in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. The family returned to Washington D.C., in 1957 and Peterson joined the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
, becoming its first woman lobbyist.
She was Assistant Secretary of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
and Director of the United States Women's Bureau
United States Women's Bureau
The United States Women's Bureau is an agency of the United States government within the United States Department of Labor. The WB was established by Congress in 1920 and continues its responsibility to carry out Public Law 66-259; 29 U.S.C...
for President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, Special Assistant for Consumer Affairs under Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
and Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, Vice President for Consumer Affairs at Giant Food
Giant Food
Giant Food as a supermarket chain may refer to:* Giant-Carlisle or Giant Food Stores LLC, a subsidiary of Ahold* Giant-Landover or Giant Food LLC, also an Ahold subsidiary* Giant Food Markets of Broome County, New York...
Corporation, and president of the National Consumers League
National Consumers League
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is an American consumer organization. The National Consumers League is a private, nonprofit advocacy group representing consumers on marketplace and workplace issues....
.
She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
in 1981 and was named a delegate the UN as a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
representative in 1993.
Selected works
- Restless: The Memoirs of Labor and Consumer Activist Esther Peterson (Caring Publishing, 1997)
External links
- Consumers Union bio
- Esther Peterson Papers
- Schlesinger Library Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University
- National Women's Hall of Fame
- AFL-CIO Profile
- Esther Peterson Scholarship
See also
- Great SocietyGreat SocietyThe Great Society was a set of domestic programs in the United States promoted by President Lyndon B. Johnson and fellow Democrats in Congress in the 1960s. Two main goals of the Great Society social reforms were the elimination of poverty and racial injustice...