Frances P. Bolton
Encyclopedia
Frances Payne Bolton born Frances P. Bingham, was a Republican politician from Ohio
. She served in the United States House of Representatives
. She was the first woman elected to Congress from Ohio
. She was also the oldest woman to date to serve in the House of Representatives.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio
, Bolton was the granddaughter of Henry B. Payne
. Active in public health, nursing education and other social service, education, and philanthropic work, she succeeded her husband, Chester C. Bolton
, in office a few months after his death in 1939. Upon election to the remainder of her late husband's term, Bolton refused the customary widow's allowance comprising the remainder of the salary her late husband would have collected had he served out his term. She represented the 22nd District, once the most populous House district in Ohio, mostly consisting of Cleveland's eastern suburbs. Bolton served an additional fourteen terms, serving alongside her son, Oliver P. Bolton
for three of those terms. She and Oliver appeared on What's My Line? as the only mother and son serving together. It was reported that when he voted against her, she once stage-whispered, "That's my adopted son."
Serving on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Bolton called Secretary of State John Foster Dulles
in May 1954 after the fall of the French base at Dien Bien Phu
, urging him to invite nurse Genevieve de Galard
to the United States. When Galard arrived in July, Bolton described her as a "symbol of heroic femininity in the free world". After receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom
, Galard was received at a dinner for three hundred in Congresswoman Bolton's home district of Cleveland while on a tour of the country.
In 1955, she became the first American woman member of Congress to head an international delegation, using her own resources to fund it. One of her most lasting achievements was sponsoring legislation to purchase property across the Potomac River
from Mount Vernon
, the home of George Washington
. This prevented commercialization of the area and preserved its appearance as it was when Washington lived there. Bolton had a phenomenal relationship with her constituents of Italian-American heritage and was known for mailing government child-care pamphlets to homes where new children were born. The nursing school at Case Western Reserve University
is named in her honor for her accomplishments and generosity in the field of public nursing.
After rising to become ranking minority member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Bolton was defeated in a bid for a sixteenth term in 1968 by Charles Vanik
. Bolton retired to her family home, Franchester (named for herself and her late husband), in Lyndhurst, Ohio
. She was a devotee of yoga
. The Bolton Fellowship supports research in parapsychology
.
Her papers are held at the Western Reserve Historical Society.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. She served in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. She was the first woman elected to Congress from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. She was also the oldest woman to date to serve in the House of Representatives.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Bolton was the granddaughter of Henry B. Payne
Henry B. Payne
Henry B. Payne was a Democratic politician from Ohio. He served in both houses of the United States Congress....
. Active in public health, nursing education and other social service, education, and philanthropic work, she succeeded her husband, Chester C. Bolton
Chester C. Bolton
Chester Castle Bolton was a U.S. Representative from Ohio, husband of Frances P. Bolton and father of Oliver P...
, in office a few months after his death in 1939. Upon election to the remainder of her late husband's term, Bolton refused the customary widow's allowance comprising the remainder of the salary her late husband would have collected had he served out his term. She represented the 22nd District, once the most populous House district in Ohio, mostly consisting of Cleveland's eastern suburbs. Bolton served an additional fourteen terms, serving alongside her son, Oliver P. Bolton
Oliver P. Bolton
Oliver Payne Bolton was an American politician of the Republican party who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1953–1957 and from 1963-1965. He was the son of long-serving Representative Frances P...
for three of those terms. She and Oliver appeared on What's My Line? as the only mother and son serving together. It was reported that when he voted against her, she once stage-whispered, "That's my adopted son."
Serving on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Bolton called Secretary of State John Foster Dulles
John Foster Dulles
John Foster Dulles served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959. He was a significant figure in the early Cold War era, advocating an aggressive stance against communism throughout the world...
in May 1954 after the fall of the French base at Dien Bien Phu
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was the climactic confrontation of the First Indochina War between the French Union's French Far East Expeditionary Corps and Viet Minh communist revolutionaries. The battle occurred between March and May 1954 and culminated in a comprehensive French defeat that...
, urging him to invite nurse Genevieve de Galard
Geneviève de Galard
Geneviève de Galard is a French nurse who was dubbed l'ange de Dien Bien Phu during the French war in Indochina by the press in Hanoi, although in the camp she was known simply as Geneviève....
to the United States. When Galard arrived in July, Bolton described her as a "symbol of heroic femininity in the free world". After receiving 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...
, Galard was received at a dinner for three hundred in Congresswoman Bolton's home district of Cleveland while on a tour of the country.
In 1955, she became the first American woman member of Congress to head an international delegation, using her own resources to fund it. One of her most lasting achievements was sponsoring legislation to purchase property across the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
from Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon (plantation)
Mount Vernon, located near Alexandria, Virginia, was the plantation home of the first President of the United States, George Washington. The mansion is built of wood in neoclassical Georgian architectural style, and the estate is located on the banks of the Potomac River.Mount Vernon was designated...
, the home of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. This prevented commercialization of the area and preserved its appearance as it was when Washington lived there. Bolton had a phenomenal relationship with her constituents of Italian-American heritage and was known for mailing government child-care pamphlets to homes where new children were born. The nursing school at Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
is named in her honor for her accomplishments and generosity in the field of public nursing.
After rising to become ranking minority member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Bolton was defeated in a bid for a sixteenth term in 1968 by Charles Vanik
Charles Vanik
Charles Albert Vanik was a Democratic politician from Ohio. He served in the United States House of Representatives....
. Bolton retired to her family home, Franchester (named for herself and her late husband), in Lyndhurst, Ohio
Lyndhurst, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,279 people, 6,642 households, and 4,397 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,480.1 people per square mile . There were 6,855 housing units at an average density of 1,561.4 per square mile...
. She was a devotee of yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
. The Bolton Fellowship supports research in parapsychology
Parapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
.
Her papers are held at the Western Reserve Historical Society.