Mary Anderson Bain
Encyclopedia
Mary Anderson Bain was a New Deal
politician
best known for her 33 years of service as Chief of Staff for Representative Sidney R. Yates
, of Illinois
.
Bain was born in DeKalb
, where she was involved in Democratic politics. In 1935 she became the director of the National Youth Administration
, one of Franklin D. Roosevelt
's New Deal agencies, for the Northern Illinois District. By 1939 she was director of NYA for all of Illinois. Later she was Deputy Director of the Illinois War Manpower Commission
, roving Midwest executive for the Office of Price Administration, and Illinois Director for the U.S. Employment Service.
In 1937 she married a reporter named Herbert Bain, who was an editor of the old Chicago Herald-American before becoming a public relations executive in Chicago and Washington
. The couple were very close through to his death on June 11, 2006; they were both 94 at the time of their passing. They are survived by a daughter, Mary Ellen Bain, and two grandsons.
Bain's career on Capitol Hill began in 1965, when she became Chief of Staff to Representative Sidney R. Yates (D-Ill.). Yates became chairman of the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies in 1975. Together Yates and Bain worked to promote the preservation of the nation's cultural heritage and history through the founding of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Brittle Books and National Heritage Preservation programs at the National Endowment for the Humanities, establishment of the Conservation Program at the Institute for Museum and Library Services, and establishment of a cultural heritage grants program at the National Park Service
. Mary also aided the development of the National Endowment for the Arts
, the Smithsonian Institution
, the National Gallery of Art
, and the Kennedy Center; in recognition of her leadership in this area, Bain was awarded the Heritage Defender award. She retired in 1999.
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
best known for her 33 years of service as Chief of Staff for Representative Sidney R. Yates
Sidney R. Yates
Sidney Richard Yates was a politician from the state of Illinois.Yates was born in Chicago, Illinois and he graduated from the University of Chicago. He served in the United States Navy during World War II....
, of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
Bain was born in DeKalb
DeKalb, Illinois
DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 43,862 at the 2010 census, up from 39,018 at the 2000 census. The city is named after decorated German war hero Johann De Kalb, who died during the American Revolutionary War....
, where she was involved in Democratic politics. In 1935 she became the director of the National Youth Administration
National Youth Administration
The National Youth Administration was a New Deal agency in the United States that focused on providing work and education for Americans between the ages of 16 and 24. It operated from 1935 to 1939 as part of the Works Progress Administration . Following the passage of the Reorganization Act of...
, one of Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's New Deal agencies, for the Northern Illinois District. By 1939 she was director of NYA for all of Illinois. Later she was Deputy Director of the Illinois War Manpower Commission
War Manpower Commission
The War Manpower Commission was a World War II agency of the United States Government charged with planning to balance the labor needs of agriculture, industry and the armed forces. It was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Executive Order 9139 of April 18, 1942. Its chairman was Paul V...
, roving Midwest executive for the Office of Price Administration, and Illinois Director for the U.S. Employment Service.
In 1937 she married a reporter named Herbert Bain, who was an editor of the old Chicago Herald-American before becoming a public relations executive in Chicago and Washington
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....
. The couple were very close through to his death on June 11, 2006; they were both 94 at the time of their passing. They are survived by a daughter, Mary Ellen Bain, and two grandsons.
Bain's career on Capitol Hill began in 1965, when she became Chief of Staff to Representative Sidney R. Yates (D-Ill.). Yates became chairman of the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies in 1975. Together Yates and Bain worked to promote the preservation of the nation's cultural heritage and history through the founding of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Brittle Books and National Heritage Preservation programs at the National Endowment for the Humanities, establishment of the Conservation Program at the Institute for Museum and Library Services, and establishment of a cultural heritage grants program at the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
. Mary also aided the development of the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
, the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, the National Gallery of Art
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden is a national art museum, located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, in Washington, DC...
, and the Kennedy Center; in recognition of her leadership in this area, Bain was awarded the Heritage Defender award. She retired in 1999.