Mary Donlon Alger
Encyclopedia
Mary Donlon Alger was an American lawyer and politician. She was the first woman appointed to a federal judgeship in New York
.
and the Cornell Law School
in 1920. While a law student, she was the first female editor-in-chief of the Cornell Law Quarterly
, and the first female editor-in-chief of any US law review. She served on Cornell's Board of Trustees from 1937 to 1966 when she became a Trustee Emeritus and Presidential Councillor.
, she ran on the Republican
ticket for an at-large seat
in the U.S. House of Representatives but lost to the Democratic incumbent Caroline O'Day
. She was Chairwoman of the New York State Industrial Board from 1944 to 1945, and Chairwoman of the New York State Workers Compensation Board from 1945 to 1955. In 1947, she served on the Federal Social Security Advisory Council. She was a delegate to the 1948 Republican National Convention
.
In 1955, she was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
to the United States Customs Court. She retired from active service in 1966 and became a senior judge of the court.
In 1956, following the Hungarian uprising, she established a scholarship to provide aid to any young Hungarian woman accepted to Cornell. She also endowed the annual Mary H. Donlon lectures in the ILR School
. She also endowed a professorship in the College of Arts and Sciences
, to be held only by women, which was held by Eleanor Harz Jorden and then Mary Beth Norton
. In recognition for her generosity to Cornell and her service as trustee, a women's dormitory was named in her honor in 1961. A Conference for college trustees and administrators regarding affirmative action for women in education was also named in her honor.
In 1971, she married Martin J. Alger. She died at the Tucson Medical Center after a brief illness.
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...
.
Life
She was the daughter of Joseph M. Donlon and Mary (Coughlin) Donlon. She graduated from Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and the Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School, located in Ithaca, New York, is a graduate school of Cornell University and one of the five Ivy League law schools. The school confers three law degrees...
in 1920. While a law student, she was the first female editor-in-chief of the Cornell Law Quarterly
Cornell Law Review
The Cornell Law Review is the flagship legal journal of Cornell Law School. Originally published in 1915 as the Cornell Law Quarterly, the journal features scholarship in all fields of law. Notably, past issues of the Cornell Law Review have included articles by Supreme Court justices Robert H....
, and the first female editor-in-chief of any US law review. She served on Cornell's Board of Trustees from 1937 to 1966 when she became a Trustee Emeritus and Presidential Councillor.
Political career
In 1940New York state election, 1940
The 1940 New York state election was held on November 5, 1940, to elect three judges of the New York Court of Appeals, a U.S. Senator and two U.S Representatives-at-large, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate....
, she ran on the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
ticket for an at-large seat
New York's At-large congressional district
Briefly from 1873 to 1875, and 1883-1885 with one representative respectively, and again from 1933 through 1945, after New York was apportioned two extra seats in the United States House of Representatives, the state elected representatives at-large, instead of from districts...
in the U.S. House of Representatives but lost to the Democratic incumbent Caroline O'Day
Caroline Love Goodwin O'Day
Caroline Love Goodwin O'Day was an American politician. She was the third woman, and first woman Democrat, elected to Congress from New York.-Life:...
. She was Chairwoman of the New York State Industrial Board from 1944 to 1945, and Chairwoman of the New York State Workers Compensation Board from 1945 to 1955. In 1947, she served on the Federal Social Security Advisory Council. She was a delegate to the 1948 Republican National Convention
1948 Republican National Convention
The 1948 Republican National Convention was held at the Municipal Auditorium, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from June 21 to 25, 1948.New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey had paved the way to win the Republican presidential nomination in the primary elections, where he had beaten Minnesota Governor...
.
In 1955, she was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
to the United States Customs Court. She retired from active service in 1966 and became a senior judge of the court.
In 1956, following the Hungarian uprising, she established a scholarship to provide aid to any young Hungarian woman accepted to Cornell. She also endowed the annual Mary H. Donlon lectures in the ILR School
Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations
The New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations is an industrial relations school at Cornell University, an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, USA...
. She also endowed a professorship in the College of Arts and Sciences
Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences is a division of Cornell University. It has been part of the university since its founding, although its name has changed over time. It grants bachelors degrees, and masters and doctorates through affiliation with the Cornell University Graduate School...
, to be held only by women, which was held by Eleanor Harz Jorden and then Mary Beth Norton
Mary Beth Norton
Mary Beth Norton is an American historian. She is the Mary Donlon Alger Professor of American History Department of History at Cornell University. Norton was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan and her Master of Arts and Ph.D. ...
. In recognition for her generosity to Cornell and her service as trustee, a women's dormitory was named in her honor in 1961. A Conference for college trustees and administrators regarding affirmative action for women in education was also named in her honor.
In 1971, she married Martin J. Alger. She died at the Tucson Medical Center after a brief illness.
Sources
- Famous First Facts (5th Ed.), page 189, no. 3127
- Cornell Chronicle, 1977-03-10 p. 2
- Social Security history
- Women at Cornell: The Myth of Equal Education by Charlotte Williams Conable p. 14
- Mary Donlon, 1st Woman In New York State Named To Federal Bench, Is Dead in NYT on March 8, 1977 (subscription required)
- Entry at Customs Court history