Bertha C. Boschulte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bertha C. Boschulte
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Boschulte in 1963
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Bertha Christina Boschulte
March 8, 1906 Saint Thomas, Danish Virgin Islands
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| Died | August 18, 2004 (aged 98) Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
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| Nationality | Danish, American |
| Occupation | educator, statistician, women's rights activist, politician |
| Years active | 1924–1976 |
Bertha C. Boschulte (born March 8, 1906 – died August 18, 2004) was a very important person from the Virgin Islands. She was a dedicated teacher, a strong supporter of women's rights, a skilled statistician, and a politician. She worked hard to make sure women could vote in the Virgin Islands. Later, she became a director in the Health Department and even served as a Senator. A school in the Virgin Islands is named after her to honor her many contributions.
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Bertha Boschulte's Early Life and Education
Bertha Christina Boschulte was born on March 8, 1906, on Saint Thomas. At that time, the Virgin Islands were part of the Danish Virgin Islands. She went to local schools like James Monroe Elementary and Charlotte Amalie Junior-Senior High School.
After teaching for a year in 1924, she moved to Virginia. There, she attended the Hampton Institute. She graduated in 1929 with high honors. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in English and mathematics.
Bertha Boschulte's Career and Achievements
After finishing college, Bertha Boschulte returned to the Virgin Islands. She started teaching at the Charlotte Amalie High School. While at Hampton, she learned a lot about women's issues. She became very interested in the suffrage movement, which was about getting women the right to vote.
Fighting for Women's Voting Rights
When she came back to St. Thomas, Bertha joined other women. These women included Ella Gifft, Eulalie Stevens, and Edith L. Williams. Together, they worked to gain voting rights for women in the Virgin Islands.
In 1935, Bertha was the secretary of the St. Thomas Teacher's Association. Women teachers tried to register to vote but were turned away. The Teacher's Association took legal action. A judge ruled in their favor, ordering election officials to let qualified women register to vote. This was a big victory for women's rights!
Leadership in Education
In 1938, Bertha Boschulte became the acting principal of her school. By 1940, she officially became the principal. She later went to Teachers College, Columbia University in New York. In 1945, she earned a master's degree in educational administration.
While in the United States, Bertha attended an important meeting called the International Assembly of Women. This conference was supported by Eleanor Roosevelt. Women from 53 countries discussed how to organize society after World War II. They supported creating the United Nations and wanted legal and political equality for women.
Returning to St. Thomas in 1947, Bertha worked with other teachers. They organized the Teacher's Institute and Evening School. Their goal was to improve teaching standards. Bertha was one of the teachers for these programs.
Working in Public Health
In 1949, Bertha was offered a job as a statistician in the Health Department. She decided to take this new path instead of getting another degree in education. This job included training at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She resigned from her principal job to pursue this.
In 1950, Bertha moved to Michigan for her studies. She graduated in 1951 with a master's degree in public health. When she returned to St. Thomas, she became the director of the Statistical Service for the Health Department in 1952. She later became the first director of the Division of Vital Records and Statistical Services. From 1955 to 1957, she was the General Services director for the Department of Health. She left the Health Department in 1963 but continued to work for them as a consultant.
Becoming a Politician
In 1964, Bertha Boschulte was elected as a Senator in the Legislature of the Virgin Islands. This was another important step in her career. In 1965, she was named "Woman of the Year" by a local business women's group. She ran for a second term in 1966 but narrowly lost.
In 1969, she was appointed to the Commission on the Status of Women. The next year, she was elected to the board of the Department of Education for the territory. She even served as its chair.
A School Named in Her Honor
In 1976, a new junior high school was approved to be built in Bovoni. It was named the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School to honor her contributions. The school was officially opened on March 1, 1981.
Bertha Boschulte's Legacy
Bertha Boschulte passed away on August 18, 2004, on St. Thomas. She is remembered for her strong commitment to improving education in the Virgin Islands. Her work also helped women gain important rights and opportunities.
