Dorothy Stafford (activist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dorothy Stafford
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Stafford, newly elected League of Women Voter's president, 1937
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Dorothy Davenport
March 14, 1905 |
| Died | May 22, 1997 (aged 92) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | public service worker, writer, and activist |
Dorothy Stafford (March 14, 1905 – May 22, 1997) was an American leader who worked to improve communities and support women's rights. She helped start the League of Women Voters in Knoxville, Tennessee. This group helps people understand government and encourages them to vote.
Dorothy Stafford also became very involved in projects that made her community better. She even became the president of the League's state chapter. She worked hard to end the "poll tax," which was a fee people had to pay to vote. This effort helped lead to a change in the US Constitution, making it illegal to charge money to vote. Later in her life, she moved to Atlanta and became a journalist, writing for newspapers and magazines.
Dorothy Stafford's Early Life and Education
Dorothy Davenport was born on March 14, 1905. Her hometown was Plymouth, North Carolina. Her parents were Mary S. Davenport and Peter Ernest Davenport. Her father owned a pharmacy. The family lived in Plymouth and later in Beaufort, North Carolina.
As a young woman, Dorothy moved to New York City. There, she worked with Carrie Chapman Catt. Carrie Chapman Catt was a famous leader who helped women get the right to vote. Together, they helped organize the League of Women Voters.
In 1930, Dorothy married Edward Bass Lucas. They later divorced. On September 29, 1933, she married Carl Victor Stafford. He was from Tennessee. The couple moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where their daughter Diane was born.
Dorothy Stafford's Career and Activism
Dorothy Stafford was key in starting the League of Women Voters in Knoxville. She placed an advertisement in the newspaper. She also convinced Martha Ragland to help found the group. In 1937, Stafford was chosen as president of the East Tennessee chapter. Later, she became the state president for the League.
In 1941, members of the League of Women Voters joined with many other groups. These groups included the Industrial Council and the YWCA. They formed a new committee called the Committee for Majority Rule. Their main goal was to keep working to end the poll tax. The poll tax was a fee that stopped many people, especially poor people, from voting.
By the mid-1940s, Stafford worked for the City of Knoxville. She was the city's safety director until March 1946. After that, she became the director of the city's welfare program. She continued in this job the next year. She also served as president of the Council of Community Agencies.
In the early 1970s, the Staffords lived in Atlanta. Dorothy worked as a journalist for The Atlanta Constitution newspaper. She also wrote for Atlanta Magazine and Modern Maturity. In the 1980s, she moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. There, she published cookbooks with her daughter.
Dorothy Stafford's Later Life and Legacy
Dorothy Stafford passed away on May 22, 1997. She was at her home in Hilton Head. Her work helped many people. She made a lasting impact on women's rights and community service.
