Josephine Gomon facts for kids

Josephine Fellows Gomon (born June 29, 1892 – died November 13, 1975) was an amazing woman. She was a teacher, a leader for workers, and someone who worked hard to make society better. Josephine Gomon is remembered for helping the city of Detroit, Michigan. She did this through her work in city government and by fighting for important causes.

Early Life and Education

Josephine Fellows was born in 1892 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her parents were Mary Walsh and Augustus W. Fellows. She loved math and studied it at the University of Michigan. After she graduated in 1913, she moved to Detroit. There, she taught physics and math at Wayne State University. Back then, it was called the College of the City of Detroit.

In 1916, Josephine married R. Louis Gomon. They had five children together: Bobby Lou, William, Howard Garner, Jeanne, and R. Louis, Jr. Even while raising her family, Josephine kept teaching. She worked in Detroit's public schools. She also wrote a special column about education for The Detroit News newspaper.

Working in Politics and Public Service

Josephine Gomon was one of the first women to try and get elected to public office in Detroit. She ran in 1929 but did not win. In 1930, she started working for a politician named Frank Murphy. She helped him with his campaign to become mayor.

Helping the Mayor and the City

When Frank Murphy became mayor, Josephine became his main assistant. She was called his executive secretary. Mayor Murphy chose her to lead the Mayor's Unemployment Committee. This committee helped people who didn't have jobs. She also helped him create several important programs. These programs were part of the "New Deal" plan. The New Deal was a series of programs in the 1930s. They aimed to help the country recover from a tough economic time.

In 1933, Josephine became the director of the Detroit Housing Commission. This meant she was in charge of building the city's first public housing. Public housing provides affordable homes for people. She worked on this project until 1938. She tried to get elected to public office again in 1935, but she was not successful.

Working for Ford and Roosevelt

During World War II, Josephine Gomon took on a new role. In 1941, Henry Ford asked her to work for the Ford Motor Company. She became the Director of Women Personnel at the Willow Run bomber plant. This plant made planes for the war. She helped women who worked there.

Josephine ran for public office one last time in 1941. She didn't win, but many people supported her. Later, she became an advisor for important leaders. She advised Walter Reuther, who was a big labor leader. She also advised Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was the President of the United States.

Later Life and Legacy

After World War II ended, Josephine Gomon mostly stopped working in politics. From 1945 to 1948, she had her own radio show. It was called "Opinion Unlimited" and was on the WKMH station.

She then spent her time working for social justice. This means she worked to make things fair for everyone. She helped with projects for welfare and human rights. She was involved with groups like Americans for Democratic Action, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

In 1960, Josephine Gomon was honored at a special dinner. Many important politicians from Michigan attended. In 1961, Wayne State University gave her an honorary degree. This was a special award to recognize her achievements.

Josephine Gomon continued her work as an activist until shortly before she passed away in 1975. She was 85 years old. Her obituary, a notice about her death in the Detroit Free Press newspaper, described her as "a spirited Detroiter." It also called her the "City's Conscience" and "one of the most influential women in the city's history." In 1983, she was added to the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. This honor recognized her important contributions.