Lois Van Valkenburgh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lois Van Valkenburgh
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Warfield during her 1939 run for junior class president at the University of Wisconsin
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Lois Hooper Warfield
1920 |
| Died | 2002 (aged 81–82) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | lobbyist, political activist, legislative aide |
| Years active | 1939–1998 |
| Children | 3; including Blaire |
| Relatives | Jessie Jack Hooper (grandmother) |
Lois Van Valkenburgh (1920–2002) was an American activist who worked to make big changes in politics and civil rights. She was known for helping people vote and for fighting for equal rights for everyone. Lois also helped schools become desegregated, meaning students of all races could learn together. She was a leader in many community groups and helped start the Alexandria Community Services Board.
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Lois Van Valkenburgh's Early Life
Lois Hooper Warfield was born in 1920 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her father, Louis Marshall Warfield, was a well-known doctor. Her mother, Lorna, was a voice teacher and involved in community groups. Lois's grandmother was Jessie Jack Hooper. She was a suffragette, which means she fought for women's right to vote. Her grandmother was also a peace activist.
Lois's College Years
Lois grew up in Milwaukee and went to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In 1939, she ran for junior class president. This was a big deal because, traditionally, the winner became the "prom king." Lois didn't win, but she was only the second woman to try for a class presidency. She was the first to run for junior class president. She finished her studies in 1941.
Lois's Career and Activism
After college, Lois Warfield worked for the Office of War Information from 1941 to 1947. She worked in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco during World War II. In San Francisco, she met Willard Van Valkenburgh. They got married in 1947 and moved to Washington, D.C., the next year.
Helping People Vote
Lois became very involved with the League of Women Voters. She helped create Alexandria's first guide for voters in the 1940s. This guide helped people understand who and what they were voting for. She also worked to get rid of the poll tax. A poll tax was a fee people had to pay to vote. This tax often stopped poorer people and minorities from voting. Lois led the League's committee against the poll tax in the 1950s.
Working for Equal Schools
Lois Van Valkenburgh was also very active in education. She worked hard to integrate local schools. This meant making sure students of all races could go to school together. She was president of the T. C. Williams High School Parent-Teacher Association twice in the 1960s. She also served on the board of the Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers.
Community Service and Support
Lois volunteered for groups that helped people with developmental disabilities and addiction problems. She was on the board of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for eight years. She also chaired the Alexandria Community Services Board for ten years. She helped start this board.
A Voice in Government
In the 1960s, Lois worked as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill for the Citizens Committee for UNICEF. A lobbyist tries to convince lawmakers to support certain ideas. In the 1970s, Lois worked as a legislative aide for Delegate Mary A. R. Marshall in Richmond. A legislative aide helps a lawmaker with their work.
Lois received many awards for her volunteer work. In 1990, she was honored by the Virginia Association of Community Service Boards. She was also recognized for her work fighting breast cancer and helping older community members.
Lois Van Valkenburgh's Legacy
Lois Van Valkenburgh passed away on December 24, 2002, at her home in Alexandria. In 2003, the Virginia House of Delegates formally honored her for all her community service. She left behind a legacy of working for civil rights and helping her community.
