Nancy Feldman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nancy G. Feldman
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Nancy Goodman
October 4, 1922 |
| Died | February 17, 2014 (aged 91) |
| Occupation | Formerly a college professor and Tulsa civic leader |
| Known for | Civil rights activist, Tulsa, OK civic leader |
| Spouse(s) | Raymond Feldman |
Nancy G. Feldman (born October 4, 1922 – died February 17, 2014) was an important civil rights activist. She was also a dedicated teacher from Illinois. Nancy Feldman taught at the University of Tulsa for 37 years. She also gave talks all over the United States and in other countries. In 1995, she was honored in the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame. One of her biggest achievements was helping to expand art education in Tulsa schools. Later in life, Nancy and her husband traveled to many faraway places. They also worked to connect Tulsa with the rest of the world through an organization called the Tulsa Global Alliance.
Contents
Nancy Feldman's Early Life
Nancy G. Feldman grew up in Highland Park, IL. This town is a suburb near Chicago. She had one younger brother and one older sister. Her parents moved there with many college friends. This created a close community for Nancy as she grew up.
Her family was financially stable. Nancy went to Elm Place Grammar School. This school taught students through hands-on activities. Nancy was raised Jewish. However, she learned about many different religions and cultures. Her parents greatly supported her education. They encouraged her to attend a women's college in the eastern U.S.
Outside of school, Nancy was active in the Girl Scouts and sports. She was a skilled diver. She even trained for the Olympics. But in 1939, at age 16, she broke her back. This accident meant she could no longer be an athlete. Instead, Nancy focused on becoming a great scholar.
Nancy's College Education
While still in high school, Nancy Feldman took classes at Northwestern University. She was accepted into all the colleges she applied to. She chose to attend Vassar College. Nancy first studied music but later changed her major. She spent two years at Vassar. Then she briefly transferred back to Northwestern.
After talking with her brother-in-law, who was a lawyer, Nancy applied to law school. She was accepted into the University of Chicago Law School. In the spring of 1946, she graduated with her law degree. She was the top woman in her class.
While at the University of Chicago, Nancy met Raymond Feldman. He was from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Before they married, Nancy visited Tulsa with Raymond. She was shocked by the racial segregation she saw there. Raymond asked her to "marry [him] and change it." They married in March 1946 and moved to Tulsa.
Nancy Feldman's Career and Activism
When Nancy moved to Tulsa, it was hard for women lawyers to find jobs. So, she changed her career path. She became a sociology professor at the University of Tulsa. She taught there for 37 years. Nancy was invited to give talks in England, India, Egypt, Israel, Peru, and across the U.S. She was a dedicated teacher, as well as a mother and wife.
Oklahoma State University chose Nancy for a special program. It was called "Professors of the City." For five years, she helped create the Model Cities Plan. This plan aimed to improve Tulsa's economy and education. While at the University of Tulsa, Nancy co-wrote an article. It caught the attention of the National Space Institute. They were looking for someone with a background in humanities to join their board. Nancy was chosen for this role. She served on their Board and Executive Committee for nine years.
Nancy Feldman supported many important causes throughout her life. She focused her efforts on five main areas. These included Family and Children's Services and the Community Service Council. She also worked with the Girl Scouts at local, national, and international levels. Finally, she supported the Arts and Humanities Council. She played a key role in expanding art education in Tulsa schools.
Nancy strongly opposed the segregation in Tulsa. She worked hard for racial equality. She took part in several sit-ins. She also became a member of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). Nancy successfully pushed for the first Black student to be admitted to Holland Hall. This was the school her own children attended.
She was not only a champion for racial rights. She also advocated for all civil equality. She was the state chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women. She also led the Oklahoma Civil Liberties Commission. Nancy worked hard to help pass the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) in 1972.
She also started the Tulsa Center for the Physically Limited. This center helped people with physical disabilities. She also founded the International Council of Tulsa. This organization later became the Tulsa Global Alliance. Nancy Feldman was the first woman president of a major arts organization in Tulsa. As president of the Tulsa Ballet, she wrote the first rules for the group. These rules helped the ballet grow from a local company to one known internationally.
Nancy's Retirement and Achievements
In retirement, Nancy and her husband traveled the world. They completed seven treks in the Himalayas. Their journeys to some of the world's most remote places became famous in Tulsa. Nancy often said that Nepal was one of her favorite places they visited. Nancy Feldman died in 2014.
Awards and Honors
- League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Tulsa's Pathfinder Award (2004)
- Inducted into the Tulsa Hall of Fame (1998)
- Tulsa Press Club's Headliner honoree (2002)
- Governor's Arts Award (2001)
- Inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame (2005)
- Honoree for Tulsa Historical Society and Museum (1997)
- Tulsa Area United Way's 2013 Clydella Hentschel Award for Women in Leadership
See also
In Spanish: Nancy Feldman para niños
