Julia Butler Hansen

Julia Butler Hansen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's 3rd district
In office November 8, 1960 – December 31, 1974
Preceded by	Russell V. Mack
Succeeded by	Don Bonker
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
In office 1939–1960
Personal details
Born	Julia Caroline Butler June 14, 1907 Portland, Oregon
Died	May 3, 1988 (aged 80) Cathlamet, Washington
Resting place	Cathlamet, Washington
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Henry A. Hansen
Alma mater	Oregon State College University of Washington

Julia Butler Hansen (June 14, 1907 – May 3, 1988), born Julia Caroline Butler in Portland, Oregon, served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1960–1974. She represented Washington's Third Congressional District as a Democrat. She was the second woman and first Democratic woman elected to Congress from Washington.

Early life and education

Her father, Donald C. Butler, was sheriff of Wahkiakum County and her mother, Maude Eliza (Kimball), was named Washington's "Mother of the Year" in 1960. Hansen attended public school in Washington. She attended Oregon State College from 1924–1926, and graduated from the University of Washington (Seattle) with a Bachelor of Arts in home economics in 1930.

Entry to public service

Hansen's political career began as a member of the Cathlamet, Washington, city council, where she served from 1938–1946. She served in the Washington State Legislature as a member of the State House of Representatives from January 1939 until November 1960, serving as the first woman speaker pro tempore from 1955–1960. She served as chairman of the Western Interstate Committee on Highway Policies for 11 western states from 1951–1961.

United States Congress

She was elected simultaneously as a Democrat to the Eighty-sixth Congress and to the Eighty-seventh Congress by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative Russell V. Mack, and was re-elected to the six succeeding Congresses (November 8, 1960 – December 31, 1974). She served on the House Appropriations Committee after serving for years on Education, Labor, Veteran's Affairs, Interior and Insular Affairs Committees. She did not run for re-election in 1974, and was appointed in 1975 to a six-year term on the Washington State Toll Bridge Authority and State Highway Commission. She served as chairman of the Washington State Transportation Commission from 1979–1981.

Personal life

Hansen was the author of a book for children titled Singing Paddles, published by Binfords and Mort in 1935, which won the Julia Ellsworth Ford Foundation Award for Juvenile Literature. She married Henry A. Hansen, a logger, on July 15, 1939; they were parents of one natural son, David, and Henry's adopted son Richard. Hansen was also manager of the Wahkiakum County Abstract Company and the G. Henry Hanigan Insurance Co. in Cathlamet, and served as chairman and member of the board of trustees of Century 21, State of Washington, beginning in 1958.

Death and legacy

Hansen lived in Cathlamet until her death there on May 3, 1988. She is honored by the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer, a National Wildlife Refuge established in 1972 in Cathlamet; the Julia Butler Hansen Elementary School, opened in 1994 in the Olympia School District in Olympia, Washington; and the Julia Butler Hansen Bridge connecting Cathlamet to Puget Island, Washington.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

• United States Congress. "Julia Butler Hansen (id: H000174)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

Further reading

Archives

• Julia Butler Hansen Papers. 1930-1984. 146 cubic feet.
• Henry M. Jackson papers. 1912-1987. Approximately 1,240 cubic feet.

External links

• Women in Congress profile
• Julia Butler Hansen Committee Papers - Washington State University Libraries
• Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge
• Julia Butler Hansen entry at The Political Graveyard

Julia Butler Hansen at Find a Grave