About Helen E. Russell (1873–1946)
Photograph of Helen E. Russell, Detroit Free Press, October 14, 1923.
In 1917, Helen E. Russell ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Grand Rapids Board of Education. But Russell wasn’t ready to give up. She ran again in 1920, and this time won a seat on the school board. While there, Russell advocated for closer cooperation with the Parent Teacher Association, defended the role of manual training schools in education, and objected to the introduction of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) into the public high schools.
Helen E. Russell was born in Newark, New York, on August 6, 1874, and in 1902 married her Husband Dorian M. Russell in New Orleans. At some point after that the couple settled in Grand Rapids, where Russell took a very active role in local women’s clubs and in several reform movements. In 1917, she was elected president of the Grand Rapids Federation of Women’s Clubs. And when the United States entered World War I that same year, Russell served as one of three vice-chairs of the Grand Rapids Woman’s Committee of the Council of National Defense.
Russell was also a supporter of women’s suffrage and was involved in the Michigan movement that ended in 1918, when male voters throughout the state approved a statewide referendum for a constitutional amendment, granting Michigan women the right to vote. Russell was also an advocate of the rights of children and spoke on multiple occasions about children’s rights to the Grand Rapids Child Labor Association.
In 1919, she joined the leadership of the Michigan Federation of Women’s Clubs, when she was elected secretary of the influential state organization. Russell’s service must have been exemplary, for in 1922 she was elected its president. Russell stepped down 1924, but she remained committed to the Michigan Federation of Women’s Clubs long after her tenure as president and served as the editor of the organization’s official organ, the Michigan Club Bulletin.
About Helen E. Russell (1873–1946)
Photograph of Helen E. Russell, Detroit Free Press, October 14, 1923.
In 1917, Helen E. Russell ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Grand Rapids Board of Education. But Russell wasn’t ready to give up. She ran again in 1920, and this time won a seat on the school board. While there, Russell advocated for closer cooperation with the Parent Teacher Association, defended the role of manual training schools in education, and objected to the introduction of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) into the public high schools.
Helen E. Russell was born in Newark, New York, on August 6, 1874, and in 1902 married her Husband Dorian M. Russell in New Orleans. At some point after that the couple settled in Grand Rapids, where Russell took a very active role in local women’s clubs and in several reform movements. In 1917, she was elected president of the Grand Rapids Federation of Women’s Clubs. And when the United States entered World War I that same year, Russell served as one of three vice-chairs of the Grand Rapids Woman’s Committee of the Council of National Defense.
Russell was also a supporter of women’s suffrage and was involved in the Michigan movement that ended in 1918, when male voters throughout the state approved a statewide referendum for a constitutional amendment, granting Michigan women the right to vote. Russell was also an advocate of the rights of children and spoke on multiple occasions about children’s rights to the Grand Rapids Child Labor Association.
In 1919, she joined the leadership of the Michigan Federation of Women’s Clubs, when she was elected secretary of the influential state organization. Russell’s service must have been exemplary, for in 1922 she was elected its president. Russell stepped down 1924, but she remained committed to the Michigan Federation of Women’s Clubs long after her tenure as president and served as the editor of the organization’s official organ, the Michigan Club Bulletin.
Campaign Information
FIRST CAMPAIGN
Political Office: Board of Education
Election Year: 1917
Party Affiliation: Nonpartisan race
Elected: No
SECOND CAMPAIGN
Political Office: Board of Education
Election Year: 1920
Party Affiliation: Nonpartisan race
Elected: Yes
Biographical Information
Full Name: Helen Ellen Cary Russell
Life Dates: August 6, 1874–October 25, 1946
Birthplace: Homer, New York
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: No formal occupation
Party Affiliation: Unknown
Social Reform Activism: Women’s Suffrage, Women’s Clubs, Education, Juvenile Reform
Sources
“Adopt Plans for Stocking School.” Grand Rapids Press, June 8, 1921.
“Federation Discusses Plans.” Grand Rapids Press, June 28, 1917.
“Grand Rapids Brevities.” Grand Rapids Press, September 22, 1922.
“Grand Rapids Brevities.” Grand Rapids Press, November 27, 1920.
“Mailing List Increases.” Ironwood Daily Globe, November 2, 1927.
“Make Plans to List Women for War Aid.” Grand Rapids Press, June 21, 1917.
Michigan State Federation of Women’s Clubs. Michigan State Federation of Women’s Clubs: History Supplement 1966-1976. N.p.: n.p., 1976.
“Rejects All Bids for South High: Board Hopes Freight Reductions Will Lower Building Costs.” Grand Rapids Press, May 30, 1922.
“To Form R.O.T.C. Unit in Schools.” Grand Rapids Press, December 20, 1921.