Helen Cary Russell
B&W portrait photo of a middle-aged woman with her hair in an up-do, wearing a dark blouse with a square neckline.
Mrs. Dorian M. Russell (1924)
Born
Helen Ellen Cary

August 6, 1870
Newark, New York, U.S.
DiedOctober 25, 1946
Michigan, U.S.
Other namesMrs. Dorian M. Russell
Occupations
  • clubwoman
  • social leader
  • magazine editor
Known forpresident, Michigan State Federation of Women's Clubs
Notable workeditor, Michigan Club Bulletin and the Michigan Federation Forum

Helen Cary Russell (also known as Mrs. Dorian M. Russell; August 6, 1870 – October 25, 1946) was an American clubwoman, social leader, and magazine editor. She served as president of the Michigan State Federation of Women's Clubs (MSFWC) and editor of its organs, the Michigan Club Bulletin and the Michigan Federation Forum.[1] Russell was a member of the Grand Rapids, Michigan school board and the Michigan state library commission.

Early life and education

Helen Ellen Cary was born in Newark, New York,[1] August 6, 1870.[2][lower-alpha 1] Her parents were Lorenzo J. Cary (1834-1922) and Mary A. (Haskins) Cary (1836-1920).[2]

She completed her secondary education at Newark, before attending the Normal School at Cortland, New York (now, State University of New York at Cortland.[1]

Career

In 1921, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Russell became the president of the Ladies' Literary Club, and then, president of the Grand Rapids Federation of Women's Clubs.[3] In 1922, Russell became the vice-president of the MSFWC as well as chair of the state's Finance Department.[4] She was elected president of the MSFWC in the following year. During her administration, she had four goals: she sought to bring about a much strong type of cooperation among the clubs and the women that comprised them, a greater responsibility among the clubwomen themselves, and enlargement of the scope of the federation, and the development of a new type of service to the community.[1] She was re-elected president of the MSFWC at the 1924 state convention.[5]

The Michigan Club Bulletin was the MSFWC's official organ from 1907 till 1927 when it was renamed the Michigan Federation Forum.[6] In 1919, Russell joined the board of directors of the Michigan Club Bulletin as Recording Secretary, and during the two following years, she held the office of Vice-president-at-Large. In 1922, Russell became the board president.[7] In October 1926, Russell became the editor of the Michigan Club Bulletin[5] and continued in the role after the organ's rename in the following year.

(1923)

Russell became a member of the Grand Rapids school board as early as 1923.[1] In July 1939, while still in that role, she was appointed to a five-year term as a member of the Michigan state library commission.[8]

Personal life

When a young woman, she went to Texas. She met Dorian M. Russell in New Orleans where she was employed as an expert court stenographer. They married in New Orleans on May 19, 1902.[3] During early married life, the couple moved to Marquette, Michigan before removing to Grand Rapids (1907),[3] where they remained thereafter. They had two sons,[1] Orlando (b. 1905) and Joseph (b. 1910).[2]

In 1939, Russell made a prolonged trip to Australia.[9]

In September 1946, Mr. and Mrs. Russell traveled to Syracuse, New York, for a visit with their son and daughter-in-law.[10] The following month, on October 25, Helen Cary Russell died in Michigan.[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ According to Maw (1953), Helen was born in Wayne County, New York on August 6, 1874.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Arnold, Grace (4 March 1923). "Stated Federation Head Is Woman of Ability". Detroit Free Press. p. 80. Retrieved 14 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Helen Ellen Cary Female 6 August 1870 – 25 October 1946". www.familysearch.org. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Maw, Blanche Blynn; Clubs, Michigan State Federation of Women's (1953). A History of the Michigan State Federation of Women's Clubs, 1895-1953. Ann Arbor Press. p. 202. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Annual register of women's clubs. 1922. pp. 99–100. Retrieved 14 October 2023. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. 1 2 Michigan State Federation of Women's Clubs (1926). Annual Convention of the Michigan State Federation of Women's Clubs. The Federation. pp. 4, 6. Retrieved 14 October 2023. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ↑ Gregory, Winifred (1939). Union list of serials in libraries of the United States and Canada. New York : H.W. Wilson Co. p. 238. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  7. ↑ Michigan Federation Forum. 1924. pp. 1, 2, 93. Retrieved 14 October 2023. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ↑ "Named to Commission". Battle Creek Enquirer. 26 July 1939. p. 1. Retrieved 14 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Woman's League Program for Year Is Announced". Battle Creek Enquirer. 1 October 1939. p. 14. Retrieved 14 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Personal Notes". The Post-Standard. 25 September 1946. p. 8. Retrieved 14 October 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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