Catherine Shipe East, American government executive, consultant, writer. Inducted into National Women's Hall of Fame, Seneca Falls, New York, 1994. Member American Association of University Women, American Civil Liberties Union, National Organization of Women, League of Women Voters, National Federation Business and Professional Women's Clubs, National Abortion Rights Action League, Planned Parenthood.
Background
Catherine Shipe East was born on May 15, 1916, in Barboursville, West Virginia to Bertha Woody and Ulysses Grant Shipe. Her mother suffered a nervous breakdown when Catherine was eleven years old and four years later her father committed suicide.
Education
AB, Marshall University, 1943.
Career
She was the oldest of three children. Considering teaching her only option at the time, she entered teaching school at Marshall College, but had to withdraw due to financial difficulties eleven cr short of getting her bachelor"s degree. In 1939 took a position with the United States Civil Service Commission as a clerk.
She earned her bachelor"s degree in 1943.
Catherine Shipe East began her career as a junior civil service examiner with the United States Civil Service Commission in 1939. She advanced to become the chief of the career service division before going to work for the Department of Labor in 1963.
She served as the technical adviser to the President"s Commission on the Status of Women and participated in the research and writing of the commissions report, American Women, published in 1963. Subsequent to the release of this report, President John F. Kennedy created the Interdepartmental Committee on the Status of Women and the Citizen"s Advisory Council on the Status of Women, appointing East to serve as executive secretary for both groups.
Through her position as a government insider, Catherine East served as a foundational conduit of information for feminists across the nation.
She believed that women needed a powerful organization similar to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She encouraged Betty Friedan, who referred to her as "the midwife to the women"s movement and other women in her circle to create the, in order to have an organization that could function outside of the government to create change in government policies. Catherine East was part of National Organization for Women"s first Legal Committee, along with Mary Eastwood, Phineas Indritz, and Caruthers Berger.
Achievements
Membership
She took part in a study of how newspapers handled various women"s issues, and co-authored a report called "New Directions for News." She was an active member of numerous organizations, such as the American Association of University Women, American Civil Liberties Union, League of Women Voters, National Woman"s Party, and Planned Parenthood.
Personality
She was a powerful force behind the founding of the (National Organization for Women) and held several influential federal government positions throughout her career.
Interests
Civil war, history, religions of the world.
Connections
Daughter of university of Guelph. and Bertha (Woody) Shipe. Married Charles D. East, July 2, 1937 (divorced August 1956). Children: Mary Victoria, Elizabeth Rose.