Background
Peterson, Esther was born on December 9, 1906 in Provo, Utah, United States. Daughter of Lars and Annie (Nielsen) Eggertsen.
Peterson, Esther was born on December 9, 1906 in Provo, Utah, United States. Daughter of Lars and Annie (Nielsen) Eggertsen.
AB, Brigham Young University, 1927. Master of Arts, Columbia Teachers College, 1930. Master of Arts honorary degrees, Smith College.
Master of Arts honorary degrees, Bryant College. Master of Arts honorary degrees, Carnegie Institute of Technology. Master of Arts honorary degrees, Montclair College.
Master of Arts honorary degrees, Hood College. Master of Arts honorary degrees, Maryhurst College. Master of Arts honorary degrees, Simmons College.
Master of Arts honorary degrees, Northeastern University. Master of Arts honorary degrees, U South Utah. Master of Arts honorary degrees, Western College Women, Oxford, Ohio.
Master of Arts honorary degrees, Michigan State University. Master of Arts honorary degrees, University Michigan. Master of Arts honorary degrees, University Utah.
Master of Arts honorary degrees, Williams College. Master of Arts honorary degrees, Georgetown University. Master of Arts honorary degrees, Temple University.
Master of Arts honorary degrees, Goucher College. Master of Arts honorary degrees, Tufts University.
She held several teaching positions in the 1930s, including one at the innovative Bryn Mawr Summer School for Women Workers in Industry, which brought milliners, telephone operators and garment workers onto the campus. In 1932, the two moved to Boston, where she taught at The Winsor School and volunteered at the Young Women’s Christian Association. In 1938, Peterson became a paid organizer for the American Federation of Teachers and traveled around New England. In 1944, Peterson became the first lobbyist for the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, District of Columbia In 1948, the State Department offered Peterson’s husband a position as a diplomat in Sweden.
The family returned to Washington District of Columbia, in 1957 and Peterson joined the Industrial Union Department of the American Federation of Labor-Congress-Chief Information Officer, becoming its first woman lobbyist.
She was Assistant Secretary of Labor and Director of the United States Women"s Bureau under President John F. Kennedy. In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson named Peterson to the newly created post of Special Assistant for Consumer Affairs.
She would later serve as President Jimmy Carter"s Director of the Office of Consumer Affairs. Peterson was also Vice President for Consumer Affairs at Giant Food Corporation, and president of the National Consumers League.
Peterson was named a delegate of the United Nations as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization representative in 1993.
Peterson died on December 20th, 1997.
Active International Medical Superior vena cava syndrome for Health, 1987, United Srs. Health Cooperative, 1987, Center Science in Public Interest, 1964. Member Women's National Democratic Club.
Non-governmental organization representative International Organisation Consumers Union at Economics and Social Coun.UN, 1985, appointed public member United States Delaware to General Assembly, 1993. Member American Association of University Women, American Home Economics Association (honorary), National Consumers League (pres.1974-1976, honorary president 1981), Cosmos Club, Phi Chi Theta (honorary), Delta Sigma Theta (honorary)
F C.
Married Oliver A. Peterson, May 28, 1932. Children: Karen Kristine, Eric N., Iver E., Lars E.