Helen Washburn Berthelot

Background

Helen Berthelot was born on November 29, 1904 in Lakeville, Massachusetts, United States, in the family of William Clarence and Helen (Whitmore) Washburn.

Education

For one year Helen attended Bridgewater State College.

Career

Helen worked for a while as a telephone operator at the Michigan Bell Telephone Company. She returned to work for Michigan Bell in the 1930s. Quickly fed up with working conditions at Michigan Bell, Berthelot began organizing for the Communications Workers of America (CWA). Berthelot’s activism in the CWA led first to elected positions in local government, then to a stint as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., from 1950 to 1969, which made her the first woman labor lobbyist in United States history. During that time, Berthelot also ran successful campaigns for G. Mennen Williams to the office of governor of Michigan, making her the first woman campaign manager of a state-wide campaign in either national political party.

Achievements

• Helen Washburn Berthelot is remembered as a woman whose hard work and dedication in improving the lives of workers brought her to the forefront of the Michigan political scene for many years.
  
  Helen is famous for his book "Win Some, Lose Some: G. Mennen Williams and the New Democrats."

Works

More photos

• book

  • Win Some, Lose Some: G.Mennen Williams and the New Democrats (Great Lakes Books) by Helen Washburn Berthelot (1995-01-31) 1995

Connections

Helen was widowed, and had two children, Margarette H. Berthelot Beagle and Douglas R.

Father:

William Clarence Washburn

Mother:

Helen (Whitmore) Washburn

Daughter:

Margarette H. Berthelot Beagle

Son:

Douglas R.