Vera Charlotte Scott Cushman was an American social worker, an active and influential figure in the early 20th-century growth and war work of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA).
Background
Vera was born on September 19, 1876 in Ottawa.
Her father, an emigrant from Northern Ireland, founded, with his brothers, the dry goods stores in northern Illinois which eventually became the wholesale and department store firm of Carson Pirie Scott and Company.
Her mother, a native of Loyville, Pa. , and descendant of German and French families, devoted herself to church and community activities.
Except for the years 1887-1891 when Samuel Scott served as president of a local bank in Salina, Kans. , the family lived in the Chicago area. The Scott family was deeply religious and had a strong feeling for foreign missions. Her youngest brother, Rev. George T. Scott, served for many years as assistant director, then executive secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions.
Education
Vera was educated at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, graduating in 1898. She retained through life the religious inclination of her family and in college became active in the work of the YWCA. She maintained her interest in the YWCA after graduation and after her marriage in 1901 to James S. Cushman, a New York City businessman.
Career
She served on National Board of YWCA (1906-36) and became 1st president of New York YWCA (1912); as chair of War Work Council of YWCA during WWI, worked to establish Hostess Houses at US training camps and in Europe to meet needs of women workers in war zones.
She helped facilitate the merger of YWCA activities in New York in 1912 and was elected first president of the unified organization. In 1913 she was vice-chairman of the "whirlwind campaign" that raised $4 million in 14 days for the city and national YWCAs.
In May 1917 the YWCA established the War Work Council under Cushman’s chairmanship to direct the contribution of the association to the war effort. Under her leadership $170 million was raised to finance the establishment and staffing of 140 Hostess Houses near army and navy camps and bases, military hospitals, and ports of embarkation and debarkation. The houses provided lodging and recreation for nurses, Signal Corps workers, and other women engaged in war work. During World War I the YWCA operated hostess houses and other service centres in nine countries. In 1919 Cushman was one of six women to receive the Distinguished Service Medal for her work. From 1924 to 1938 she was a vice president of the World Council of the YWCA.
Achievements
In recognition of her war service Cushman was one of six women to receive the Distinguished Service Medal at a ceremony in Washington in the summer of 1919 and was chosen to christen The Blue Triangle, one of seven ships named in tribute to war service organizations.
Membership
In 1905 Vera Cushman became a member of Grace H. Dodge’s committee to unify the national YWCA movement, and from its formation in 1906 she was a member of the unified National Board. Between then and her resignation from the board in 1936, she also served several terms as vice president. She was also a leader of YWCA work in New York City.
She helped facilitate the merger of YWCA activities in New York in 1912 and was elected first president of the unified organization.
Personality
Vera was a beautiful girl of dignified bearing, with golden hair and violet eyes.
She was highly active in international Y work as well as a devoted feminist. VCSC was described by her contemporaries as beautiful and she married into wealth which makes her devotion to the work of the Y and feminism all that more unusual.
Quotes from others about the person
Robinson: From childhood Vera "was trained to think first of others' comfort, well-being and pleasure" and was "taught to regard thoughtfulness of others as an essential part of Christian character and courtesy. "
Oswald Garrison Villard, former editor of The Nation, called her "one of the city's greatest human assets, whose influence and radiance will continue to inspire others. "
Connections
On October 15, 1901, Vera Scott married James Stewart Cushman, a New York businessman, engaged in real estate and paper manufacturing; he is credited with designing and building the Allerton Houses, residential hotels in New York City. They had no children.
Father:
Samuel Swann Scott
a merchant
Mother:
Anna Margaret (Tressler) Scott
Spouse:
James Stewart Cushman
a businessman
Brother:
brother, Rev. George T. Scott,
assistant director, then executive secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions
