Kathryn E. Granahan
Kathryn Elizabeth Granahan (December 7, 1894 – July 10, 1979) was an American politician. She served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania and as the Treasurer of the United States, having been appointed by President John F. Kennedy.
Kathryn Elizabeth Granahan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 32nd Treasurer of the United States | |
| In office January 9, 1963 – November 22, 1966 | |
| President | John F. Kennedy Lyndon Johnson |
| Preceded by | Elizabeth Rudel Smith |
| Succeeded by | Dorothy Andrews Elston Kabis |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 2nd district | |
| In office November 6, 1956 – January 3, 1963 | |
| Preceded by | William T. Granahan |
| Succeeded by | Robert N. C. Nix Sr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kathryn Elizabeth O'Hay December 7, 1894 Easton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | July 10, 1979 (aged 84) Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | William T. Granahan |
| Alma mater | Chestnut Hill College |
| Signature |  |
Granahan was a member of the Democratic Party and was the first woman to be elected to the United States Congress from Philadelphia.[1]
Early life and education
Born Kathryn Elizabeth O'Hay in Easton, Pennsylvania, all four of her grandparents were Irish immigrants.[2] She graduated from Mount St. Joseph Collegiate Institute in Philadelphia, which was later renamed Chestnut Hill College.
Career
She was supervisor of public assistance in the State Auditor General's Department, and liaison officer between that department and Department of Public Assistance, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1940 to 1943. She was a member of national board, Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania and a delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention.
Congress
Her husband, Rep. William T. Granahan served in Congress from 1945 to 1947 and from 1949 until his death in 1956. His death came shortly after the 1956 primary election and the Democratic Party in Philadelphia selected Kathryn to succeed her husband in both the special election and general election. She was simultaneously elected to serve out her husband's term in the 84th United States Congress and a term in the 85th United States Congress in her own right.[3]
She served as chair of the House Subcommittee on Postal Operations, and worked with Postmaster General Arthur Summerfield to pass the Granahan bill "to seize and detain the mail of anyone suspected of trafficking in obscenity."[4]
Treasurer of the United States
After the 1960 census, Pennsylvania was expected to lose three seats in redistricting. The Democratic Party leadership chose Granahan's seat as one of those to be eliminated. Rep. Bill Green secured her assurance not to run in the 1962 elections. In return, Green convinced then U.S. president John F. Kennedy to appoint her as Treasurer of the United States.[3]
She began her term as Treasurer on January 9, 1963 after her term in Congress ended. In 1965, Granahan suffered a blood clot after a fall and worked a reduced schedule afterwards. In 1966, an effort to declare her incompetent failed; however, she resigned four months later.[3]
Television appearances
Granahan made guest appearances on What's My Line? on March 3, 1963, and To Tell the Truth in November 1963.[5]
Death
Granahan died in Norristown, Pennsylvania on July 10, 1979.
References
- "Kathryn O'Day Granahan Dies; A Former Head of U.S. Treasury". New York Times. 1979-07-13.
- "United States Census, 1900", FamilySearch, retrieved March 24, 2018
- "Granahan, Kathryn Elizabeth". United States House of Representatives. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
- Independent Lens
- To Tell the Truth 7x39 "James White, Barry Langford, Catherine O'Hay Granahan", retrieved 2016-09-13
Sources
- United States Congress. "Kathryn E. Granahan (id: G000368)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Remarks by Joseph M. Hoeffel of Pennsylvania
- Kathryn E. Granahan at The Political Graveyard
