Hobby, Oveta Culp, 1905-1995

Variant names

Hide Profile

Oveta Culp Hobby (January 19, 1905 – August 16, 1995) was the first secretary of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, first director of the Women's Army Corps, and a chairperson of the board of the Houston Post.

Hobby went to Washington, D.C., in 1941 to head the newly formed women's division of the War Department's Bureau of Public Relations. At the request of Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall she drafted plans for the formation of a women's auxiliary to the male army, which ultimately resulted in the formation of the WAC (Women's Army Corps). While many of the auxiliary positions were in jobs traditionally open to women, such as secretaries and executive assistants, Hobby struggled to get the WACs involved in male-dominated fields such as war planning, cartography, and cryptography. She also initiated a program of recruiting black women for the officer corps, an unusual idea at the time. By 1943 she oversaw the activities of more than one hundred thousand WACs in a variety of noncombat positions. That year she was made a colonel in the army, but male opposition blocked her from the rank of general. She received the Distinguished Service Medal in honor of her work. Following the war she resigned her commission and returned to Houston.

In 1953, Hobby was recalled by Dwight D. Eisenhower to Washington. Now president, Eisenhower appointed her the first secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), making her the second female cabinet member. She took the appointment at a controversial moment, when many remained convinced that the federal government had no role in the nation's health or education. She nonetheless ably oversaw the administration of the Public Health Service, the Food and Drug Administration, the Office of Education, and the Bureau of Old Age and Survivors Insurance--all departments of HEW. She also supervised the distribution of Jonas Salk's polio vaccine in 1955.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [JULY 15] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Papers of Martha May Eliot, 1898-1975 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Seals, Woodrow, 1917-1990. Judge Woodrow Seals Papers, 1941-1990 [Part 1] Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Libary
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [MAY 19] National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Oveta Culp Hobby Papers. 1929 - 1960. Personal Files Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf MS Mus. 1640. Vol. xv. Constantinesco-Ramsay MacDonald.ff. 204. 305 x 230mmincludes:ff. 1-8. Harriet Cohen, CBE; pianist: Grégoire Constantinesco, Romanian Envoy: Letters from Grégoire Constantinesco to Harriet Cohen: 1931, n.d.: Fr.f. 7. Harriet... British Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Motion Picture Films from the Army Library Copy Collection. 1964 - 1980. Various newsreel scenes: US and Japan sign Security Pact ; Crisis in the Congo (silent) ; Republic of Congo riots follow fete hailing freedom (silent) ; President of Ghana comes to US, Washington, D.C. (silent) ; Col. Oveta C. Hobby of the WACS WW II (comp) ; President Kennedy greets President of Tunisia, Washington, D.C. (silent) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn George W. Pray Papers, 1844-1890 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn New York Times Company records. Arthur Hays Sulzberger papers, 1823-1999 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Humphrey, George Magoffin, 1890-1970. George Magoffin Humphrey papers, 1912-1970 [microform]. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
referencedIn Herbert Brownell Jr. Additional Papers. 1897 - 1996. Photographs Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Oveta Culp Hobby Papers MS 459., 1817-1995, Bulk Dates 1938-1985 Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
referencedIn James P. Mitchell Papers. 1953 - 1964. Photographs Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of War Information. 1926 - 1951. Propaganda, Information, and Documentary Motion Pictures. 1942 - 1945. REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR [ETC] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Dwight D. Eisenhower Library Oral History Collection. 1962 - 1998. Oral History Transcripts. 1962 - 1998. Oral History Interview with Samuel M. Brownell Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Papers, 1854, 1881-1961 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Benjamin E. Youngdahl Papers, 1916-1968, (bulk 1940s-1962) University of Minnesota Libraries. Social Welfare History Archives
Oveta Culp Hobby Papers, 1929 - 1960 Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
contributorOf Office and Personal Files, ca. 1901 - ca. 1960 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Neal, Margie E. Neal, Margie E., Papers, 1875-1953 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, 1921 - 2008. Membership Files, 1951 - 1984. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [APR. 27] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Builders: Herman and George R. Brown Book Research Files Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
referencedIn Gould, Lewis L. Gould, Lewis L., Collection of Modern American Political History, 1920-1996. University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Lyndon Baines Johnson Archives Collection. 1931 - 1968. Famous Names Correspondence Files Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Castaneda, Christopher James, 1959-. "Builders : George R. and Herman Brown" book research files, 1898-1995. Rice University, Fondren Library
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [APR. 28] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Documentary Films. 1914 - 1944. HAIL AND FAREWELL National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Humphrey, George Magoffin, 1890-1970. George Magoffin Humphrey papers, 1912-1970. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
referencedIn Margie E. Neal Papers 1954., 1875-1953 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn University of Connecticut, President's Office Records [Albert N. Jorgensen, 1935-1962], undated, 1935-1962. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Army Coverage of Inaugurations. 1949 - 1953. EISENHOWER INAUGURATION National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [JULY 10] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Interviews, 1973-1977 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records of the Office of War Information. 1926 - 1951. Motion Picture Films from "News of the Day" Newsreels. 1942 - 1942. NEWS OF THE DAY [SEPT. 2] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Director. James Johnson Sweeney correspondence, 1961-1967. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
referencedIn Bunting, Mary Ingraham, 1910-. Records of the President of Radcliffe College, 1960-1972 (inclusive). Radcliffe College, Archives
creatorOf Oveta Culp Hobby Papers, 1941-1997, (bulk 1941-1945) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Robert B. Anderson Papers. 1933 - 1989. Photographs Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Rosengren, Roswell P., 1902-1988. Papers, 1921-1966. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Ed Kilman Collection MSS 0080., 1905-1989 Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Libary
referencedIn Papers, 1904-1968 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [JUNE 9] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [MAY 19] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Papers, 1922-1963 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn National Broadcasting Company, Inc., Collection. 1953 - 1962. Motion Picture Films. 1953 - 1962. INAUGURATION DAY, JANUARY 20, 1953 National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Oveta Culp Hobby Papers MS 459., 1817-1995, Bulk Dates 1938-1985 Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
creatorOf Crosser, Robert, 1874-1957. Papers 1901-1954. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [AUG. 8] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the Army Staff. 1903 - 2009. Photographs of U.S. and Foreign Military Personnel, Defense Department and Other Government Officials, Royalty, and Heads of State. 1964-1974. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Houston Post, Washington D.C. Bureau, Collection, 1963-1995 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Seals, Woodrow, 1917-1990. Judge Woodrow Seals Papers, 1941-1990 [Part 2] Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Libary
referencedIn Ingraham, Mary T. Shotwell, 1887-1981. Papers, 1904-ca.1970 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Hobby, Oveta Culp. Texas Woman's University Library, Mary Evelyn Blagg-Huey Library
referencedIn Guide to the Grace Spaulding John papers MS 383., 1890-1977 Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
referencedIn Weis, Jessica McCullough, 1901-1963. Papers, 1922-1963 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn William P. Hobby, Sr. Family Papers 94-267; 97-273; 2008-291; 2011-176; 2011-294., 1914-1997, 2011 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Records of the President of Radcliffe College, 1960-1972 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Gould, Lewis L. Collection of Modern American Political History 93-487; 94-033; 94-126; 94-128; 94-183; 96-084; 98-053; 98-171; 99-090., 1920-1996 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Dwight D. Eisenhower Library Oral History Collection. 1962 - 1998. Oral History Transcripts. 1962 - 1998. Oral History Interview with Wilbur J. Cohen Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Hobby, Oveta Culp, 1905-1995. Oveta Culp Hobby papers, 1901-1996. Rice University, Fondren Library
referencedIn Altmeyer, Arthur J. (Arthur Joseph), 1891-1972. Arthur J. Altmeyer papers, 1904-1973. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Rogers, Edith Nourse, 1881-1960. Papers, 1854-1961 (inclusive), 1881-1961 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records of the Office of War Information. 1926 - 1951. Motion Picture Films from "United News" Newsreels. 1942 - 1945. FIRST U.S. ARMY WOMEN ARRIVE IN ENGLAND [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Margaret Bayne Price Papers, 1918-1969, 1947-1968 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn United States. Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. Records, 1951-1959 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn James A. Clark Papers MS 277., 1889-1974 Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
creatorOf Oveta Culp Hobby Papers. 1929 - 1960. Photographs Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Hobby, William Pettus, 1878-1964. Hobby, William P., Sr., family papers, 1914-1997. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Records of the Office of Inter-American Affairs. 1918 - 1951. Motion Picture Films. 1940 - 1945. JAPANESE MURDERS OF U.S. FLYERS AROUSE NATION [ETC.] National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Edward Johnson Collection. Isabelle Magor Exhibition of Portraits, Aug. 7-30, 1943, Guild Hall, East Hampton, L.I. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn Family Planning Oral History Project. Records, 1909-1984 (inclusive), 1973-1977 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Houston Post, Washington D.C. Bureau, Collection, 1963-1995 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
Relation Name
associatedWith Altmeyer, Arthur J. (Arthur Joseph), 1891-1972. person
associatedWith Bunting, Mary Ingraham, 1910- person
associatedWith Castaneda, Christopher James, 1959- person
associatedWith Clark, James Anthony, 1908-1978 person
associatedWith Cohen, Harriet person
associatedWith Crosser, Robert, 1874-1957. person
associatedWith EDITH NOURSE ROGERS, 1881-1960 person
associatedWith Edward Johnson Collection. corporateBody
correspondedWith Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969 person
associatedWith Eliot, Martha M. (Martha May), b. 1891. person
associatedWith Family Planning Oral History Project family
associatedWith Family Planning Oral History Project. corporateBody
associatedWith Gould, Lewis L. person
correspondedWith Hobby, Oveta Culp, 1905-1995 person
associatedWith Hobby, William Pettus, 1878-1964. person
associatedWith Hobby, William P., Sr. Family family
associatedWith Houston Post , Washington D.C. Bureau corporateBody
associatedWith Humphrey, George Magoffin, 1890-1970. person
associatedWith Ingraham, Mary T. Shotwell, 1887-1981. person
associatedWith Jessica Weis, 1901-1963 person
associatedWith John, Grace Spaulding person
associatedWith Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973 person
associatedWith KPRC (Radio station : Houston, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith KPRC-TV (Television station : Houston, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith MARTHA MAY ELIOT, 1891-1978 person
associatedWith Mary (Shotwell) Ingraham person
associatedWith Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Director. corporateBody
associatedWith Neal, Margie E. person
associatedWith Neal, Margie Elizabeth, 1875-1971 person
associatedWith New York Times Company corporateBody
associatedWith Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913- person
correspondedWith Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994 person
associatedWith Pan American World Airways, inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Pan American World Airways, inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Pray, George Washington, 1825-1890 person
associatedWith Price, Margaret Bayne, 1912-1968 person
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
associatedWith Rogers, Edith Nourse, 1881-1960. person
associatedWith Rosengren, Roswell P., 1902-1988. person
associatedWith Seals, Woodrow Bradley person
associatedWith Seals, Woodrow Bradley person
associatedWith United States. Army. Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Women's Army Corps. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. War Department. Bureau of Public Relations. Women's Interest Section. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. War Dept. Bureau of Public Relations. Women's Interest Section. corporateBody
correspondedWith University of Connecticut. President's Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Weis, Jessica McCullough, 1901-1963. person
associatedWith Youngdahl, Benjamin E. (Benjamin Emanual), 1897-1970 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Killeen TX US
Houston TX US
Subject
Women in the military
Women in the military
Women in war
Women in war
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Army officers
Businesswomen
Cabinet officers
Legislators
Newspaper editors
Publisher
Activity

Person

Birth 1905-01-19

Death 1995-08-16

Female

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6v51k6d

Ark ID: w6v51k6d

SNAC ID: 84912582