Date of Award

2006

Degree Name

History

College

College of Liberal Arts

Type of Degree

M.A.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Robert Sawrey

Second Advisor

Montserrat Miller

Third Advisor

David Duke

Abstract

Elizabeth Kee served as the first woman to represent West Virginia in the House of Representatives from 1951-1964. Newly available sources: taped interviews with her son, Jim Kee, from 1978 and 1980; a complete copy of Elizabeth Kee’s entries into the Congressional Record; copies of many of her “Keenotes” columns from the late 1950s and early 1960s; and correspondence between Elizabeth Kee and veterans from West Virginia from 1961-1963 allow a more complete picture of Kee to emerge. Elizabeth Kee was not only a hardworking politician, who laid the groundwork for future programs like the War on Poverty, she was also a religious and moral person, who shared her values with members of the House in an effort to raise the standards and behavior within that institution. Finally, Kee was a talented writer whose weekly columns illustrate a woman ahead of her time in terms of her ability to remain connected to her constituents.

Subject

Kee, Elizabeth

Subject

Women in politics

Subject

Women politicians - West Virginia

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