373:, who had led the Republican National Committee and would rise to the position of Senate Minority Leader. With Scott’s encouragement, she ran for the position of chair of the Allegheny County Republican Party and was elected to the job in 1967—the first woman elected to head the party of an urban area. It was during her time as party chair that she worked to field winning candidates and develop connections with her counterparts across the state of Pennsylvania, including the members of the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania.
30:
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During and after her tenure as party chair, Hillman worked to advance moderate candidates who supported civil rights and women’s rights—urging them to run, helping them to organize their campaigns (often staffing them, as a volunteer), and connecting them with the leaders of organized labor and other
346:
Their work took
Hillman into neighborhoods of Pittsburgh and the county she had never been. It was during this period that she developed her connections with African American leaders as well as a sense of outrage about the civil rights being denied to Black Americans. She volunteered for the board of
339:
After Ike’s successful campaigns, Hillman remained involved in the
Republican party during the 1960s as a volunteer at the local level. Her work in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County caused her to see how few African American men or women were involved in her party, so she arranged to meet with the
288:
before her family moved into the City of
Pittsburgh. Hillman's mother served on the boards of non-profit organizations, volunteered to spot aircraft over Pittsburgh during WWII, and headed up the citywide effort to raise money to buy mobile kitchens and hospital equipment for war-bombed England.
366:, who withdrew from the race). She witnessed the poor treatment of African American Republican delegates by some of those who opposed Scranton. Scranton ultimately lost the nomination to Senator Barry Goldwater, who would go on to be defeated in the general election by Lyndon Johnson.
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University of
Pittsburgh received Hillman's personal papers in 2013. They are stored and made accessible Archives Service Center of the University of Pittsburgh’s Library System. This collection amounts to over a hundred boxes. The papers are divided into fourteen sections:
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because she saw him as a war hero. She had already registered as a
Republican—both because of family tradition and the party’s support for women, including the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) (which the party supported in its platform until 1980).
414:
She was chair of the Elsie H. Hillman
Foundation, a trustee of the Hillman Family Foundations, co-chair of the UPCI and UPMC CancerCenter Council, and served as a board member of WQED, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Hill House Association
260:, and jobs in the Pittsburgh region. Known for her down-to-earth nature and sense of humor, Pittsburghers regularly encountered "Elsie" in her signature headband, as she was active as a philanthropist and civic leader in the city and region.
340:
county party chairman to raise the issue. He suggested that she meet
Wendell Freeland, an African American lawyer and Tuskegee Airman, to team-up to recruit more volunteers and candidates from the city’s African American community.
377:
influential groups. She and her family made extensive contributions to campaigns as well, eventually establishing a political action committee to support moderate candidates. She was also known as a supporter of abortion rights.
361:
Because of
Scranton’s moderate views and strong support of Civil Rights legislation, Hillman backed his candidacy during the 1964 Republican presidential primary in San Francisco (after having worked actively for
229:. During her life, Hillman helped to advance the careers of a number of moderate Republican politicians to state and national offices. Among the politicians whose careers she fostered are President
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Hillman and
Freeland did this, going on to organize neighborhoods across the City of Pittsburgh and becoming lifelong friends through political and civic work that spanned decades.
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Elsie
Hillman began her own volunteering by cleaning instruments for surgeries at Eye and Ear Hospital in Pittsburgh, selling War Bonds, and knitting socks for soldiers.
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In 1975, the State Committee of Pennsylvania elected Hillman to the Republican National Committee (RNC). She served as a national committeewoman until 1996.
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directors of several traditionally African American organizations, including the Hill House Association, and began to speak publicly for civil rights.
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named her one of the most influential Republicans in Pennsylvania, calling her the "grand dame of big tent Republican politics."
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Series X. Personal (Friends and Family) documents Elsie’s own personal life, as well as those of her friends and family members.
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Perlmutter, Ellen (March 25, 1990). "Elsie: Presidential confidante, power broker, more than just a rich man's wife".
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Series VIII. National Awareness documents, the Blair House Restoration Foundation and the White House Endowment Fund.
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to study piano and voice. (Her grandmother, Catherine Hauk Talbott, founded the college, which now is part of
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427:. Among the numerous political, civic, business, and medical leaders who attended her memorial service at
331:
Hillman first ventured into politics as a young woman, campaigning for Republican presidential candidate
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Hillman and Freeland were able to reach African American voters in ways that the party had not before
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She was honored as "Woman of the Year" for 1982 by Vectors/Pittsburgh. In 2002, she was named to the
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567:. University of Pittsburgh, Institute of Politics. pp. 38, 50, 72, 107. Archived from
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She work on George H. W. Bush's 1980 campaign and helped him win the Pennsylvania primary.
332:
681:
Pittsburgh Courier (November 3, 1962). "17,000 Cheer Ike, GOP Nominees at Mammoth Rally".
8:
316:, a U.S. Navy pilot whom she had met years earlier in Pittsburgh. They were wed in 1945.
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190:
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Marion, Leslie (March 1, 1967). "Political and Culinary Arts Interest County Chairman".
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Series IX. General Correspondence contains letters written to and from Elsie Hillman.
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304:. After she graduated from high school, Hillman went to Westminster Choir College in
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653:"The Republican Party's 'Historic Commitment' to Women -- New York Magazine - Nymag"
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276:, to Thomas Jones Hilliard and Marianna Talbott Hilliard. She was raised in the
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755:. University of Pittsburgh, Institute of Politics. p. 52. Archived from
705:. University of Pittsburgh, Institute of Politics. p. 31. Archived from
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927:"Elsie Hilliard Hillman, influential Republican political adviser, has died"
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won the party nomination, but Bush was his vice-presidential running mate.
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and they organized large-scale events, including a 17,000-person rally for
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Series XIII. Political memorabilia, campaign buttons, and other objects.
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National Committeewoman. She was the wife of billionaire industrialist
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965:"Remembering Elsie Hillman, Pittsburgh's 'queen with a common touch'"
946:"Philanthropist and one-time GOP powerhouse Elsie Hillman dies at 89"
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Series XIV. Audio-Video of interviews, news programs, and live events
436:
242:
613:"Obituary: Elsie Hillman, philanthropist and GOP pillar, dies at 89"
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Series XI. Public Profiles contains articles and newspaper clippings
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list of "Pennsylvania's Most Politically Powerful Women." In 2010,
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During her elementary and upper school years, Hillman attended the
29:
533:"Elsie Hillman, Who Bolstered Moderate Republicans, Dies at 89"
394:
list of "Sy Snyder's Power 50." In 2003, she was named to the
323:, returning to the City of Pittsburgh at the end of the war.
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991:"'Queen of Pittsburgh' celebrated at Hillman remembrance"
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Hillman died of heart failure on August 4, 2015, at the
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when he ran for governor; Scranton was elected in 1962.
749:
Never A Spectator: The Political Life of Elsie Hillman
699:
Never A Spectator: The Political Life of Elsie Hillman
641:. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh. p. 9.
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Never A Spectator: The Political Life of Elsie Hillman
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Never A Spectator: The Political Life of Elsie Hillman
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Never a Spectator The Political Life of Elsie Hillman
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494:Series XII. Photographs contains many photographs
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873:"Pennsylvania's Most Politically Powerful Women"
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476:Series VI. Awards contains material and records
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805:. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 18, 1984
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1071:. University of Pittsburgh. Archived from
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217:(December 9, 1925 – August 4, 2015) was a
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881:. The Publius Group. 2001. Archived from
857:. The Publius Group. 2003. Archived from
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833:. The Publius Group. 2002. Archived from
785:"Elsie Hillman, 89, An Active Republican"
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896:Roarty, Alex; Sean Coit (January 2010).
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695:
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636:
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312:.) By then, she had fallen in love with
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670:. University of Pittsburgh. p. 19.
425:University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
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398:"Power 50" list. She was named to the
1147:20th-century American philanthropists
1142:20th-century Pennsylvania politicians
989:Togneri, Chris (September 19, 2015).
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467:Series III. Other Political Activity
461:Series I. Republican Party Activity
431:were former Pennsylvania governors
319:The Hillmans lived in New York and
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963:Majors, Dan (September 20, 2015).
221:based philanthropist and a former
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1112:Westminster Choir College alumni
907:. pp. 44–49. Archived from
595:Pittsburgh Press Sunday Magazine
470:Series IV. Community Involvement
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369:Hillman worked to elect Senator
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944:Zito, Salena (August 4, 2015).
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925:Esack, Steve (August 4, 2015).
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473:Series V. Speeches and Writings
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1127:Women in Pennsylvania politics
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611:Majors, Dan (August 4, 2015).
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514:– named for the Hillman family
464:Series II. Political Campaigns
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803:"Vectors' label clouds award"
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237:, and Pennsylvania governors
44:Republican National Committee
1132:Burials at Homewood Cemetery
1088:Biographical work on Hillman
1036:. University of Pittsburgh,
58:1975 – June 8, 1996
7:
1157:21st-century American women
1152:20th-century American women
1122:Politicians from Pittsburgh
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170:Juliet Lea Hillman Simonds
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1034:"Elsie H. Papers Web Site"
898:"Pennsylvania Influencers"
950:Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
479:Series VII. Subject Files
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195:Westminster Choir College
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1117:Pennsylvania Republicans
1062:McCauley, Kathy (2012).
1009:"Elsie Hilliard Hillman"
746:McCauley, Kathy (2012).
696:McCauley, Kathy (2012).
666:McCauley, Kathy (2012).
637:McCauley, Kathy (2012).
558:McCauley, Kathy (2012).
429:Calvary Episcopal Church
270:Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania
130:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
113:Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania
1137:The Ellis School alumni
1038:Archives Service Center
969:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
733:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
617:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
451:Elsie H. Hillman Papers
174:William Talbott Hillman
825:"Sy Snyder's Power 50"
296:in Pittsburgh and the
215:Elsie Hilliard Hillman
1013:The Homewood Cemetery
914:on December 29, 2009.
172:Audrey Hillman Fisher
1078:on December 15, 2013
885:on February 9, 2004.
762:on December 15, 2013
712:on December 15, 2013
574:on December 15, 2013
333:Dwight D. Eisenhower
268:Hillman was born in
176:Henry L. Hillman Jr.
298:Ethel Walker School
252:and Republicans on
191:Ethel Walker School
861:on April 17, 2004.
837:on April 21, 2002.
683:Pittsburgh Courier
364:Nelson Rockefeller
905:Politics Magazine
791:. August 8, 2015.
668:Never a Spectator
655:. March 23, 2012.
445:Homewood Cemetery
404:Politics Magazine
352:Never a Spectator
231:George H. W. Bush
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286:Allegheny County
282:Hampton Township
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1080:. Retrieved
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125:(2015-08-04)
81:Anne Anstine
76:Succeeded by
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15:
1107:2015 deaths
1102:1925 births
433:Tom Corbett
302:Connecticut
64:Preceded by
1096:Categories
878:PoliticsPA
854:PoliticsPA
849:"Power 50"
830:PoliticsPA
519:References
400:PoliticsPA
396:PoliticsPA
392:PoliticsPA
371:Hugh Scott
278:Fox Chapel
274:Pittsburgh
264:Early life
235:John Heinz
233:, Senator
223:Republican
219:Pittsburgh
182:Alma mater
151:Republican
106:1925-12-09
1082:March 24,
766:March 24,
716:March 24,
578:March 24,
437:Tom Ridge
284:areas of
250:Democrats
243:Tom Ridge
201:Known for
54:In office
809:June 10,
506:See also
167:Children
439:, and
157:Spouse
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280:and
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120:Died
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
