Anne Mason Roberts Explained

Anne Mason Roberts
Birth Date:1910
Birth Place:Cincinnati, Ohio
Death Date:October 17, 1971
Death Place:New York City
Nationality:American
Occupation:Government official

Anne Mason Roberts (1910 – October 17, 1971) was an American government official. She was the highest-ranking woman at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), when she served as deputy regional administrator from 1962 to 1964, and from 1966 to 1971. From 1964 to 1966, she was appointed director of New York City's Anti-Poverty Operations Board, under mayor Robert F. Wagner.

Early life

Anne Mason was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father was a postal carrier; her mother was disabled by severe arthritis.[1] She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1928, and a master's degree in psychology in 1936.[2]

Career

Mason taught school in Cincinnati as a young woman. She credited her teaching experience with providing her insights into urban poverty. In 1945, Roberts left teaching for a consumer relations job in the Office of Price Administration. She also wrote articles for the Pittsburgh Courier, where her husband was a reporter and editor.[3] [4]

She was the highest-ranking woman at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), when she served as deputy regional administrator from 1962 to 1964, and from 1966 to 1971 covering the New York and New England regions.[5] From 1964 to 1966,[6] she was appointed director of New York City's Anti-Poverty Operations Board, under mayor Robert F. Wagner.

In 1967, Roberts was one of the six recipients of the Federal Woman's Award.[7] [8] [9] In 1968, she was named the Seagram Vanguard Society Award winner, and Woman of the Year by the National Urban League.[10]

Roberts was a member of the National Urban League and the National Council of Negro Women.

Personal life

Anne Mason married twice; her second husband was journalist Stanley Roberts.[11] She was stepmother to Roberts' three daughters, Alma, Stanlyn, and Judith.[12] Anne Mason Roberts died in 1971, aged 61 years, at her home in New York City.[13]

Notes and References

  1. News: Poverty is her Adversary. Fields. Sidney. 1964-11-12. Daily News. 2020-01-29. 126. Newspapers.com.
  2. Web site: ANNE M. ROBERTS, HOUSING OFFICIAL; Highest-Ranking Woman in H.U.D., Ex-City Aide Dies. October 18, 1971. The New York Times. 40. en. 2020-01-29.
  3. News: Power of Ballot is Beginning to Crack Numerous Barriers. Roberts. Anne Mason. 1950-01-28. The Pittsburgh Courier. 2020-01-29. 2. Newspapers.com.
  4. November 11, 1971. Top Female HUD Official in N. Y. Dies; was 61. Jet. 18.
  5. News: Gribetz Is Named Regional Chief Of Housing and Urban Projects: Mrs. Anne M. Roberts Is Appointed by Weaver as Deputy Administrator. July 29, 1966. The New York Times. 17. ProQuest.
  6. News: Toki Types. Johnson. Toki Schalk. 1964-10-31. The Pittsburgh Courier. 2020-01-29. 7. Newspapers.com.
  7. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=PWJQAQAAMAAJ&q=Anne+Mason+Roberts&pg=PA399. Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration. March 7, 1967. 399–400. en. Federal Woman's Award.
  8. News: Feminine Talent to the Fore. 1967-03-08. Quad-City Times. 2020-01-29. 17. Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Top Woman's Award. 1967-02-18. The Pittsburgh Courier. 2020-01-29. 1. Newspapers.com.
  10. News: '68 Vanguard Society Award to Mrs. Anne Mason Roberts. April 8, 1969. Baltimore Afro American. January 28, 2020. 8. NewspaperArchive.com.
  11. News: Toki Types. Johnson. Toki Schalk. 1967-02-18. The Pittsburgh Courier. 2020-01-29. 11. Newspapers.com.
  12. Web site: STANLEY ROBERTS, 60, CITY PUBLICITY AIDE. June 18, 1975. The New York Times. 39. en. 2020-01-29.
  13. News: Obituary for ANNE MASON ROBERTS (Aged 61). 1971-10-18. Daily News. 2020-01-29. 292. Newspapers.com.