Utah's Peace Advocate, the "Mormona": Elise Furer Musser

Utah Historical Quarterly

Vol. 46, 1978, No. 2

Utah's Peace Advocate, the "Mormona": Elise Furer Musser

EDITED BY JUANITA BROOKS AND JANET G. BUTLER

TAKEN FROM HER OWN WRITINGS, diaries, and letters, this manuscript of Elise Furer Musser is essentially an autobiography. Where her words were sparse, quotes have been taken from newspaper articles printed at the time.

The original typescript, edited by Juanita Brooks with the aid of others, is contained in the holdings of the Utah State Historical Society. The final version was edited and annotated by Janet G. Butler.

We tend to forget in this era of vocal feminism that, indeed, there is nothing new under the sun. When fighting the good fight in favor of women professionals, power for women, and women in politics, we may do well to recall a now little-known woman, born in 1877, upon whose fragile shoulders the state of Utah was carried a few giant steps further into the arena of national and international politics.

Perhaps in today's climate, where formal education is obligatory, Elise Furer Musser would not have attained the position she did with the schooling she had, but her intelligence, social skills, knowledge, and background served her well in her time. She began her social service and political career with work in Neighborhood House, became influential in Utah's Democratic Women's Club, served as a state senator, and became the only woman delegate to the Buenos Aires Peace Conference in 1936. For the next thirty-one years, until her death on August 30, 1967, she continued her social and political activities, and her home on Harvard Avenue in Salt Lake City was a gathering place for influential people of the day.

A person like Elise Musser puts the current women's movement into proper perspective. She may be viewed as a focal point for the feminist cause of her day. And to place her in context furthers the concept of the women's movement on a continuum rather than as a new, spontaneous phenomenon.

Not a native Utahn, Elise Musser converted to Mormonism and migrated to Utah when in her teens. Whereas Utah did not produce this gracious, international figure, it nurtured her and matured her. That she attained political eminence with a Utah background may be seen as a logical extension of the state's early tradition of woman suffrage and the heritage of its women pioneers. Although a Mormon, with a husband and son, she did not assume the traditional role of the woman in the home. Nor did she follow- the more traditional pathways of famous Utah women like Eliza R. Snow or Emmeline B. Wells. She was an individual wdio, by her career, taught a lesson that could be relearned today: merit and quality may still prove the basic stepping-stones to individual goals of change, success, and self-improvement. Elise Musser danced to her own drummer, and it may be said that Utah and the women's cause are much the better for it. Her story follows:

... .I was born on December 7, 1877 at Les Loges, Canton of Neuchatel, Switzerland. . . . There were five children, ... I was fourth. . . . ... we proudly spoke French and despised German, but we understood German because Mother always spoke it to us. . . . I was only three . . . when my father died. . . . . . . my mother had a very difficult time. . . . . . . .We had a lot of sunshine in our home in spite of the hardships. . . . When I was seven Mother married a man named Frederic Rufener, a good, kind man who treated all of the children alike and was very fair. My father's sister had married a man named Ever, and they lived in Lausanne. Since they had no children, she offered to relieve Mother of one of hers. She really wanted my younger sister, Louise . . . but ... I was accepted as second best. . . .

In this home I never felt that I had any sympathetic understanding. . . . I suppose they were proud of me because I had a perfect record in school. . . .

Those four years with them could have been a very happy time if they hadn't kept me trembling with fear all the time. . . .

. . . .When I was eleven, I unburdened myself to Mother. She would not hear of my returning [to my aunt and uncle's house], so another mouth to feed was added to the load she and my step-father were uncomplainingly carrying. . . . The struggle for existence seemed just as hard as when Mother was alone. . . . Seeing her almost crushed by the load she was carrying, I suddenly grew up. . . .

The one-room school, where one young, inexperienced teacher was supposed to teach thirty or thirty-five boys and girls between the ages of six and fifteen, was a new experience. . . . She put me in the highest group. . . . Fortunately the little ones had to be taught. She-soon found she could use me there to great advantage. . . .

This may have had something to do with the offer that came to me shortly afterwards from M. Buchenel, President of the Board of Education of one of the towns in the valley . . . [His] housekeeper . . . needed some help. He thought I could easily give her that necessary help, and at the same time have the privilege of attending his very fine school. . . .

... .I [was] placed in the highest grade of the school. ... I never acquired quite so much information in any one year. . . .

When I was not quite fifteen . . . another uncle . . . invited me to spend the winter at his home and attend high school. . . . . . . .I graduated five months later. . . . . . . .five months of real work because of the German and the many "practical" things required. . . .

Society and my family now considered me prepared to take up my responsibilities among the adults of the community. Incidentally, it meant also that I might now receive attentions from young men without criticism. ... I was not in the least affected by this change of attitude, except that I enjoyed having the older men appraise me approvingly. . . .

... I was so busy planning for a great life. Far from being appalled by the responsibilities suddenly thrust upon me, I faced them with a hope incomprehen-

154 Utah Historical Quarterly

sible in later life. . . .

It was at this time that life dealt the first shattering blow to my radiant hopes. After an abscess in my ear, which made me seriously ill, I developed what has been my physical nemesis all through life—a protracted case of phlebitis in both legs. This long illness led indirectly to my coming to America. A sister of my step-father, who, with her family, had joined the Mormon Church, visited me several times. There was so much in that new practical faith—the practical social set-up of the Church organization and especially the beckoning of the promised land—to fire the imagination of an impressionable child my age. . . .

. . . .At any rate, quite against the wishes of my family, I became converted and was duly baptized one dark cold night (May 11, 1894) in the river Seyon. . . .

... .1 developed before long a much more serious case of phlebitis than the first one. . . .

I was finally in pretty good condition when arrangements were made between my family and the president of the mission to have my elder brother Rodolphe and me leave for America. If this chance had come one year before, I would have been overjoyed. But now, having had much time for reading, for reflection, and having in a measure grown up, I undertook the journey with many misgivings. . . . We left home in the wee small hours of a winter morning. . . . In some ways my introduction to this country was a terrible experience. We . . . arrived in Salt Lake City at four o-clock in the morning of February 4, 1897. It was dark and very cold, yet people were there at the station to meet the new Saints that arrived and to take them to their homes. At last all were gone, and no one had come for me. I was lost and lonely as I stood there. At last Arnold Schulthess . . . .said, 'You come right home with me. . . ." Mrs. Schulthess was very gracious and kind. . . . They really had no place for me in their old fashioned home, but they helped me get work at another place. It was only house work at three dollars a week. I was glad to get it, because it would help me with my English. However this family moved away shortly so I worked there only a few weeks. The second family was named Trent. ... In both homes I was definitely a servant. ... I didn't mind this at all for a while, but certainly did not mean to work for this kind of wage for long. . . .

Finally we had word from Brother George Naegle, who had been president of the Mission in Switzerland. He had talked so much about Mexico and the opportunities there . . . that Rodolphe became quite excited about going there. Brother Octave Ursenbach . . . thought he would like to go there, too. By the time the tickets came, Rodolphe . . . did not want to go to Mexico at all. Brother Ursenbach was going, and my job wasn't very good, so I decided that I would go myself rather than have the ticket wasted. . . .

Octave saw many opportunities in Mexico because he was young and daring, but ... I think he decided it wasn't the place to raise his children. . . . But I had no money to go back, and Brother Naegle was quite insistent about my staying, since he had paid my way down.

Octave said when he left, "Well, I hope vou will be happv if vou marry him." I said, "What are you talking about?" "Haven't you noticed? People around here are all polygamists." (Of course

I didn't know about this polygamy.) "I would never enter into that," I said. But I stayed for a while and worked as a hired girl in the Naegle home. Soon after, Pilares Mining Company was extending the work at the mine. . . .

Mr. Haynie, who was in charge of shipping the ore . . . came to see me and invited me to his home to have dinner. George Naegle was quite irritated, but I thought it was lovely for anybody to give me an invitation to a meal. At this dinner he decided that I was just the person for the job. ... I was to keep the books. . . .

. . . .After I had worked a while, I felt quite rich, so I stayed on with the job. . . .

. . . President Anthony W. Ivins' 1 came to the town one day, and he found that I was working out there across the stream and that I was usually alone all day long except for the Mexicans who were in the vicinity. I never had the slightest fear, and the Mexicans were so lovely to me ... I felt strictly on a par with them, for they were working for a living and so was I.

Brother Ivins. . . .thought the whole thing was rather dangerous for a woman to be across the river from the Colony—especially a young, unmarried woman. . . .

There lived near us an older lady. ... I used to call in nearly every day for a short visit with her. . . . Once she gave me a gift of a fine heifer calf. . . . The men put [a] brand on the heifer, and turned it out on the range ... I thought nothing further of it. Later, after I had returned to Utah, the cow and her calves were rounded up and sold, and the money was sent to me. ... I sent most of this money to my family in Switzerland to help them come to America, as all of them finally did, except my eldest sister, Marie.

Several things combined to make me decide to return to the United States. President Ivins' advice about a young single girl being alone. . . , the danger of the river, the fact that I simply could not think of entering polygamy, and also that now I had money of my own to finance me until I could get other work in Utah—all were contributing factors. . . .

When I came back to Salt Lake City, I returned to the Schulthess home in the First Ward. . . . My first work . . . was to be a governess to young David Keith. . . . Right after I left there I went to business college, because I thought I could better myself a little. . . .

At this time I met James H. Anderson . . . one of the County Commissioners. . . .he found an opening for some special work in the County Recorders office. . . .from this I learned my job of abstracting. . . .the. . . job. . . I held for quite a number of years until I was married.

On one occasion I was called to settle a dispute between a Swiss-German and an Austrian German who couldn't understand each others dialects. After that, I was often called as an interpreter.

About a year after my return from Mexico my Mother and stepfather arrived with the rest of the family. . . .

In the meantime, while I worked at the Court House, I went to summer school instead of taking a vacation. . . .

About this time I became acquainted with Blanche Musser in the old

Second Ward. . . . It was at a Sunday School party at the Musser home that I met Burton. . . . Blanche found ways for us to meet again, and soon we were keeping company and engaged. He was the sweetest, most loveable young man that ever was.

. . . .Every little while when talking about our future, he would say, "And then I will study law." I knew it was paramount with him and encouraged him to stay with it in spite of our poverty.

We were married December 22, 1911. . . .my savings were little. But I got us to Washington, and had enough to keep us for a few months. Burton got work through Senator Smoot for a short time, but he wouldn't let me work.

[Following are selected entries from Elise Musser's diary.]

May 28 [1912]. I left for Philadelphia and Burton for his work in the South. He was working on an abstract on land that is now in the Appalachian Authority. We located first in Abdingdon, Virginia, where I joined Burton June 6. Then we went to Mountain City, Jackson County, Tennessee. W ,T ere there seven months and then we went to Bristol. . . .

June 23, Mountain City. Attended a meeting of the Christian (Carmelite) church. Real blood and thunder sermon. The boy . . . who sat next to me . . . spitting on all sides kept me dodging all the time. . . .

Nov. 5. Buying and selling votes was flagrant to-day. . . . Everything very quiet; as this section is Republican, there is little excitement over the election of Wilson. . . .

Jan. 22 [1913]. Burton left this morning for Nashville to take the Bar Examination. . . .

March 3 About this time I decide to go to Washington.

Apr. 13 Tonight I saw and heard Helen Keller, that wonderful deaf and blind girl, whose accomplishments would put any seeing and hearing person to shame. . . .

Apr. 14. At night went to Chase's new theatre to see (or hear) Edison's latest invention, the Talking Moving Pictures. . . .

Burton. . . .thought he would like Columbia University, so we went to New York, arriving there June 12th. We felt like two strange little children. . . .

... I thought he [Burton] would let me work while he was in school, but he simply wouldn't hear of it. Some of the boys would get a job for Saturday, but . . . Burton had to study hard for what he got. He got a foundation in Law (He spent only three years in school) that many people wouldn't get. . . .

Aug. 17 Attended L.D.S. meeting on 125 Street and in the evening had a most pleasant walk through Riverside Drive. . . .

August 24 After dinner went to Central Park to the concert given by Yolpe's excellent band. . . . Sep 4. Spent 2 hours at the Metropolitan Art Museum. . . . Oct. 2. Had my first class in Educational Psychology at New York City College this afternoon. Prof. Huckman.

Oct. 3. Thoroughly enjoyed my first lecture on American History by Prof. Guthrie. . . .

Oct. 4. Tonight attended a lecture on Chemistry. Hydrogen by Prof. Nesich of Columbia. . . .

Oct. 29. School is getting more interesting each day. The two hours I spend going there each day are such a nice diversion to the daily routine of housework!

Nov. 5. Yesterday was election and Tammany was defeated. One more forward step for rule by the people. . . .

Mar. 7 [1914]. Attended a little informal party at Mrs. Wesley Young's at Bonnie Castle. Danced the turkey trot with Mahonri Young, the famous Utah sculptor and learned to play pinochle. (What Next?). . . .

June 14 . . . Burton, mother and I went to the Jewish synagogue on Lenox Ave. . . .

Aug 2. Preparation for war all over Europe. Thank heaven for peace in our United States and prospects of peace in all the Americas. . . .

[End of diary.]

I was pregnant with Bernard at the time of Burton's typhoid. I was constantly threatened with miscarriage. . . . My money was completely gone by that time. . . . All we had between us was a quarter which was given to Blanche. . . . She had it made into a pin. We took off the pin . . . intending to use the quarter to send a telegram to Joseph, Burton's brother. The telephone man, thinking we looked honest, reversed the charges. We used the 25£ to get bread, and Joseph sent us $100.00 to tide us over. When Burton got well, we started for home. . . . On our return from New York we went right into our house on 8th East and 7th South (Grandfather Musser's old home). . . . Returning home to the proverbial poverty of the young lawyer waiting for clients was hard for Burton. . . .

When Bernard was born, going to the hospital was out of the question. His arrival in the world the morning of December 4, 1914, was the cause of great rejoicing in the old home, and brought unspeakable joy to me. . . .

For three months after confinement I was on my back with phlebitis. . . . I was able to begin teaching in a small, individual way. ... It all helped the family budget.

The terrible war (World War I) by the spring of 1917 had ravaged half the world, and approached nearer and nearer to us. Every day our relations with Germany and Austria became more strained, finally resulting in declaration of war. . . .

Burton had a small office in the Newhouse Building. With his partner, James Ball, he was employed on cases for the Utah Oil Refining Company. Later Burton became attorney for the Company. . . .

. . . .When Bernard was about three we moved to a home on 4th Avenue and A Street. With all the housekeeping to do myself, and taking classes at the University of Utah, any spare time being given to the Red Cross, I kept myself busy. . . .

... .I asked the University if I could get Bernard in the Kindergarten there. It was then under the direction of Miss Rose Jones, a remarkable teacher and also a member of the Neighborhood House Board. ... I attended listening classes while he was in school. Going to school was something I seemed never to get enough of.

. . . The Neighborhood House at that time was serving many people of foreign origin. They were always having difficulty dealing with these people. Miss Jones mentioned to the Board that I would be a fine person to have as a member. They immediately got in touch with me and I accepted.

At the Neighborhood House my contact was much with people who couldn't speak the English language. ... I had never thought my knowledge of languages a real asset. At the Neighborhood House I decided it must be kept up. ... By this time, in the early 20's, Bernard was getting to where I could leave him a little. . . .

Other organizations would use me also. I was gaining a great deal of experience with those problems. . . .

The latter part of 1924 found us busy with plans for a new home. . . .fronting on Harvard Avenue. . . . We moved into our new home late in 1925. . . .

With the acquisition of an automobile we were able to have many lovely trips. . . .

I had never thought of getting into politics, though my work at Neighborhood House made me conscious of the needs of many of our people, particularly the minority groups of foreign born. About this time I was asked by members of "Cleophan," a culture group ... to do a paper on the revolution in Russia. One member was also a member of the local Democratic club, and she gave such a favorable report of it that Mrs. Dem, wife of the Governor, asked me to give it to the Democratic Women's Club. A little later she phoned and asked me if I would accept the position of State Chairman of Democratic Women ... I laughed because I had never thought of doing anything of the kind. . . . But she was determined and wouldn't let me say "no". . . . So I did take the job and I worked very hard at it. . . . Governor Dern had a progressive and liberal attitude, and I was sincerely interested in accomplishing something. . . . I developed a lot of ideas about organization. . . . We worked hard and our Utah organization later became the pattern for the National Democratic one. I served as State Committee Woman for nine years (1922-1931). . . .

It is strange how things that seem not too important at the time sometime turn out to be really crucial. Miss Mollie [Mary W.] Dewson," a marvelous person in her own right and later a close friend of the Roosevelts, came to Salt Lake City. . . . She learned how it was that I had become familiar with many languages. When she left, I felt that we had become enduring friends. . . . Years later we worked together on important projects, and it was she who told President Roosevelt of my language skills. This resulted in my later opportunities to use them in South America. I have always felt that if one is prepared, there will be places to be useful.

I was selected in 1924 to be Delegate at Large from the State of Utah to the National Democratic Convention to be held in New York City beginning June 24. That was a real experience for me, for the struggle between Al Smith and William G. McAdoo was long and hard. . . .

As soon as I arrived home, I picked up my work at the Neighborhood House. ... It began with volunteer care of the children of working mothers. . . . Soon it spread to the help of teen-agers and others out of jobs. . . .

Later, after the bank crash of 1929 and during the depression of 1930 and the years following, I was elected and re-elected president of the broadened welfare work. . . .

Perhaps more important than the financial help these people received, the foreign women especially, was the encouragement, the added confidence, and the initiative to try for new skills. . . .

In 1932 the Democratic women thought we should have a Democratic woman in the Senate. Mrs. George Dern called a meeting here at my house. Some of the leading women of this community were here. . . . My name was put up. I was known in Social Welfare circles, and had talked many places on many subjects. . . .

Burton and I had earlier been Republicans, but while we were in the East we came to admire Woodrow Wilson very much, so we both became Democrats.

In this campaign I was given good support by the Party, both in billboards and newspaper write-ups. . . .

With this kind of whole hearted support, I won the election. During my term in office I supported all social legislation. I introduced and sponsored the first child-labor law in Utah, and pushed it through to passage. . . .

Partly as a result of my work in the legislature, and partly because we had built up a high morale among Democratic women, others were encouraged to run for public office. Later we had five women serve in the House of Representatives: Mrs. E. E. Ericsen, Mrs. Grover Rich, Mrs. A. C. Lund, Mrs. Minnie V. Harris, all of Salt Lake City, and Mrs. Reva Beck Bosone of Price. . . .

Later when I met Governor Dern back in Washington, D.C, he introduced me as the most brilliant woman in Utah. . . .

. . . .He was a good governor and served well as Secretary of War under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was partly through him as well as Miss Dewson that I became so well known to the President and Mrs. Roosevelt.

Because of my activity in the Democratic party in Utah, I was invited to attend the Inaugural Ceremonies for President Franklin D. Roosevelt March 4, 1933. . . .

[During the years 1933-34 Elise Musser revisited Europe.]

Early in 1936, when the clouds of war were beginning to get ominous in the European sky, President Roosevelt wrote a letter to each of the Presidents of the other twenty Pan-American Republics asking them if they would not think it wise to meet around the conference table in the hope of making war less likely in this hemisphere. The response was immediate and unanimous. All wanted a conference at the earliest convenient time. Buenos Aires was chosen as the seat of it, and December 1st as the date.

A few months later, I was one of fourteen women chosen from all parts of the country to make suggestions to the Platform Committee at a preliminary 7 meeting prior to the opening of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. There the possibility of the President's appointing a woman to represent our government at Buenos Aires was unofficially discussed. Mollie Dewson, Chairman of the General Advisory Committee of the Democratic National Committee Women's Division, asked me if 1 would like to go. . . .

. . during the late spring. . . .there was a letter from Secretary Hull and Assistant Secretary Sumner Wells, written in the name of the President, asking me to accept the appointment. . . .

The appointment seemed to assume more and more important proportions as the days went on, and it was hard for me not to get panicky at the thought of the tremendous responsibility entailed. . . .

.There is another side to the work of a delegation that is often overlooked. Conferences like legislative bodies have their lobbyists. . . . As the lone woman on the delegation, I was a potential victim for both good and bad groups of women who had a cause to advocate or some ulterior motive in getting the attention of the Conference. ... I had to set my own precedent about so many things. Since I was the only woman member of the Conference also, it was often said, jokingly, "ninety-nine men and Mrs. Musser."

[Selected entries from Elise Musser's diary.]

Nov. 25. [1936]. . . .Getting into B.A. [Buenos Aires] quite disappointing after Rio & Montevideo.

Every day the papers were full of me—good, bad and indifferent. One of the sensational sheets had a long article about the "Mormona" in the Yankee delegation. . . .

Things really began to buzz when it was announced that President Roosevelt was to attend the opening session of the Conference. ... We were hugely amused when I was handed my formal invitation to meet the President at the boat, to find a note in it saying: "Morning coat and silk hat should be worn". . . . This matter of "one woman" in the group certainly makes things interesting and complicated. . . . Nov. 27. - Tea at Y.W.C.A. Met women of many nationalities[,] delighted to speak their language. . . . Met Miss Shaine and many int. [interesting] B.A. women. Took Miss Shaine home. During trip she explained matter of Women's Conference held in B.A. Nov. 22-25. . . .& difficulties with Doris Stevens Monday - Arrival of Pres. Roosevelt. Met him at boat and went along in procession to Embassy of U.S. . . . His personal remarks as each ind. [individual] files by makes one realize how much his dynamic personality means in his success. . . . Tuesday Dec. 1. . . . 6: Official opening of Conf. [Conference] by S.L. [Saavedra Lamas]. Speech of welcome by Pres. Justo, [of Argentina] followed by Rs [President Roosevelt]. 9:30 P.M. Official dinner of Pres. Justo to Pres. R. . . . Wed. 2 - Meeting of Del. [Delegation] 10 A.M. . . . 1 P.M. - Went to airport to meet Mrs. O'Day & People's Mandate group. . . . Thursday-3 Meeting of Del. 10 A.M. Tea at Mrs. Robbins - meet numerous ladies of Consejo Nat'l de mujeres. Tea at Mrs. Shaw's beautiful home. Meet some of the supporters of "Equal R". . . . V1 Monday (7th) Meeting 9:25 at Alvear[.] Meeting at Anchorena with Sec. Hull—Welles & Reed to hear Doris Stevens plea - very modest - only for votes for women. Meeting of neutrality and reduction of Armaments Com. [Committee]. Had coffee with reporters 3 P.M. - Group of women (supporters of D.S. [Doris Stevens]) call vociferously demanding "Equal Rights" resolutions be heard in plenary session. . . . Numerous cables from Women's Org. [Organizations] against introduction of "Equal R.". . .

Being on 3 of the big com. [committees] of Conf. [Conference] and Chairman for one of them for our delegation, means about 5 or 6 meetings daily, besides all the work & reports. Then some days I have as high as 4 social engagements besides all the calls and interviews. . . . Wed. Dec. 16 - Meeting 9:30 Plenary Session 10. 2 U.S. treaties accepted with 12 others. 5 speeches - Columbia's a fiery one for

an American League. Conf. with Mr. Berle on Equal Rights. . . . 5:00 Meeting . . . Presentation of final draft of Am. Proposal by Mr. Welles. Enthusiastic response. . . . Friday Dec. 18. . . . 2 University Professors called (one in law one in architecture) Say women are not as anxious for votes as to live down customs & traditions that allow them no freedom. . . . Monday [Dec. 21]. . . .Last of treaties accepted-more speeches. . . . Wed. 23 - . . . .Dr. Saavedra Lamas's closing speech brilliant, but full of dynamite. . . .

We landed in New York the 12th of January. . . .

[End of diary.]

Upon her return from the Inter-American Peace Conference in Buenos Aires a Deseret News article (January 19, 1937) noted Mrs. Musser's views of the conference. She believed numerous peace campaigns would result and that Europe was looking to America to start an international conference. She felt the meeting, if nothing else, created a better understanding among the nations of the Americas.

In late 1937 Mrs. Musser, as a member of the People's Mandate to End War Committee, the so-called "flying caravan," completed a 20,000-mile trip to twenty-two Latin American countries to ask each nation to ratify the treaties approved at the conference a year before. She returned to Salt Lake City with an optimistic view: "Latin America is looking toward the United States to preserve peace and these countries are showing their confidence by early approval of the treaties. .. . Our trip was a reminder to the Latin American nations, for few of them had taken any steps toward legislative ratification of the peace measures."

In December 1938 President Roosevelt appointed Mrs. Musser an official delegate to the eighth Pan American conference in Lima, Peru.Upon her return she again noted that the twenty-one participants were nearer to continental solidarity and permanent peace.

Returning home on Tuesday, the 7th of February (1939) I immediately took up again my duties with variousorganizations — Neighborhood House Board meeting the next day, Friday a meeting of the Y.W.C.A. Personnel Committee, Saturday, the Women's Legislative Council, etc. Numerous groups, civic, church, school, and social, invited me to speak. At a dinner given in my honor at the Newhouse Hotel, at which more than two hundred were present, I was asked to report on the Lima Conference. . . .

On Wednesday, November 29, 1939 . . . Bernard was married to Elizabeth Ann (Betty), daughter of Harry and Retta Pyper Shepherd. . . . Betty's sister Dorothy had been my secretary on the last South American trip. . . .

. . . .[I] at once became active in such organizations as the "British War Relief". . . .

In November, 1940, [I] went as Chairman of the Utah Delegation to the Centennial Meetings of the Women's Congress, which were held at the Waldorf -Astoria in New York City. . . .

Activities with many organizations filled the next three years. The OWLS (Order of Women Legislators) held their convention in Salt Lake City on June 20, 1946. On April 12, 1947, [I] was honored preceding another trip to Europe. . . .

Throughout the next years, after [my] return home, [I] worked with the Neighborhood House, the Craft House, and with the Social Security Administration of the WPA days. In fact [I] was [known as] "a combination of motherconfessor, guardian angel, friend, and trouble-shooter" for many of the foreignborn in Utah, as with the underprivileged of any nationality.

Many people of note, and groups, of both humble and great, were entertained at our home and in the garden. . . . The Italian-American League met here once a year, and the Pan American Club came regularly. . . . The summer of 1936 the People's Mandate Committee met in the garden. . . .

In 1937 the Y.W.C.A. held a . . . fashion show here, and the following year their Regional Conference. . . . The Credit Women's Association . . . and different sororities had garden parties . . . various groups of students came to our home. The Carnegie Foundation met here. . . .

The Democratic Women . . . Utah Oil Women Employees . . . various groups . . . from Neighborhood House came to our garden for . . . parties; also Mexican groups .... The Scandinavian League .... The German- American League. . . .

On many occasions groups of lawyers came for informal affairs . . . the Utah Nurses Association had a tea here. . . .

Governor and later Secretary of War George H. Dern and family were frequent visitors, as were U.S. senators William H. King and Elbert D. Thomas, with their wives and Governor and Mrs. Henry H. Blood. . . . [an] almost endless [list] . . . entertained in [our] home. . . .

With clouds of war becoming ever more ominous, much time was given to aiding the cause of refugees from nations being spoiled . . . French . . . Norwegian, Greek and Russian relief also . . . Finnish . . . British. . . . For this work with this group [British War Relief Society] I later received a medal and citation from King George VI.

As a Utah Delegate to the Democratic National Convention held in Chicago in 1940, I witnessed the nomination of Franklin D. Roosevelt for an unprecedented third term as President of the United States. . . .

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of women's entrance into public affairs, the Women's Centennial Congress was held in New York City November 25-27, 1940. I was chosen one of the delegates from Utah.

President Roosevelt's declaration of war following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor . . . rallied . . . all Americans in behalf of the war effort. . . .

We were overjoyed to receive word of the birth of our granddaughter, Elizabeth Ann Musser, in Lafayette, California, February 15, 1943. . . .

As a member of the national Board of Y.W.C.A. I had an opportunity to attend meetings in many countries and states. . . .

For the remainder of her life Elise Furer Musser continued hervarious activities and was many times acclaimed by the associations sheinspired. Having joined the Unitarian church in 1940 she was honoredby their service upon her death in 1967.

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