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University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library

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1150 Beal Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2113, USA
bentley.ref@umich.edu

Josephine Fellows Gomon papers, 1913-1975

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Summary

Creator:
Gomon, Josephine Fellows, 1892-1975
Abstract:
Executive secretary to Detroit Mayor Frank Murphy, 1930-1933, chairwoman of the Mayor's Unemployment Committee, later director of the Detroit Housing Commission, candidate for Detroit public office, and director of women personnel at the Willow Run Bomber Plant during World War II. Correspondence and diaries concerning the Murphy mayoralty, Clarence Darrow and the Ossian Sweet Murder Trial of 1925, and local Detroit politics; and photographs.
Extent:
10 linear feet
2 oversize volumes
Language:
English
Call Number:
85710 Aa 2; AC
Authors:
Finding aid created by Michigan Historical Collections staff

Background

Scope and Content:

The Josephine Gomon papers have been divided into the following series: Correspondence; Clippings/Scrapbooks; Notebooks of news items; Diaries; Biographical/Personal; Materials concerning Frank Murphy; Materials related to Gomon's projected biography of Frank Murphy; Ford Motor Company materials; Photographs.

Biographical / Historical:

Josephine Fellows Gomon was born in Ann Arbor of Mary Walsh and Augustus W. Fellows and lived there until 1913, when she graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in mathematics. She taught mathematics and physics at the College of the City of Detroit, now Wayne State University. In 1916, she married R. Louis Gomon, a University of Michigan engineering graduate. They had five children, including Bobby Lou (Mrs. Frederick Dewey); William; Howard Garner, who was killed in World War II; Jeanne (Mrs. Guy Nunn); and R. Louis, Jr. While raising her family, Mrs. Gomon taught throughout the Detroit public school system, wrote a child education column for The Detroit News, and worked for the local Planned Parenthood league.

In the 1920s, Mrs. Gomon met Clarence Darrow, and their friendship continued throughout the Ossian Sweet trial in Detroit and up until the time of his death. The Recorders Court Judge who presided over that trial was Frank Murphy, who was also a graduate of the University of Michigan. In 1930, Mrs. Gomon worked on Murphy's campaign for mayor of Detroit and upon his election to that office became his executive secretary and chaired the Mayor's Unemployment Committee.

When Murphy went to the Philippines in 1933, Mrs. Gomon was appointed the director of the newly established Detroit Housing Commission by Acting Mayor John Smith. Brewster and Parkside Houses were built during her term in office. She left that position in 1938, and worked in private business until 1941, when she was appointed by Harry Bennett of the Ford Motor Company as Director of Women Personnel at the newly constructed Willow Run bomber plant. In this capacity she fought for industrial safety, day care centers, and helped in the planning and construction of war workers' housing. In 1929, 1935, and 1941, Mrs. Gomon ran for elective office in the city of Detroit, the first election for the Board of Education and the other two for Common Council. Although she met defeat in every campaign, she received substantial electoral support throughout the city and was one of the first women to run for public office in Detroit.

From 1945 to 1948, she conducted a radio program on WKMH called "Opinion Unlimited." In 1948, her husband, R. Louis Gomon, died. Until her death in 1975, Mrs. Gomon participated in campaigns for social welfare and human rights through her memberships in the Americans for Democratic Action, NAACP, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

In 1960, she was honored at a tribute dinner which was attended by nearly every well-known political and governmental figures in the state of Michigan. A year later, Wayne State University gave Mrs. Gomon an honorary degree commemorating her long years of service to the city and the state.

In her later years, Mrs. Gomon attempted to write two major works. The first was a biography of Frank Murphy. The second project dealt with Henry Ford and Harry Bennett.

Acquisition Information:
The collection was donated by Josephine Gomon (Donor No. 5511 ) in several installments beginning in 1974. Additional donations have since been made by family members.
Accruals:

No further additions to the records are expected.

Rules or Conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:
Depressions -- 1929 -- Michigan -- Detroit.
Women in politics -- Michigan.
World War, 1939-1945.
African Americans -- Michigan.
Banquets.
Crowds.
Dwellings -- Michigan -- Harbor Beach.
Governors -- Michigan.
Horseback riding.
Housing.
Mayors -- Michigan -- Detroit.
Political elections.
Smoking.
Women -- Political life.
Formats:
Diaries.
Photographs.
Names:
Detroit (Mich.). Housing Commission.
Detroit (Mich.). Mayor.
Detroit (Mich.). Mayor's Unemployment Relief Committee.
Willow Run Bomber Plant.
Michigan. Legislature.
Darrow, Clarence, 1857-1938.
Gomon, Josephine Fellows, 1892-1975.
Sweet, Ossian, 1895-1960.
Bennett, Harry Herbert, 1892-1979.
Coughlin, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1891-1979.
Murphy, Frank, 1890-1949.
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962.
Arnow, Harriette Louisa Simpson, 1908-1986.
Barnes, Harry Elmer, 1889-1968.
Bowles, George Edward, 1915-
Brickley, James E., 1927-
Bumgardner, Eleanor M. (Eleanor Margaret)
Carey, Ed.
Cavanagh, Jerome Patrick, 1928-1979.
Downs, Tom, 1916-
Edwards, George, 1914-
Ferency, Zolton A., 1922-1993.
FitzGerald, Frank.
Girardin, Ray, -1971.
Griffin, Robert P. (Robert Paul), 1923-2015.
Hart, Philip A. (Philip Aloysius), 1912-1976.
Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978.
Knight, John Shively, 1894-1981.
McNamara, Patrick Vincent, 1894-1966.
Milliken, William G., 1922-
Murphy, George, 1897-1961.
Ravitz, Mel, 1924-
Reuther, Walter, 1907-1970.
Riegle, Donald W., 1938-
Romney, George W., 1907-1995.
Romney, Lenore LaFount.
Souris, Theodore, 1925-
Staebler, Neil, 1905-2000.
Sugar, Maurice, 1891-1974.
Taylor, Hobart, 1920-1981.
Van Wagoner, Murray Delos, 1898-
Woodcock, Leonard.
Places:
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1929-1938.
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1837-1950.
Detroit (Mich.) -- Mayors.
Detroit (Mich.) -- 1935.
Harbor Beach (Mich.) -- Dwellings.

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The collection is open to research.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Donor(s) have transferred any applicable copyright to the Regents of the University of Michigan but the collection may contain third-party materials for which copyright was not transferred. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[item], folder, box, Josephine Fellows Gomon papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan

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Collection

Josephine Fellows Gomon papers, 1913-1975
Call Number 85710 Aa 2; AC
Total components 158
Last indexed 2023-12-08