Ivy Baker Priest photograph collection
Collection
Identifier: P0163
Scope and Contents
Ivy Baker Priest was United States Treasurer during the Eisenhower administration from 1953 to 1961, and served as California Treasurer under Ronald Reagan from 1966 to 1974. Her photographs reflect her years in public office and include portraits, publicity shots, family photographs, political functions, and groups of politicians and public officials.
The files names listed below have four parts: (part 1) The collection number n (part 2) box number_(part 3) folder number_(part 4) item number. These numbers will match exactly with the corresponding scans in the digital library.
The files names listed below have four parts: (part 1) The collection number n (part 2) box number_(part 3) folder number_(part 4) item number. These numbers will match exactly with the corresponding scans in the digital library.
Dates
- 1920-1975
Conditions Governing Access
Materials must be used on-site; advance notice suggested. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Conditions Governing Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Biographical Note
Ivy Maude Baker was born to a Utah mining family in Kimberly on September 7, 1905. From Kimberly the family moved to Coalville, Utah and finally, in 1911, to Bingham Canyon and the copper mines. Mrs. Clara Fernley Baker, an English emigrant, was active in local political affairs. It was through her mother that the young Ivy became interested in politics.
Educated in the Utah public school system, Ivy went to grammar school in Bingham, and graduated from Jordan High School in 1924. She had no further formal schooling although she later took some extension courses through the University of Utah. After her appointment as U. S. Treasurer Ivy received honorary doctorate degrees from Elmira College in New York, Rider College in New Jersey and Bryant College in Rhode Island.
After her marriage to Harry Howard Hicks on July 31, 1924, she went to North Carolina, his native state. Separated after four years, Ivy returned to Utah where she later learned Harry had been killed in an airplane crash.
With the onset of the depression and her father's mine-related illness, Ivy helped support the family. Working as a telephone operator she was gradually advanced to a supervisor. Later she worked for Auerbachs as a model and a merchandiser. It was during these depression years she also taught citizenship night-school classes for emigrants.
At the urging of her mother, a force to be reckoned with in the local Republican party, Ivy became actively involved in politics. She ran for a seat in the Utah State House of Representatives in 1934. The campaign was unsuccessful, however, she was elected to be the co-chairman of the Young Republican Organization for eleven western states for a two-year term.
Roy Fletcher Priest and Ivy Baker were married for twenty-four years, from December 1935 until his death in 1959. Shortly after their marriage they settled in Bountiful, Utah, where Ivy continued her activities on behalf of the Republican party. Moving through the grass-roots establishment while raising their three children, Ivy was finally elected as Utah Representative to the Republican National Committee. She served in this capacity from 1944 to 1953.
In 1950 Ivy ran for a seat in the U. S. House of Representatives against incumbent Reva Beck Bosone. The campaign never disintegrated into the predicted "cat-fight," nor was the spectre of communism raised. As the only national campaign between two women, the election received wide-spread publicity. Ivy Baker Priest was defeated but had gained national attention. As an Eisenhower supporter early in the campaign, Ivy was appointed to by the Assistant Chairman of the 1952 Eisenhower Committee in charge of the Women's Division. Following the successful campaign President Eisenhower nominated Priest for the position of U. S. Treasurer. Her appointment was confirmed and she took office on January 28, 1953. During her eight years as Treasurer, Ivy spent much of her time on speaking tours to promote Savings Bond sales or discuss finances and the Treasury.
With the election of John F. Kennedy in 1960, Ivy resigned her position and returned to private life. Both daughters were living in California at that time, and Ivy returned to the West to take up residence in California. On June 20, 1961 Ivy married Sidney William Stevens, a prominent realtor.
Defeating incumbent Democratic State Treasurer, Bert Battes, in 1966 Ivy became the first woman elected to a California high constitutional office. She was re-elected to a second term by a 1.2 million vote margin in 1970.
The death of her son Roy in a boating accident in May of 1971 and the loss of her husband, Sidney, less than a year later combined with the discovery that she was suffering from cancer caused Ivy to retire without seeking a third term as State Treasurer in 1974.
At her death in June of 1975 she was remembered not only for her political activities, but also her lifetime of public service. She was involved in the National Safety Council and the National Society for Crippled Children and Adults as well as local California chapters of these groups. Ivy belonged to the Business and Professional Women's Club, the Women's Advertising Club of Washington, Beta Sigma Phi, and Delta Zeta. As a member of the Soroptomist Club she once received the national association's Women's Achievement Award. The Women's National Press Club also presented her with an Achievement Award. She also received the nomination of the Women's Newspaper Editors and Publishers Association for one of America's twenty most outstanding women.
Educated in the Utah public school system, Ivy went to grammar school in Bingham, and graduated from Jordan High School in 1924. She had no further formal schooling although she later took some extension courses through the University of Utah. After her appointment as U. S. Treasurer Ivy received honorary doctorate degrees from Elmira College in New York, Rider College in New Jersey and Bryant College in Rhode Island.
After her marriage to Harry Howard Hicks on July 31, 1924, she went to North Carolina, his native state. Separated after four years, Ivy returned to Utah where she later learned Harry had been killed in an airplane crash.
With the onset of the depression and her father's mine-related illness, Ivy helped support the family. Working as a telephone operator she was gradually advanced to a supervisor. Later she worked for Auerbachs as a model and a merchandiser. It was during these depression years she also taught citizenship night-school classes for emigrants.
At the urging of her mother, a force to be reckoned with in the local Republican party, Ivy became actively involved in politics. She ran for a seat in the Utah State House of Representatives in 1934. The campaign was unsuccessful, however, she was elected to be the co-chairman of the Young Republican Organization for eleven western states for a two-year term.
Roy Fletcher Priest and Ivy Baker were married for twenty-four years, from December 1935 until his death in 1959. Shortly after their marriage they settled in Bountiful, Utah, where Ivy continued her activities on behalf of the Republican party. Moving through the grass-roots establishment while raising their three children, Ivy was finally elected as Utah Representative to the Republican National Committee. She served in this capacity from 1944 to 1953.
In 1950 Ivy ran for a seat in the U. S. House of Representatives against incumbent Reva Beck Bosone. The campaign never disintegrated into the predicted "cat-fight," nor was the spectre of communism raised. As the only national campaign between two women, the election received wide-spread publicity. Ivy Baker Priest was defeated but had gained national attention. As an Eisenhower supporter early in the campaign, Ivy was appointed to by the Assistant Chairman of the 1952 Eisenhower Committee in charge of the Women's Division. Following the successful campaign President Eisenhower nominated Priest for the position of U. S. Treasurer. Her appointment was confirmed and she took office on January 28, 1953. During her eight years as Treasurer, Ivy spent much of her time on speaking tours to promote Savings Bond sales or discuss finances and the Treasury.
With the election of John F. Kennedy in 1960, Ivy resigned her position and returned to private life. Both daughters were living in California at that time, and Ivy returned to the West to take up residence in California. On June 20, 1961 Ivy married Sidney William Stevens, a prominent realtor.
Defeating incumbent Democratic State Treasurer, Bert Battes, in 1966 Ivy became the first woman elected to a California high constitutional office. She was re-elected to a second term by a 1.2 million vote margin in 1970.
The death of her son Roy in a boating accident in May of 1971 and the loss of her husband, Sidney, less than a year later combined with the discovery that she was suffering from cancer caused Ivy to retire without seeking a third term as State Treasurer in 1974.
At her death in June of 1975 she was remembered not only for her political activities, but also her lifetime of public service. She was involved in the National Safety Council and the National Society for Crippled Children and Adults as well as local California chapters of these groups. Ivy belonged to the Business and Professional Women's Club, the Women's Advertising Club of Washington, Beta Sigma Phi, and Delta Zeta. As a member of the Soroptomist Club she once received the national association's Women's Achievement Award. The Women's National Press Club also presented her with an Achievement Award. She also received the nomination of the Women's Newspaper Editors and Publishers Association for one of America's twenty most outstanding women.
Extent
13 Boxes
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Ivy Baker Priest photograph collection contains personal portraits, family photographs, and publicity photographs documenting Ivy Baker Priest's political activities; primarily fousing on her career as U. S. Treasurer and California State Treasurer. Other items in the collection relate to national and California political issues. A Utah native, Priest (1905-1975) was active in Republican party activities, was an unsuccessful Utah congressional candidate in 1934 and 1950, and served on Utah's Women's Legislative Council.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gifts of daughters Nancy P. Valenzuela and Patricia P. Jensen, 1979.
Separated Materials
Audio-visual materials were transferred to the Ivy Baker Priest Audiovisual Collection, (A0163).
Manuscript materials were transferred to the Ivy Baker Priest Papers, (Ms 163).
Manuscript materials were transferred to the Ivy Baker Priest Papers, (Ms 163).
- Title
- Guide to the Ivy Baker Priest photograph collection
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Mary Ann Curtis.
- Date
- 2004
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- 2022: Finding aid revised and re-encoded by Sara Davis
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu