Norton, Mary Teresa

Norton, Mary Teresa (b. Hopkins)

(1875–1959) U.S. representative; born in Jersey City, N.J. A secretary (1896–1909) before marriage, she set up day-care nurseries for working mothers after her child died. Entering politics in 1920, she was one of the first women in the U.S. House of Representatives (Dem., N.J.; 1924–51). She chaired the House Labor Committee (1937–46), shepherding through the Wages and Hours Bill; she resigned from the committee to fight against the antilabor Taft-Hartley Act of 1947.