Olive D. Pierson

Olive D. Pierson
Pierson in a 1923 newspaper
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Cromwell
In office
1933–1935
Preceded byRaymond S. Coe
Succeeded byCharles M. Sanford
Personal details
BornMary Olive Dailey
Died (aged 93)
Resting placeWest Cemetery
PartyRepublican
Spouse
​
(div. 1936)​
Children2
EducationIndiana University Bloomington (BA)
Wellesley College
Occupation
  • Politician
  • educator

Mary Olive Dailey Pierson (née Dailey; died February 16, 1969) was an American politician from Connecticut. She served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1933 to 1935.

Early life

Born Mary Olive Dailey, Pierson was from Decatur, Indiana. She graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 1903 with a Bachelor of Arts. She was a member of the Delta chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She did graduate work at Wellesley College.

Career

Pierson was head of the Latin department at Middletown High School in Middletown, Connecticut, from 1904 to 1905.

Pierson was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1932, representing the town of Cromwell as a Republican. She served from 1933 to 1935. She was defeated for re-election in 1934 by Democratic nominee Charles M. Sanford. She was a member of the National Order of Women Legislators. She was a Republican and active in politics in Middlesex County. She was the first woman vice chairman of the Connecticut State Central Committee in the 33rd district. She was the vice chairman of the Republican town committee for 40 years and served as the first vice president of the Republican Club in Cromwell.

Pierson was president of the American Red Cross during World War I. She was second president of the PTA in Cromwell. She was a charter member of the Middletown College Club (later the AAUW). She was a member of the Cromwell Home Club for 45 years and served as chairman in Cromwell for 10 years for their Easter Seal sale. She was the organization's district director for 10 years.

Personal life

Pearson married Wallace R. Pierson. They had two sons, Andrew A. and Wallace R. Jr. The couple divorced in 1936.

In 1905, she moved to Cromwell. She died on February 16, 1969, aged 93, at New Sanibel in Middletown. She was buried in West Cemetery.

References

  1. 1 2 "City/Town of Cromwell Historical Election Results". electionhistory.ct.gov. Connecticut Office of the Secretary of the State. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Pierson". Hartford Courant. August 19, 1981. p. A16. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. 1 2 Register of Graduates, 1830–1916. Indiana University. December 1917. p. 306. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Archive.org.Open access icon
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Olive Pierson, 93, Dies; Ex-Legislator". Hartford Courant. February 17, 1969. p. 6. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  5. ↑ The Kappa Kappa Gamma Directory, 1870–1926. Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity. 1926. p. 36. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Archive.org.Open access icon
  6. ↑ "Olive D. Pierson". electionhistory.ct.gov. Connecticut Office of the Secretary of the State. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Many Split Tickets in Town Vote". The Daily Hartford Courant. November 9, 1932. p. 22. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  8. ↑ Register and Manual, 1935. State of Connecticut. 1935. p. 290. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Archive.org.Open access icon
  9. ↑ "Mrs. Pierson Divorces State Senator". The Daily Hartford Courant. June 13, 1936. p. 3. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon