Finding Aid of the Betty Hutchinson Wiser Papers, PC.1716

Menu

Finding Aid of the Betty Hutchinson Wiser Papers, PC.1716

Abstract

Betty Hutchinson Wiser (1931-2010) was born in Richland County, Ohio, the daughter of Mary Louise Stine and Roscoe David Hutchinson. In 1957 she married Edward H. Wiser, Ph.D., and the couple later moved to Raleigh, N.C. She earned degrees culminating in a doctorate in Adult Education, became a champion for women's rights and senior's Issues, and the cause to fight osteoporosis. She served as the state president of the North Carolina League of Women Voters, served as a representative in the N.C. General Assembly (1985-1990), director of the Wake County Council on Aging, and developed the retired senior volunteer program. Her last professional position was as head of the Older Adult Health Branch in the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
These are the personal papers of Betty H. Wiser stemming from her role in several civic and women's organizations and relating to her participation in and interest in the political process at the state and local level. Throughout the collection there are papers and publications of several organizations in which she was active and in which she held leadership positions. These, however, are not the official chapter records. The papers consist of five series: the state League of Women Voters, 1951-1976 (including those assembled while she was president of the state League); Wake County Council on Aging, 1974-1990; Political Campaigns and Organizations, 1982-1990; N.C. Council on Status of Women, 1981-1984; and N.C. Council of Women's Organizations, 1972-1983.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Betty Hutchinson Wiser Papers
Call Number
PC.1716
Creator
Wiser, Betty H.
Date
1951-1991
Extent
126.00 boxes
Language
English
Repository
State Archives of North Carolina

Restrictions on Access & Use

Access Restrictions

Available for research.

Use Restrictions

Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law (Title 17 US Code). Individual researchers are responsible for using these materials in conformance with copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. PC.1716, Betty Hutchinson Wiser Papers, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC, USA.

Collection Overview

These are the personal papers of Betty H. Wiser stemming from her role in several civic and women's organizations and relating to her participation in and interest in the political process at the state and local level. Throughout the collection there are papers and publications of several organizations in which she was active and in which she held leadership positions. These, however, are not the official chapter records. The papers are composed of five series: Series I. League of Women Voters, 1951-1976, including five boxes of material concerning the national League and twenty-two boxes concerning the state League, along with a few local areas such as Wake County, Pitt County, and Lee County. Series 2. Wake County Council on Aging, 1974-1990, consisting of thirteen boxes. Series 3. Political Campaigns and Organizations, 1982-1990, consisting of seven boxes. Series 4. Council on Status of Women, 1981-1984, consisting of five boxes. Series 5. Council of Women's Organizations, 1972-1983, consisting of four boxes.

Arrangement Note

Chronological within series and subseries.

Biographical/Historical note

Betty Hutchinson Wiser (1931-2010) was born in Richland County, Ohio, to Roscoe David Hutchinson and Mary Louise Stine Hutchinson. She earned a BS degree from Ohio State University in 1954; an MS degree in Home Economics from Ohio State University in 1958; an MS degree in Sociology from North Carolina State University in 1961; and a doctorate degree in Adult Education from North Carolina State University in 1982. Early on Betty developed a love for traveling that began with 4H farm exchanges to Mexico and Italy. Between 1955-1957 she helped organize a girl's school in Northern Iraq where she met her future husband, Edward Hempstead Wiser, Ph.D, an agricultural engineer. They married in 1957 in Shelby, Ohio; subsequently, the couple moved to Raleigh, where they lived until 2007.Betty H. Wiser's professional background included working as a teacher and home economist and serving as president of the Retirement Planning Associates, Inc.; executive director of the Wake County Council on Aging, Inc.; director and founder of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Raleigh-Wake County; and director of Volunteer Training and Volunteer Services projects.Betty H. Wiser was active in the political affairs of her community, serving as a precinct chair for Wake County and as a member of the Wake County Unity Campaign Committee and the Democratic Women of Wake County. She served as a member of the General Assembly, 1985-1990 serving three terms as a Wake County legislator in the North Carolina House of Representatives. During her tenure in the General Assembly, she made significant contributions as chair of the Committee on Human Resources and as a member of several committees, including Appropriations; Pensions and Retirement; Rules, Appointments and the Calendar; and Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations. She was regarded as a expert on aging, caregiving, and health issues. Legislation sponsored by Mrs. Wiser included bills to expand benefits for poor children and pregnant women. She was defeated in the 1990 Democratic primary, after she joined in 1989, with a group dissident Democrats and Republicans headed by Rep. Joe Mavretic, to oust speaker of the House Liston Ramsey.Additionally, Betty H. Wiser served as president of the League of Women Voters of North Carolina and co-chair of the Osteoporosis Prevention Task Force of North Carolina, and as a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners, American Business Women Association, American Association of University Women, Older Women's Leagues, North Carolina Adult Education Association, North Carolina Association of Aging, and North Carolina Senior Citizens Association. She also served in many capacities on numerous boards and commissions, including as Director of the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research, Director of the North Carolina Conference for Social Services, and President of the North Carolina Council of Women's Organizations, and as a member of the North Carolina Council on the Status of Women, North Carolina Family Life Council, and the Capitol Planning Commission.While a resident of Wake County, Betty was an active member of the Unitarian Church in Raleigh. In 1991 she became Betty became the head of the Older Adult Health Branch in the N.C. Department of Health and Human Resources. In that capacity she initiated and co-chaired the Osteoporosis Coalition of North Carolina. At the time of her death, Betty was serving as co-chair of the Osteoporosis Prevention Task Force of NC, as a senator in the Silver Haired Congress and as an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma. Betty H. Wiser was married for over fifty-two years to Edward, who passed away also in 2010. At that time the Wisers were living in Falls Church, Virginia. Mrs. Wiser died while on vacation in the Bahamas on February 18, 2010 doing what she loved - traveling and meeting new people. The Wisers were survived by daughter, Carla W. Lounsbury; son, Conrad Wiser; and six grandchildren; and two brothers, Samuel and David Hutchinson.

Contents of the Collection

1. League of Women Voters, 1951-1976

Scope and Contents note:

Includes material from the National League of Women Voters, 1951- 1976, such as programs, convention matter, newletters and miscellaneous publications. Additionally, includes material from the State League of Women Voters, such as annual reports and other reports; business correspondence; publications; resource material and other topics such as environmental, agricultural, and other topics and issues of concern to voters, and local league papers from areas including Wake County; Greenville/Pitt County; Lee County, and others. Box quantities are as follows: National League of Women Voters: 5 boxes; State League of Women Voters : 22 boxes, for a total of 27 boxes. Arrangement of the boxes is often alphabetical, by subject.

National League: Action Alerts-Convention,1970

National League: Council -- Misc. League Publications,Btwn 1951 and 1976

National League: Conventions,1972 - May 1974

National League: Misc. Publications -- Newsletters-Time for Action,Betwn 1951-1976

National League: News Releases -- Welfare,Betwn 1951-1976

State League: Annual Report - Board Reports, Betwn 1951-1976

State League: Board, misc. -- Corresp., misc.,1974

State League: Corresp., misc., 1975-Council, 1975

State League: Local League, Haywood Co.- Local League, Stanley Co., Betwn 1951 - 1976

State League: Local League, Wake Co.,Betwn 1951 - 1976

State League: Local League, Watauga Co. - Local League Newsletters, Lee Co., PC.1716.12, Betwn 1951-1976

State League: Executive Committee Meeting -- Local League, Greenville/Pitt Co.,Betwn 1951 - 1976

State League: Local League Newsletters, Louisburg -- Membership Lists,Betwn 1951-1976

State League: Membership matters -- Publications -- Misc.,Betwn 1951-1976

State League: Publications -- Tar Heel Voter -- Misc.,Betwn 1951-1976

2. Wake County Council on Aging, 1974-1990

Scope and Contents note:

Includes administrative files, program files, general correspondence; budget and fiscal files, including material on federal Title III and Title IX funding, and miscellaneous.

Administrative Files: B-G

Administrative Files: G (Gen. Info.) - R, 1974-1980

Administrative Files: G (Gen. Corresp. Betty Wiser), 1976-1981

Administrative Files: R - V (Misc.),1975-1980

Program Files: A - F, 1976-1981

Program Files: H - I, 1974-1981

Program Files: L - Sp, 1974-1981

Fiscal Files: Title IX, 1977-1978

Fiscal Files : Title IX, 1978-1980

Fiscal Files: Title III, 1973-1980

Program Files: Sp - Z, and Misc., 1974-1982

Fiscal Files: CETA Title III, 1975-1979

Fiscal Files: Budget & Misc., 1973-1981

3. Council of Women's Organizations, 1972-1983

Scope and Contents note:

Includes council programs and financial files, including budget and fundraising; publications such as directories and newsletters; and news clippings.

Council Files, 1973-1979

Council Programs, 1973-1983

Finance: Audit; Budget; Fund Raising; Grant Proposals

Publications, Directories and Newsletters, Newspaper Clippings, 1972-1981

4. Council on Status of Women, 1981-1984

Scope and Contents note:

Includes council administrative and general files; program files; references files; U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau; business correspondence; commission; publications; magazine article and news clippings; and material on older women's issues.

Council Files: Programs A - J, 1981-1984

Reference; USDL Women's Bureau; Corresp.; Commissions; Publications

Programs: L - Pe

Programs: Pi-W

Reference: Magazine Article; News Clippings; Older Women

5. Political Campaigns and Organizations, 1982-1990

Scope and Contents note:

Includes a variety of material on Political Campaigns and Organizations and Betty Wiser's Campaign. The categories are Betty Wiser's Campaign; Other Campaigns: National; Other Campaigns: State; Other Campaigns: State Legislative, County, and City Campaigns.

Betty Wiser's Campaign, 1982; 1984; 1986; 1988; 1990

Betty Wiser's Campaign-2, 1982; 1984; 1986; 1988; 1990

Other Campaigns: National Campaigns

Other Campaigns: State Campaigns

Other Campaigns: State Legislative, County, & City Campaigns

Other Campaigns: Political Organizations

Other Campaigns: Political Organizations

Subject Headings

  • Wiser, Betty H. (Betty Hutchinson)
  • National League of Women Voters (U.S.).
  • North Carolina Council for Women.
  • North Carolina Council on the Status of Women.
  • North Carolina League of Women Voters.
  • Wake County (N.C.).
  • Wake County Council on Aging.
  • Wake County Resources for Seniors, Inc.
  • Aging
  • Political campaigns
  • Political participation--North Carolina
  • Politicians--North Carolina--Correspondence
  • Politics and culture
  • Voting--North Carolina
  • Women politicians--North Carolina
  • Women--20th century.
  • Women--North Carolina--Societies and clubs
  • Women--Political activity--North Carolina--History--20th century
  • Processing Information

  • Arrangement of a portion of these papers was completed by several graduate students in the N.C. State University Public History program in the 1990s, under the supervision of George Stevenson. Additional processing has been done by Fran Tracy-Walls, with the assistance of volunteer, Steven Lord, beginning in 2014. Finding aid prepared by Fran Tracy-Walls, 2015.