Anne Mason Roberts

Anne Mason Roberts (1910 – October 17, 1971) was an American government official. She was the highest-ranking woman at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), when she served as deputy regional administrator from 1962 to 1964, and from 1966 to 1971. From 1964 to 1966, she was appointed director of New York City's Anti-Poverty Operations Board, under mayor Robert F. Wagner.

Anne Mason Roberts
A portrait of a middle-aged African-American woman.
Anne Mason Roberts, from a 1962 magazine.
Born1910
Cincinnati, Ohio
DiedOctober 17, 1971
New York City
NationalityAmerican
OccupationGovernment official

Early life

Anne Mason was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father was a postal carrier; her mother was disabled by severe arthritis.[1] She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1928, and a master's degree in psychology in 1936.[2]

Career

Mason taught school in Cincinnati as a young woman. She credited her teaching experience with providing her insights into urban poverty. In 1945, Roberts left teaching for a consumer relations job in the Office of Price Administration.[2] She also wrote articles for the Pittsburgh Courier, where her husband was a reporter and editor.[3][4]

She was the highest-ranking woman at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), when she served as deputy regional administrator from 1962 to 1964, and from 1966 to 1971 covering the New York and New England regions.[5] From 1964 to 1966,[6] she was appointed director of New York City's Anti-Poverty Operations Board,[1] under mayor Robert F. Wagner.[2]

In 1967, Roberts was one of the six recipients of the Federal Woman's Award.[7][8][9] In 1968, she was named the Seagram Vanguard Society Award winner, and Woman of the Year by the National Urban League.[10]

Roberts was a member of the National Urban League and the National Council of Negro Women.[2]

Personal life

Anne Mason married twice; her second husband was journalist Stanley Roberts.[11] She was stepmother to Roberts' three daughters, Alma, Stanlyn, and Judith.[1][12] Anne Mason Roberts died in 1971, aged 61 years, at her home in New York City.[13]

References
  1. Fields, Sidney (1964-11-12). "Poverty is her Adversary". Daily News. p. 126. Retrieved 2020-01-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "ANNE M. ROBERTS, HOUSING OFFICIAL; Highest-Ranking Woman in H.U.D., Ex-City Aide Dies". The New York Times. October 18, 1971. p. 40. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  3. Roberts, Anne Mason (1950-01-28). "Power of Ballot is Beginning to Crack Numerous Barriers". The Pittsburgh Courier. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-01-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Top Female HUD Official in N. Y. Dies; was 61". Jet: 18. November 11, 1971.
  5. "Gribetz Is Named Regional Chief Of Housing and Urban Projects: Mrs. Anne M. Roberts Is Appointed by Weaver as Deputy Administrator". The New York Times. July 29, 1966. p. 17 – via ProQuest.
  6. Johnson, Toki Schalk (1964-10-31). "Toki Types". The Pittsburgh Courier. p. 7. Retrieved 2020-01-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Federal Woman's Award". Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration. March 7, 1967. pp. 399–400.
  8. "Feminine Talent to the Fore". Quad-City Times. 1967-03-08. p. 17. Retrieved 2020-01-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Top Woman's Award". The Pittsburgh Courier. 1967-02-18. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-01-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "'68 Vanguard Society Award to Mrs. Anne Mason Roberts". Baltimore Afro American. April 8, 1969. p. 8. Retrieved January 28, 2020 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  11. Johnson, Toki Schalk (1967-02-18). "Toki Types". The Pittsburgh Courier. p. 11. Retrieved 2020-01-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "STANLEY ROBERTS, 60, CITY PUBLICITY AIDE". The New York Times. June 18, 1975. p. 39. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  13. "Obituary for ANNE MASON ROBERTS (Aged 61)". Daily News. 1971-10-18. p. 292. Retrieved 2020-01-29 – via Newspapers.com.
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