Mabel Thorp Boardman: American Humanitarian and Philanthropist

Photograph of Mabel Thorp Boarman (1860-1946) from Americana Historical Magazine, Vol. 26

Mabel was born in Cleveland Ohio to William Jarvis Boardman and Florence (Sheffield) Boardman.

In 1898 she help recruit nurses for the Spanish-American War.

In 1901 she was elected to the Executive Board of the American Red Cross.

In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson appointed Boardman to be the first woman member of the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia.

From 1923 until 1944, Boardman served as the Director of the Red Cross's Volunteer Service and overseeing its considerable expansion.

Detail from obituary from Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), Mon., Mar. 18, 1946, p. 8.