The U.S. Census Bureau is proud of its history employing 

people with handicaps and disabilities. Prior to the 

establishment of a permanent Census Bureau in 1902, many 

disabled war veterans received appointments as assistant 

marshals, census superintendents, supervisors, and 

enumerators. As the census became more complex in the 

late 19th century, a larger office force became necessary to 

compute and compile census reports. This led to more 

openings for people with disabilities that did not inhibit 

office work. Eventually, the Census Bureau fell under 

several mandates, such as the 1947 Executive Order 9644, 

which facilitated the hiring of disabled veterans, well before 

the national implementation of Section 504 of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with 

Disabilities Act of 1990.

Virginia Waters Hammond was born on December 24,

1921, in Frederick, Maryland. Virginia’s father, 

Dawson, had recently completed his service in World 

War I, while her mother, Sarah, remained active in 

local social affairs. At 3 years old, Virginia contracted 

Still’s disease, a rare type of inflammatory arthritis,

which severely hindered Virginia’s mobility, 

particularly in her hands and feet. Despite multiple 

hospital visits (including one that lasted 4 years) and 

surgeries, Virginia was able to graduate from Liberty 

High School in 1939.

After recovering from hospital visits in 1945 and 1946, Virginia moved to Washington, DC with her 

mother in 1947, where she began to look for 

work. At first, Virginia focused on work she 

could do at home, such as handcrafted doll 

furniture, which she sold nationwide—all 

the way from FAO Schwartz department 

store in New York City to her uncle’s desk at 

the Census Bureau. In 1950, after 

considerable effort, Virginia finally found

government employment with the Census 

Bureau, as a temporary statistical clerk.

A P Disabolitical Matriarch ility Employment Advocate

Counterparts, 27 April 1951

Virginia’s 1940 Census

Virginia at work, 1951

Counterparts 9 November 1951
In 1950, the Census Bureau hired approximately 8,500

temporary statistical clerks to work on the decennial census. 

Many of these clerks, like Virginia, had 1- to 3- year 

assignments. Following the completion of the decennial 

statistics—which in 1950 also included a sample recanvas of 

3,500 small areas and 22,000 households to check accuracy—

temporary clerks who excelled in their positions usually found 

permanent jobs at the Census Bureau. This is how Virginia 

gained permanent employment.

Virginia worked in the Population Census Tabulating Unit of the 

Processing Operations Section in the Population and Housing 

Division, where she compiled statistical tables. Despite her 

limited mobility, Virginia developed a method of using her 

adding machine by employing a pencil to push the buttons. 

Virginia’s only complaint about the Census Bureau centered 

around a common theme of workers in the old census building: 

that the facilities did not have enough room for people, punch 

cards, and equipment all together, and that she had to work at a table rather than at her own

desk.

A big part of Virginia’s life involved activism and her 

membership in the American Federation of the Physically 

Handicapped (AFPH). The AFPH and organization president 

Paul Strachan successfully lobbied the United States

Congress and President Truman to create “National Employ 

the Physically Handicapped Week” in 1945, and helped to 

significantly expand the program in 1947. This gradually 

evolved over the next 30 years into the current National 

Disability Employment Awareness Month. 

In 1950, as vice-president of her local AFPH chapter, Virginia 

represented the organization at the Census Bureau. In 

1958, Virginia joined the National Association of the 

Physically Handicapped as a charter member of the National 

Capitol Chapter, where she would also serve as vicepresident at both the chapter and national level. As part of 

her involvement with 

these organizations, Virginia also worked with other 

government agencies on various committees and groups 

dedicated to bringing more physically disabled people into the 

workforce.

After 3 years at the Census Bureau, Virginia transferred within 

the U.S. Department of Commerce to the U.S. National Ocean 

and Atmospheric Administration, where she worked as a 

negative engraver. In 1961 Virginia married James Golder 

Lowder, a retired Army veteran. Following 13 years of service 

to the federal government, Virginia retired in 1963. On 

December 23, 1964, just 1 day short of her 43rd birthday, 

Virginia passed away from pneumonia at her home in 

Clinton, MD. 

The Census Bureau is thankful for Virginia’s years of service to 

both our agency and the nation.

The Washington Evening Star (Washington, DC) 

13 June 1960

Virginia served on this committee in 

1960

The News (Frederick, MD) October 7, 1960

Washington Evening Star (Washington, DC)

24 December 1964 HB-17-0024