The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1921-01-14
Alice M. Robertson,
NJ. c.

The following article appeared in
the Home Mission Monthly for Janu-
airy. Miss Alice NJ. Robertson is widely
known in missionary circles in Lamb
ertville, and her admirers will be
| pleased to read this account of her
life:
"The election of Miss Alice NJ. Rob
ertson to the House of Representa-
tives, in opposition to one of Okla
homa's most popular Democratic Con-
gressmen, has caused wide comment
IN the press of the country. She has
been showered with congratulatory
| messages; one of these went from the
Woman's Board of Home Missions and
was very heartfelt, for Miss Robert
son was long closely identified with
the work of our board. She comes of
family of clergymen, warriors and
scholars, and is herself the first break
in ten generations of Presbyterian
ministers. After Sequoyah, the Chero-
kee Indian, had invented the syllable
alphabet, it was her grandfather, Rev.
5. A. Worcester, who adapted it to
printing and began the translation of
the Bible for the Cherokees. Her
mother, Mrs. A. E. w. Robertson,
translated the New Testament into the
Greek language, and in this Miss Rob
ertson was her helper. Her father,
Rev. William S. Robertson, was
pioneer in conducting mission board
ing schools, at a time when Indian
work was under the Board of For
eign Missions.
Since her election to Congress, when
asked if she had a platform, Miss
Robertson replied: Yes, yes, l have
a platform and very definite one.
First, | am a Christian; second, 1 am
an American; third, l am a Republi-
cam Again she said: God helping me
and giving me strength, am going to
try to make good, and | am sure |
shall with so many good women pray
ing for me- With regard to her poll
cies she stated that she would special
ize on legislation affecting the welfare
of women and children, Indians and
soldiers, farmers and laboring classes.
AS to problems concerning foreign re-
lations which she must meet in Con-
gress, she expressed herself thus: 4
will go into the trenches when the
time comes for that, and l devoutly
hope shall be prepared
Educated at Elmira College, New
York, after securing her masters de-
gree, Miss Robertson took a position
in the Department of Indian Affairs
at Washington. While there she mas
tered shorthand and when she re-
turned to Oklahoma to assist her
parents in teaching was the first
stenographer in what was then Indian
Territory and also the first to teach
domestic science. She taught in the
schools of the Woman's Board at
Nuyaka and Muscogee. At the latter
school she was principal from 1884 to
1894, doing much constructive work
and raising funds for the development
of the institution. When the school
grew into Henry Kendall College, she
continued as a member of the faculty
and her mother acted as interpreter
for many years. After it passed from
the jurisdiction of the Woman's
Board, Miss Robertson occupied the
chair of English, history and civics.
In 1900 she was made supervisor of
all Greek schools in the United States,
but tie frail health of her mother
made her absence from home undesir-
able and President Roosevelt appoint
ed her postmistress of Muscogee, in
which position she served for eight
years, being the first postmistress of
city of that size. In 1912, with
change of administration, she gave up
that office and organized a business
woman's club. Soon the success of her
lunch room led to the establishment
of a cafeteria. During the war no
uniformed soldier or sailor ever paid
for meal in that cafeteria, and many
a weekend party of Uncle Sans boys
was entertained at her farm. She was
prominent in war work, being chair
man of the Red Cross Canteen Com
mittee for her county and giving gen
erously of her time and experience to
it's conduct.
Throughout life Miss Robertson
seems to have pioneered in many
undertakings. At one time when she
was seeking financial support for the
school at Nuyaka the difinified chair
man of the committee to which she
had appealed said: If this PROPOSE
ton amounts to anything, why is there
no man connected with it?' Times
have surely changed! She lays of her
self: I've always done mans work,
and carried mans burden, and had
to pay the bills-I believe that must
be why l never wanted to see suffrage
for women However, Miss Robert
sons strength of character has not
eliminated womanly graciousness. She
has AN absorbing love for little chill
dren' and her success in her cafeteria
is said to be due in large measure to
the homely cheer dispensed by her as
a smiling hostess. The only woman
in Congress this year is a woman with
missionary background and a
worker. The good wishes of every
reader of this magazine will surely