Mary F. Hoyt

Mary Francis Hoyt (also Mary Francis Moses; June 17, 1858 – October 19, 1958), a Vassar College graduate, was the first woman to receive a position in the United States federal civil service. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in a letter congratulated her on this achievement and pointed out that since then hundreds of thousands of women had followed her example and filled these government positions. She died in 1958, at the age of 100.

Mary F. Hoyt
Mary F Hoyt in 1957 at age 99
Born(1858-07-17)July 17, 1858
Southport, Connecticut
DiedOctober 19, 1958(1958-10-19) (aged 100)
EducationVassar College
Children4

Genealogy and early life

Mary Francis Hoyt was born in Southport, Connecticut, on June 17, 1858, the only child of James Eli Hoyt and Mary Riley Hoyt. She was born in her grandmother's house and the tenth generation of her Hoyt family line in the United States. Her original American ancestor, Simon Hoyt, immigrated from England in 1628 and landed in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Later, he moved to Windsor Locks, Connecticut. In 1653, he moved once more to the city of Norwalk, Connecticut, and settled there permanently.[1] Hoyt went by her childhood nickname "Minnie". She was raised and grew up in Norwalk. After high school, she attended Vassar College in New York City, graduating in 1880.[2] Her first job was as a clerk with the Census Bureau in Washington, D.C.[3]

Career
US Civil Service Commission Seal
The 19th-century US Treasury Department paid women $900/year, and men $1200/year.

Hoyt was the first woman selected to a US civil service position. The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, also known as the Civil Service Act, was a federal law established in 1883 which decided that government jobs should be awarded on the basis of merit and examination scores instead of political affiliation. President Chester A. Arthur signed the act on January 16, 1883.[4] The first official examination took place on July 12, 1883. Hoyt received the highest score of four ladies at 88.96 with the other ladies receiving scores of 85.75, 74.75 and 73.75 respectively.[5][6]

Hoyt became the second person employed based on this examination and the first woman appointed to a federal position through the new Civil Service Act on September 5, 1883.[7][8] She was appointed a clerk in the Bank Redemption Agency of the Treasury Department, holding the position for five years at an annual pay of US $900 ($26,174 in 2021).[3][9]

Awards

A 1958 letter from President Dwight D. Eisenhower was delivered to Hoyt by the chairman of the United States Civil Service Commission, Harris Ellsworth.[10] He read the letter to Hoyt at her retirement home in New York City a day before her one-hundredth birthday,[11] Hoyt having lost her eyesight in her early nineties. Eisenhower's letter said, "A door was opened to a new world of careers for women in our land and you were the first to enter through it. Since then hundreds of thousands have followed your example. Therefore, as the symbol of the women now comprising one-fourth of the entire Federal service, you have a special place in our hearts."[10] In 1958, one-fourth of the United States federal service was women.[10] Ellsworth, at the time, was preparing to celebrate the Civil Service Commission's 75th anniversary.[12]

Later life

Hoyt met her husband, Brice J. Moses, while working at the US Census Bureau. She took a leave of her job and discontinued her career in 1888 to marry him and start a family. They had four children: Roger, Truman, Alan, and Elinor.[1][13]

Moses later left the Census Bureau and took a position with the Washington Loan and Trust Company. He also was a treasurer of the Washington Stock Exchange. Moses died in 1928 and Hoyt moved to 350 Central Park West in Manhattan, New York City, living there for the rest of her life. Her favorite pastime was baseball and she followed the New York Yankees baseball team on the radio. She lived to be 100 years old[14] and died on October 19, 1958.[15] At the time of her death, her sons Roger and Alan were still living.[16]

References
  1. "Mrs. B. J. Moses Rites Conducted". The Bridgeport Post. Bridgeport, Connecticut. October 21, 1958. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com .
  2. Miscellany 1888, p. 99.
  3. Read 1992, p. 219.
  4. "Civil Service Act 74th Anniversary Is Observed Here". The Albuquerque Tribune. Albuquerque, New Mexico. January 17, 1957. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com .
  5. Commire & Klezmer 2007, p. 906.
  6. "First Under the Civil Service Rules". Evening Star. Washington, District of Columbia. August 25, 1883. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com .
  7. "Notable Deaths from Everywhere". Simpson's Leader-Times. Kittanning, Pennsylvania. October 20, 1958. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "First Woman in Civil Service Dies at 100". Garden City Telegram. Garden City, Kansas. October 20, 1958. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "First Woman in Civil Service Position Dies". Ironwood Daily Globe. Ironwood, Michigan. October 20, 1958. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Centenarian Passes / Mrs. Brice Moses dies; Aged 100 – Member of Old Norwalk Family was Honored by President". Norwalk Hour. Norwalk, Connecticut. October 20, 1958. President Eisenhower wrote to her: "A door was opened to a new world of careers for women in our land and you were the first to enter through it. Since then hundreds of thousands have followed your example. Therefore, as the symbol of the women now comprising one-fourth of the entire Federal service, you have a special place in our hearts."
  11. "Presidential Greeting". The Index-Journal. Greenwood, South Carolina. June 28, 1958. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "President Greets Woman at 100". The New York Times. New York City. Jun 17, 1958. p. 19. Mrs. Brice J. Moses, who in 1883 was the first woman to be appointed to a Federal Civil Service post, quietly celebrated her 100th birthday a day early yesterday in her home at 350 Central Park West.
  13. "Capital Sidelights". Evening Star. Washington, District of Columbia. July 30, 1933. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com .
  14. "Pioneer Employee Dies". Logan Daily News. Logan, Ohio. October 20, 1958. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Pioneer Employee Dies". The Circleville Herald. Circleville, Ohio. October 20, 1958. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Mrs Moses Dead; Ex-U.S. aide, 100". The New York Times. New York City. October 20, 1958. p. 29. Mrs Brice J Moses, first woman appointed to a Federal Civil Service post, in 1883, died yesterday in her home.....

Sources
  • Commire, Anne; Klezmer, Deborah (2007). Dictionary of Women Worldwide: A-L. Thomson Gale. ISBN 978-0-7876-7676-6. Received the highest score on the 1st Civil Service examination administered and became the first woman appointed to a federal position under provisions of Civil Service Act (1883).
  • Miscellany, Vassar (1888). The Vassar Miscellany. Vassar College.
  • Read, Phyllis J. (1992). Women's Firsts. Random House Information Group. ISBN 978-0-679-40975-5. The first Civil Service examination was administrated on July 12, 1883. Hoyt received the highest score, and on September 5 she became the first woman (and the second person) to be appointed to a federal position under the provisions of the Civil Service Act.
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