Charlotte Giesen
| Charlotte C. Giesen | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates for Montgomery and Radford | |
|
In office January 8, 1958 – January 9, 1962 |
|
| Preceded by | John L. Whitehead |
| Succeeded by | Kenneth I. Devore |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Charlotte Milton Caldwell January 27, 1907 Radford, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | January 28, 1995 (aged 88) Radford, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Arthur R. Giesen |
| Children | Arthur R. Giesen, Jr. ("Pete"), Ann Giesen Fowlkes |
| Alma mater | Radford College |
Charlotte Milton Caldwell Giesen (January 27, 1907 – January 28, 1995) (nicknamed "Pinkie") was a Virginia politician and news editor. A lifelong resident of Radford, Virginia, she served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1958 to 1961, becoming the first Republican woman elected to the House.
Charlotte Milton Caldwell was born to Charles Minor Caldwell and his wife the former Ida Goodykoontz in Radford, Virginia. She graduated from Radford College, then known as the Women's Division of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, in 1925. On April 5, 1929 she married Arthur Rossa Giesen, and they would have a son and daughter who survived them.
In 1954 Charlotte Giesen became the first woman elected to Radford's city council. Her husband, Arthur Giesen, was Radford's mayor and also served on the city council. Charlotte Giessen was for many years the women's editor of the Radford News Journal and also edited the original Montgomery News Messenger. She served on the board of directors of both the Radford Child Care Center and the Radford chapter of the American Red Cross. She was also active in her Lutheran Church, the American Legion auxiliary and the local chapter of the American Farm Bureau.
During the Massive Resistance crisis, voters elected Giesen in 1957 to the House of Delegates (a part-time position). She defeated incumbent Democrat John L. Whitehead, a member of the Byrd Organization who supported closing schools to prevent racial integration. Giesen represented Radford and the surrounding Montgomery County, and won re-election in 1959. Her platform, considered progressive for the day, included reinstating compulsory education, requiring polio vaccinations and the jailing of drunk drivers, and support for open government.
Fellow delegate, Democrat Dorothy Shoemaker McDiarmid, characterized Giesen as "everyone's favorite aunt." Giesen served on four committees: Federal Relations, Immigration, Printing, and Public Property. In 1961 Giesen was defeated for reelection by Democrat Kenneth I. Devore, as schools had reopened, but many whites supported private segregated academies. Devore would likewise serve two terms, and receive more prestigious committee assignments (to General Laws, Roads, and House Expenses).
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