Elinor Sophia Coleman "Ellie" Guggenheimer (11 April 1912 – 29 September 2008) was an American civic leader, author, and philanthropist in New York City.Nemy, Enid (December 19, 1973)

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Biography

Born in Manhattan, she attended

Vassar College Vassar College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, it was the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States. The college be ...

before transferring to

Barnard College Barnard College is a Private college, private Women's colleges in the United States, women's Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college affiliated with Columbia University in New York City. It was founded in 1889 by a grou ...

, where she graduated in 1933. She married lawyer Randolph Guggenheimer of Guggenheimer, Untermyer and Marshall in 1932. Guggenheimer founded the Day Care Council of New York in 1948, followed by the National Day Care and Child Development Council in 1958. An urban planner, she became the first woman to join the

New York City Planning Commission The Department of City Planning (DCP) is the department of the government of New York City responsible for setting the framework of city's physical and socioeconomic planning. The department is responsible for land use and environmental review, ...

in 1961. In 1969 she ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic Party primary to be their candidate for president of the

New York City Council The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of New York City in the United States. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The council serves as a check against the mayor in a mayor-council government mod ...

. Her activism in the Women's movement led her to create the New York Women's Forum in 1973, and she served as commissioner of consumer affairs in the 1970s. In 1979, Guggennheimer founded the Council of Senior Centers and Services of New York City and was its first executive director. Later, Guggenheimer founded the

New York Women's Agenda The New York Women’s Agenda (NYWA) is an umbrella organization of women's groups in the New York City metropolitan area. Its membership consists of both nonprofit women's organizations and individuals. About NYWA Founded in 1992 by Elinor Gugg ...

in 1992 and the Council of Senior Centers and Services. Her philanthropy focused on women, the elderly, and Jewish causes. Guggenheimer wrote the books ''Planning for Parks and Recreation in Urban Areas'' and an instructional manual for entertaining called ''The Pleasure of Your Company.'' Her 1983 musical ''Potholes'' had a short run

off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...

. Her lifetime of service earned her a

Presidential Citizens Medal The Presidential Citizens Medal is an award bestowed by the president of the United States. It is the second-highest civilian award in the United States and is second only to the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Established by executive order on N ...

in 1997 from President Clinton. Guggenheimer died in Manhattan.Martin, Douglas (September 30, 2008)
Elinor Guggenheimer, Advocate for Women, Children and the Elderly, Dies at 96.
''The New York Times''

References

Sources

External links

via New York Women's Agenda
Papers, 1959-1980.Schlesinger Library
Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.

obituary at

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

.
Interview with WYNC
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guggenheimer, Elinor 1912 births 2008 deaths Presidential Citizens Medal recipients Barnard College alumni