Luther, Sally
House 1951-62 (District 30)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Counties Served:
Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
12/6/1918
Birth Place:
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Birth County:
Hennepin
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
2/3/2015
Gender:
Female
Religion:
Presbyterian
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Former Name: Fletcher
City of Residence (when first elected):
Minneapolis
Occupation (when first elected):
Newspaperwoman, Newspaper Reporter
EDUCATION
Vassar College; College Graduate; Drama, 1940
State University of New York; M.A.; African Studies, 1974, After She Left Office
Ph.D.; Political Sociology
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
County Government:
Hennepin County, Minnesota (County Public Welfare Council's Committtee on Relocation Problems);
19?? to 19??
Municipal Board/Commission:
Minneapolis, Minnesota (Charter Review Committee);
195? to 19??
U.S. Executive Branch:
White House Conference on Aging (Delegate);
1961 to 1961
Municipal Government:
Minneapolis, Minnesota (Aide to Mayor Arthur E. Naftalin);
1963 to 196?
State Governor Staff:
Minnesota Governor Karl F. Rolvaag's Office (Executive Assistant);
1965 to 1966
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Charles Hamilton "C.H." Luther Sr. (while in office, divorced in 1963); John J. Neumaier (married in September 1969, after she left office)
Children:
Three children (with Charles): Charles Hamilton Jr., and Mark (he was born while she was in office), (sons); Sara Lee (daughter, she was born while she was in office)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
She was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. (Minnesota Legislative Commission on the Economic Status of Women)
"...and by 1948 had become an active DFL party worker..." "In early January, 1951, she attended the liberal (DFL) caucus..." (Women of Minnesota: Selected Biographical Essays, 1998, p. 267 and 268)
"Rep. Sally Luther has established herself as one of the main gears in the DFL-liberal majority of the Minnesota house of representatives." (Minneapolis Star?, 1956 or 1957)
She moved to Poughkeepsie, New York in 1968.
She ran unsuccessfully for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1962 election. Part of her defeat was attributed to the way names were aligned on the voting machines. In several districts her name appeared to be under the Republican column.
She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1959-60.
Elected: 11/8/1960
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/3/1961 to 1/7/1963
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Former Newspaper Reporter
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: She was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. (Minnesota Legislative Commission on the Economic Status of Women)
Committees:
-
Civil Administration (Chair)
-
Education
-
Elections
-
Taxes
-
Welfare
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
Elected: 11/4/1958
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/2/1961
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Former Newspaper Reporter
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: She was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. (Minnesota Legislative Commission on the Economic Status of Women)
Committees:
-
Civil Administration (Chair)
-
Education
-
Elections
-
Taxes
-
Welfare
Elected: 11/6/1956
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/8/1957 to 1/5/1959
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Former Newspaper Reporter
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: She was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. (Minnesota Legislative Commission on the Economic Status of Women); "Rep. Sally Luther has established herself as one of the main gears in the DFL-liberal majority of the Minnesota house of representatives." (Minneapolis Star?, 1956 or 1957)
Committees:
-
Civil Administration
-
Education
-
Elections
-
Taxes
-
Welfare (Chair)
Elected: 11/2/1954
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/7/1957
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Newspaperwoman
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: She was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. (Minnesota Legislative Commission on the Economic Status of Women)
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Civil Administration
-
Education
-
University
-
Welfare (Chair)
Elected: 11/5/1952
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/6/1953 to 1/3/1955
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Newspaperwoman
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: She was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. (Minnesota Legislative Commission on the Economic Status of Women)
Committees:
-
Civil Administration
-
Communications
-
Education
-
Elections
-
Welfare
Session Notes:
Thomas N. Christie was involved in a contested election with Sally Luther after the 1952 election. Sally Luther was determined to be the winner.
Elected: 11/7/1950
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/5/1953
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Newspaperwoman, Newspaper Reporter
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: She was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. (Minnesota Legislative Commission on the Economic Status of Women); "In early January, 1951, she attended the liberal (DFL) caucus..." (Women of Minnesota: Selected Biographical Essays, 1998, p. 268)
Committees:
-
Aircraft and Airways
-
Civil Administration
-
Education
-
Elections
-
Welfare
Articles & Books About
"Luther was Legislative Pioneer." Access Press, March 10, 2015.
Stuhler, Barbara and Gretchen Kreuter. "Women Legislators: Sally Luther." Women of Minnesota: Selected Biographical Essays, St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1998, p. 267-270.
Mitchell, Wallace. "Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. Luther." Minneapolis Star, December 1958 or January 1959.
"Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. Sally Luther." Minneapolis Star, Between November 1956-January 1957.
Contested Election Reimbursement Resolutions. Minnesota Journal of the House, April 20, 1953, p. 2536-2537.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.