Laddie (Gladys) Hughes papers, circa 1914-circa 2010

Biography/History: 
Born to Norwegian immigrants Carl T. and Hilda Lund in the small farming community of Trail, Minnesota, Laddie often credited her self-reliance, strong work ethic, and sense of humor to growing up on a farm as the youngest of nine children. She enrolled early at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing in 1943 and was soon recruited into the U.S. Cadet Nursing Corps, a path that took her west to positions at the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in San Francisco and at Stanford Hospital.

Laddie met her future husband, Donald Hughes, while dancing with friends at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Their courtship was filled with joy, and they were married on September 2, 1950, continuing to dance together well into their later years. Deeply committed to public service and equal rights for women, Laddie became a trailblazer in local and national politics at a time when women’s leadership was rare. Her work in Peninsula, California, and national politics earned bipartisan respect and led to appointments by President Ronald Reagan, President George H. W. Bush, and Governor George Deukmejian. In 1978, she became the first woman to run for California’s 10th State Senate district seat, later mounting campaigns for the 11th district in 1984 and the U.S. 12th Congressional District in 1986.

Her dedication to improving the health and living conditions of women extended internationally. Laddie served as the Palo Alto representative to the United Nations’ Decade for Women conference in Copenhagen in 1981 and as a Regional Representative of the International Alliance for Women, traveling and speaking in the Netherlands, China, and Kenya.

Scope and Content:
Personal papers and family histories of a Minnesota-born California political figure, nurse, and member of the U.S. President's Committee on National Medal of Science.