Margaret L. Curry | |
|---|---|
 Official Colorado Women's Hall of Fame Portrait | |
| Born | Margaret L. Taylor (1898-07-16)July 16, 1898 Meeker, Colorado, US |
| Died | February 14, 1986(1986-02-14) (aged 87) |
| Education | B.A. music,Colorado State College of Education M.S.social studies,University of Denver |
| Occupation | Stateparole officer |
| Years active | 1952–1970 |
| Employer | Colorado Department of Corrections |
| Spouse | Arthur D. Curry |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Colorado Women's Hall of Fame, 1996 |
Margaret L. Taylor Curry (July 16, 1898 – February 14, 1986)[1] was an American stateparole officer,medical social worker, child welfare worker, and music teacher. In 1952 she became the first female parole officer for theColorado Department of Corrections. During her 18-year tenure, she was the only female officer supervising adult inmates and parolees. She introduced vocational training,high school equivalency courses, and self-improvement classes to further the rehabilitation of women prisoners. She was inducted into theColorado Women's Hall of Fame in 1996.
Margaret L. Taylor was born on a ranch nearMeeker, Colorado.[1] She graduated from high school in Meeker[2]and attendedColorado State College of Education inGreeley, where she earned her bachelor's degree in music.[1]
After graduation, she began teaching music, piano, and voice in public schools in Greeley,Fort Morgan, andAult.[2] During theGreat Depression, she and her husband moved their family from town to town across the state, looking for jobs.[1] Curry worked for two and a half years in the Department of Public Welfare inTrinidad.[2] The family finally settled inDenver, where the Currys purchased a "cottage camp" (motel) and grocery store.[1]
In 1941, at the age of 43, Curry pursued a master's degree insocial studies at theUniversity of Denver.[1] She spent two years as amedical social worker with theAmerican Red Cross, stationed at theFitzsimons General Hospital, and eight years as a child welfare worker forArapahoe County.[2]
With the opening of the state's parole department, Curry sat for the civil service examination, receiving the highest grade possible.[1] On July 1, 1952, she was appointed as the first female parole officer for theColorado Department of Corrections, at a starting salary of $305 per month.[1]
With an average caseload of 42 women, Curry supervised inmates aged 15 to 65 in theCañon City Penitentiary and the Colorado State Reformatory for Women.[3] These inmates had been convicted of a range of crimes, includingembezzlement andmurder.[3] Before Curry's arrival, the only work activity afforded to women prisoners was the washing and ironing of the clothes of the male prisoners.[3][4] Curry introduced vocational training programs staffed by volunteers to teach the women sewing and hairdressing, establishedhigh school equivalency courses, and hired a modeling agency to offer self-improvement classes.[3]
She also pushed for women's access to the state's pre-parole center, where soon-to-be released prisoners practiced table etiquette and wearing civilian clothing.[3] After their release, she assisted parolees in finding employment.[3]
During her 18-year tenure, Curry was the only female state parole officer supervising adult inmates and parolees.[3] Among her morale-boosting initiatives was the giving ofChristmas stockings filled with small gifts to women prisoners in the Cañon City Penitentiary, and holding a supervised Christmas party at her daughter's house for women incarcerated in the Denver County Jail.[5]
Curry retired in 1970 at the age of 71.[6]
Curry was inducted into theColorado Women's Hall of Fame in 1996.[4][7]
She and her husband, Arthur D. Curry, had two children.[1] After her husband's death in 1958, she resided inEnglewood, Colorado.[6] At the age of 87 she sustained awrist fracture after slipping on some ice; she died from medical complications on February 14, 1986.[6]