Gertrude Battles Lane

Lane was born on December 21, 1874, in Saco, Maine. Her parents were Eustace Lane and Ella Battles Lane. In her youth, she had moved to Boston, and was employed as a stenographer while she was also assisting with editing at The Boston Beacon, which was a small magazine. == Early career at the ''Women's Home Companion'' (1903-1912) ==

In 1903, ''Women's Home Companion editor-in-chief Arthur T. Vance (1872-1930) offered Lane a job as household editor at the magazine. She accepted even though it meant she would make $2 a week less in salary. At the time of her employment, according to the New York Times'', the magazine only had an eight-person staff, and in her own words as quoted by the Times, she was "a regular maid of all work" at the magazine. In 1909, she was promoted to managing editor, and in 1912 became editor-in-chief of the magazine. == As editor-in-chief at the ''Women's Home Companion'' (1912-1941)==

When Lane had become editor-in-chief, the magazine's circulation was around 738,000 monthly. The Bureau had offered advice to mothers on how to better their child's health. Lane was supportive of this movement, being concerned both for the health of children and also for eugenics reasons. The movement for better babies contests also had background in the eugenics movements of the time. In 1929, Lane was making an annual salary of $52,000. In 1932, the ''Women's Home Companion'' published an editorial in favor of repealing the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Lane had felt the change to public opinion was obvious to take that step. In 1939, Lane's salary was revealed to have been $52,000 a year, which few women at the time would have made. == Death and legacy ==

In 1941, Lane fell ill and died on September 25, 1941, at her home. She was buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco. She had never married. At the time of her death, the ''Women's Home Companion'' had a monthly circulation of more than 3,500,000. ==Awards and honors==

In 1929, Lane was awarded an honorary doctorate in letters by Colby College. == Political activities ==

Lane served in Hoover's U.S. Food Administration during the First World War, and this was the beginning of their political association. Lane was involved with Hoover's 1920 campaign to become president. Lane was a member of the Women's Republican Club in New York City in 1928 and had been the first to pledge to register one woman voter for his presidential election. During the Hoover Administration, Lane was a member of the White House Conference on Child Health and Protection, and a member of the White House Conference on Home Building and Home Ownership. ==References==