Year Honored: 1982

Birth: 1853 – 1948

Born in: Delaware

Biography

Emalea Pusey Warner spent her life advocating for Delaware women. She was a key organizer of the Wilmington New Century Club, which helped start kindergarten programs, school lunch programs, carpentry shops, home economics, libraries, and penny savings banks in Wilmington Schools. In 1898, the New Century Club became a charter member of the General Federation of Women’s clubs, and Warner was elected as the Delaware State Federation’s first president.

In 1911, Delaware was the only state without a women’s college. As president of the Delaware State Federation, Warner successfully lobbied the State Legislature for funds to create the Women’s College at the University of Delaware. She served both on the Building Commission for the Women’s College, and as the first woman to be named to the University of Delaware Board of Trustees in 1927.

Warner was involved in a number of other organizations around Delaware. She served as Vice-President of the Women’s Suffrage Association, President of the League of Women Voters of Delaware, and was S.P.C.A President for 21 years. Warner had also lobbied for years for the creation of a family court, though she had been unsuccessful. In 1945, legislation was finally passed creating the Family Court of New Castle County, after intense lobbying efforts by Warner’s friends, organized as a birthday surprise.

At the Delaware College Centenary Anniversary in 1934, Warner was awarded the Medal of Honor in recognition of her efforts to improve education. Warner Hall at the University of Delaware, and Warner School, Wilmington’s first Junior High, are both named in her honor.
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Sources and Additional Readings

Emalea P. (Emalea Pusey) Warner (1853-1948). typed form letter (carbon), Wilmington, Del., to "dear co-worker," February 25, 1913]. Emalea Pusey Warner scrapbook Number 1. facsimile images courtesy of University of Delaware Archives and Records Management. Votes for Delaware Women. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://exhibitions.lib.udel.edu/votes-for-delaware-women/exhibition-item/emalea-p-emalea-pusey-warner-1853-1948-typed-form-letter-carbon-wilmington-del-to-dear-co-worker-february-25-1913-emalea-pusey-warner-scrapbook-number-1-facsimile-i/.

Emalea Pusey Warner (1853-1948) - find a grave... Find a Grave. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51417093/emalea-warner.

Emalea Pusey Warner Reminiscences of April 15, 1865. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://library.udel.edu/special/findaids/view?docId=ead%2Fmss0098_0104.xml%3Btab.

Henry Clay Reed Papers. Manuscript and Archival Collection Finding Aids. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://library.udel.edu/special/findaids/view?docId=ead%2Fmss0499.xml%3Btab.

Outstanding alumni award - udel.edu. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.udel.edu/content/dam/udelImages/dar/Assets/Documents/2020-UDAA-Outstanding-Alumni-Application.pdf.