Dorothy Warren


Dorothy Warren was an American author, photographer and officer in the United States Army during World War II. She worked on training programs in the military, and after the war she served as the director of the New York House and School of Industry.

Early life

Warren was born in White Plains, New York. Her parents were Charles Clark Warren and Blanche Allien Warren. Her father was a descendant of Thomas Leffingwell, founder of Norwich, Connecticut, and her mother was the granddaughter of William Moller, founder of Havemeyer & Moller, later the American Sugar Refining Company.
She graduated from New York City's Spence School in 1925 and then studied at the California School of Fine Arts and Columbia University.

Career

From 1927 to 1931, she worked as a travel agent, and then worked in real estate management and brokerage for nine years. During World War II, she joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1941 and became a major. She served in personnel offices and training centers and was a commanding officer, until she left military service in 1946.
Following the war, she developed a training program to expand the skill set of women who worked in offices. It was created for the New York House and School of Industry, where she was the director, in conjunction with state and federal Departments of Labor. She served on the board of various organizations, like United Presbyterian Church, Turtle Bay Music School and The Spence Alumnae Society. A photographer and artist, her works are included in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of the City of New York and New-York Historical Society collections. A preservationist, she was active with the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

Death

She died on January 21, 2008, in Manhattan at 102 years of age.

Published works