Delia Lyman Porter

Delia Lyman Porter (, Lyman; October 3, 1858 – January 16, 1933) was an American author, social reformer, and clubwoman. She was a prominent civic worker, associated with the prohibition and the parent–teacher association movements. Her father was Professor Chester Smith Lyman. Her mother was Delia Williams (Wood) Lyman, a daughter of the Hon. Joseph Wood (Yale College, 1801), of New Haven, and granddaughter of Oliver Ellsworth, Chief Justice of the United States under President George Washington. Her siblings included: Elizabeth, William, Oliver, and Chester Walcott Lyman.

She was enrolled at Wellesley College, 1876–77 and 1879–80, However, she did not take a degree.

Career In 1900, she organized the Mothers' Club of Lowell House settlement and served as president. The following year, she organized the New Haven People's Choral Union. She also organized the Noon Club for factory girls at New Haven. It was largely through Porter's efforts that a bill for appointment of a woman deputy factory inspector of Connecticut was passed by the state legislature in 1907. Porter was appointed by the governor as a member of the commission to nominate the woman inspector. In 1891, A. D. F. Randolph issued in one volume five short stories of Porter's, which had previously appeared in The Independent, Christian Union, and elsewhere. The book was entitled The Blues Cure and Other Stories, and had a good sale. One of the tales in this book, "The Measuring Rod", was also published by the New York Tract Society, and many thousand copies were used.

In 1908, in The Chautauquan, she published "How Connecticut Got Her Woman Factory Inspector", and in 1923, her article, "The Acquisition of Elmwood Home of Oliver Ellsworth", was published by the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution.

Opposed to the amending of the National Prohibition Act, in 1926, Porter spoke before Congress:—

Personal life On June 10, 1891, she married Frank Chamberlin Porter (1859-1946),

Porter made her home in New Haven. In religion, she was a Congregationalist. and the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.). Porter helped acquire Oliver Ellsworth's Elmwood Home as a state home for the Connecticut D.A.R.

Death and legacy Delia Wood Lyman Porter died of a heart attack on January 16, 1933, in New Haven. Her papers and that of her husband are held in the Archives at Yale University.

Selected works Calendar of American History, by Delia W. Lyman, 1883 (Text) The Blues, Cure and Other Stories, by Delia Lyman Porter, 1892 (Text) An Anti-Worry Recipe and Other Stories, by Delia Lyman Porter, 1905 (Text) Yearbook of Good Cheer, 1906 Yearbook of Ideals for Every Day Living, 1909 Christian Discussion Club Outlines, 1914–19

Articles "How Connecticut Got Her Woman Factory Inspector", 1908 (Text) "The Acquisition of Elmwood Home of Oliver Ellsworth", 1923 (Text)