Helen Stevenson Meyner

Helen Day Stevenson Meyner (March 5, 1929 — November 2, 1997) was an American politician from New Jersey. A Democrat, Meyner served as a U.S. representative from New Jersey from 1975 to 1979. As the wife of New Jersey Governor Robert B. Meyner, she was First Lady of New Jersey from 1957 to 1962. Meyner also served as a Red Cross nurse in Korea during the Korean War.

Early life and early career Helen Stevenson was born in New York City to William E. and Eleanor B. Stevenson. Her parents were prominent Democrats. William E. Stevenson was a founder of a law firm that later became Debevoise & Plimpton. He also served as president of Oberlin College and as Ambassador to the Philippines. They were members of the Stevenson family, which included Illinois governor and two-time Democratic nominee for president Adlai Stevenson II.

Helen Stevenson graduated from Rosemary Hall (now part of Choate Rosemary Hall) in 1946 and from Colorado College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1950.

American Red Cross Stevenson was a field worker for the Red Cross in Korea from 1950 to 1952.

Letters Meyner's serving papers take the form of either letters or postcards written to her family during her time in the Korean War. These documents describe her experiences as a hospital nurse in Japan from 1950 to 1951 and a clubmobile worker in Pusan, Korea from 1951 to 1952. Throughout her time at the A.R.C., Meyner continuously expressed her discontent with the administration and the mistreatment of the volunteers.

Images Images of Meyner from this time period are accessible in the online exhibit "Coffee, Doughnuts, and a Witty Line of Chatter".

First Lady of New Jersey Stevenson married Robert B. Meyner, then governor of New Jersey, on January 19, 1957 in Oberlin, Ohio. Helen Stevenson Meyner served as first lady of New Jersey. Robert Meyner left office as governor in 1962 due to term limits. She lost in the Republican-leaning district to the Republican candidate, Joseph J. Maraziti.

Death Meyner died on November 2, 1997, in Fort Myers, Florida.