About Lois Cowles Harrison
Lived 1934 – 2013 (aged 78). Lois Cowles Harrison was an American activist.
Lois Cowles Harrison (June 23, 1934 – June 6, 2013) was a civic leader, women's rights activist, and philanthropist.
Early life and education Lois Cowles was born in Des Moines, Iowa, daughter of Gardner Cowles Jr., co-founder and publisher of Look Magazine, and Lois Thornburg.
She graduated from Madeira School in Washington, D.C., and then from Wellesley College in Boston in 1956.
Civic leadership Harrison moved to Polk County, Florida, because her family owned a chain of newspapers in the state.
From 1974 to 1978, Harrison was a member of the Florida Ethics Commission, and in 1975, she was appointed to the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women.
The Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts in Lakeland was named for her in 1989.
In 2011, the Polk County League of Women Voters presented her with an "Influential Woman of the 20th Century" award.
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Lois Cowles Harrison?
American activist
When was Lois Cowles Harrison born?
Lois Cowles Harrison was born on 23 June 1934 in Des Moines.
When did Lois Cowles Harrison die?
Lois Cowles Harrison died on 6 June 2013 in Lakeland, Florida.
What was Lois Cowles Harrison's occupation?
Lois Cowles Harrison was an activist.
What nationality was Lois Cowles Harrison?
Lois Cowles Harrison was American.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Lois Cowles Harrison
· DBpedia: Lois Cowles Harrison
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Lois Cowles Harrison. https://biography.guide/lois-cowles-harrison/
MLA: "Lois Cowles Harrison." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/lois-cowles-harrison/.
Chicago: "Lois Cowles Harrison." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/lois-cowles-harrison/.
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