Biography

06/22/1863 - 05/25/1952

Doctor George Stanley Woodward (R6) Philadelphia (Part) County 1919-1946

Early Life:

Doctor George Stanley Woodward, born June 22, 1863, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; son of Stanley and Sarah Richards Butler Woodward; private school education; Wilkes-Barre Academy, 1883; Yale University, B.A.,1887; Yale University, Ph.D., 1888; University of Pennsylvania, Medicine, 1891; medical practice, city of Philadelphia; married, Gertrude, Houston, 1894, children, Houston H., George, Stanley, Charles Henry, Gertrude; Philadelphia Board of Health, 1897-1900; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1919-1946; died, home, Krisheim, May 25, 1952, (aged 88), Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interment, Saint Thomas Episcopal Church Cemetery, Whitemarsh, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. 

Early Career:

Soon after marriage, gave up the practice of medicine and devoted himself to progressive causes. Organized, Child Labor Association of Pennsylvania to work for reform of the state's labor laws, served as president of the relief organization the Children's Aid Society, 1904. Member, newly formed City party, he worked to elect reformist candidates, 1905. Organized and underwrote a new Bureau of Municipal Research to investigate the causes of city problems and to push for reform, 1908. Focused on developing Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, along progressive lines as a parklike model suburb. He and his wife eventually built 180 homes in Wissahickon Heights, which they renamed Saint Martin's, in honor of Saint Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, built by Gertrude's father. Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, built a large home, known as, Krisheim, on some 40 acres in Chestnut Hill that Henry H. Houston had given them as a wedding gift.

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Member, famous committee of seventy (a group of progressive city leaders determined to reform Philadelphia's corrupt government); member, permanent relief committee of Philadelphia, trustee, Germantown Hospital; trustee, secretary, treasurer, Chestnut Hill Academy; member, Academy of Political and Social Science, Octavia Hill Association, University and Art Clubs, Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution. Communicant, Protestant Episcopal Church. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 6th district, Philadelphia (Part) County, 1919-1946; committee assignments, Federal Relations (Chairman), Appropriations, Corporations, Executive Nominations, Finance, Judiciary General, Municipal Government, Public Health, State Government.

Legacy:

Known as the “senator in short pants” because he always wore knickerbocker suits.

Son, Stanley Woodward, United States Ambassador, Canada.     

Father, Honorable, Stanley Woodward, appointed Judge of Luzerne County, 1879; elected in 1880- 1900.

Grandfather, Honorable George Washington Woodward, president judge, fourth judicial district, 1841-1851. Unsuccessfully campaign, United States Senate, 1844. Unsuccessfully nominated, United States Supreme Court, President James K. Polk, 1845. Associate justice, Pennsylvania Supreme Court, 1852-1863. Chief Justice, Pennsylvania Supreme Court, 1863-1867. Unsuccessfully campaign, Governor of Pennsylvania, 1863. United States House of Representatives, 1867-1871. Unsuccessful campaign, president judge, eleventh judicial district, 1870. 

Wife, Gertrude Houston, youngest child of wealthy Chestnut Hill developer and patron Henry Howard Houston. 

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members W". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

The Pennsylvania Manual (1939). Westerbrook, C. H. (Editor). (Volume 84). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, page 709, 712. Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 707.

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Tuesday, May 27, 1952, page 14

The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) Tuesday, May 27, 1952, page 11

Dr George Stanley Woodward (1863-1952) - Find a Grave Memorial