Charlotte Eldredge Bouton-Kneipp (1914-2008) lived an extraordinary life for nine decades.
In an era when few women went to college and even fewer had careers; Charlotte did both. She graduated from Wilson College in 1935 with a degree in history and politics. Then she went to Washinton D.C. as a single woman and worked as a congressional secretary through the administrations of U.S. Presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Richard M. Nixon. For more than 30 years she worked with Democratic representatives in Congress, calling it “a most extraordinary experience.”
Charlotte was born and raised in West Cape May, NJ. Her father, Henry Eldredge was a beloved Common Pleas Court Judge in Cape May County and later a Circuit Court Judge. Her mother was a schoolteacher from Pennsylvania. On her paternal side Charlotte’s ancestry goes back to the earliest settlers of Cape May County, John Howland the Pilgrim, and at least five proven patriots of the American Revolution. Her ancestors were instrumental in establishing the Cold Spring Presbyterian Church in the early 1700s.
In addition to community volunteer work which included President of the Board of Trustees of the Cape May County Historical and Genealogical Society, Charlotte’s retirement years were devoted to traveling the world, often to exotic destinations with her friend Thelma Cryder. The duo travelled down the Amazon River through the rainforest, and visited China, Kenya, Egypt, Africa, Russia and even experienced a hot air balloon ride together!
On August 26, 2006 the Cape Women’s Resource Fund honored Charlotte Eldredge Bouton-Kneipp at their 16th Annual Women’s Equality Day Tea at Price Hall, Cold Spring Presbyterian Church.