Mary L. Mallett

Standard encyclopedia of the alcohol problem, 1928

Mary L. Mallett was an American temperance advocate who served as president of the Oregon State Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU).

Mary Louise Hansen was born near Henderson, Minnesota, May 2, 1860; educated in the public schools, later obtaining a complete musical education. Miss Hansen was only twelve years old when she began to sing in temperance meetings. In 1878 she joined the Sons of Temperance, in which Order she served as secretary. In the following year she joined the WCTU of Brownton, Minnesota, where she took an active part in Gospel Temperance meetings on Sunday afternoons, singing and passing pledges wherever she was needed in the work. In 1881 she married Jerome H. Mallett, a hardware merchant, of Cannon Falls, Minnesota, with whom she removed in 1885 to Groton, South Dakota, and in 1907 to Portland, Oregon. She became associated with the WCTU in Groton (1886-1907), serving as superintendent of Mothers’ Meetings, leader of the Loyal Temperance Legion, and local president (1895-1907).

After removing to Portland, Oregon, Mallett was made president of the Multnomah County WCTU (1909-14). During this period, she was active in three campaigns to make Oregon dry. speaking in the churches, on the streets of the city, in the parks, and wherever opportunity afforded a chance to advocate Prohibition; and she also served as vice-chairman of the Prohibition party of the State which twice nominated her as a candidate for the Legislature. She subsequently served for two years as State WCTU superintendent of Child Welfare and for two years as superintendent of Medical Temperance. In 1918, Mallett was appointed probation officer of the Portland Juvenile Court, and in 1920, she was elected State president of the WCTU, which office she held until 1927.