The Lane Sisters
Harriett Adelaide Lane and Luvenia Helen Lane, residents of north Minneapolis and alumna of North High School, represented thousands of African American Government Girls who ventured to the nation’s capital to seek wartime employment.
A December 4th, 1943 article in the Chicago Defender National Edition noted the Lane sisters hailed from Minneapolis, Minnesota. While the segment featured and highlighted the civic activities and leadership initiatives of some residents of Midway Hall, no specific mention of the civic activities were noted from the two native Minneapolitans. However, Through archival research at the Minnesota Historical Society, I discovered that Harriett (nee Lane) Mhoon returned to the Twin Cities to pursue her passion of social work. Her obituary indicated her commitment to mental health and social justice through her work. Throughout her career as a caseworker and social worker, Harriett Lane Mhoon gained the respect of her professional peers and received recognition in a book honoring women leaders in Minnesota.
As an alumna of North High School, Luvenia completed one year of vocational training, and wished to “help improve conditions now existing thru (sic) over crowded Washington-such as recreation, housing, and other problems.”
Luvenia Lane’s quote from the 1941 North High School yearbook stated, “Sincerity is a great asset”. Luvenia, the younger of the two sisters, worked as a junior clerk for the War Department – Munitions Division. She arrived in Washington, D.C. with a diverse employment history which included work as a typist, practical nursing, power machine operator and “young office government girl’.
Harriett Adelaide Lane and Luvenia Helen Lane registered for employment guidance at the Washington, D.C. Employment Clinic. This wartime employment clinic, sponsored and operated by the National Council of Negro Women, pledged to prepare African American women to enter the work force of federal white-collar employees. Harriett and Luvenia resided at Midway Hall, the government sponsored dormitory for women. Although the Lane sisters’ photos did not appear in the 1946 Midway Whirl-I-gig yearbook, they listed the segregated dorm as their Washington, D.C. address on the NCNW Clinic Employment form.
Harriett, the older of the two sisters, worked as a clerk-typist for the U.S. Treasury-Division of Disbursement. According to her registration card, she attended the University of Minnesota and had previous work experience as a social worker and a dietician. Harriett’s employment clinic application indicated that in her previous employment, she worked in a “working in a segregated office.” Harriett suggested that “inter-racial supervisor conferences and supervisor-employee conferences” were plausible solutions to racial problems on the job.
According to U.S. Directories (1821-1989), Harriett Adelaide Lane returned to Minneapolis and worked as a caseworker for the County Welfare department in 1953. Perhaps her tour of duty in Washington, D.C. as a Government Girl proved to be the catalyst in pursuing an interest in social justice.
Harriett Lane Mhoon was born October 19, 1918 to James Henry and Helen Lane in Monterey, Minnesota. She attended North High School in Minneapolis and graduated in 1936. Harriett attended the University of Minnesota where she paid her own way; stopping during World War II to go to Washington D.C. to work for the Treasury Department, then returning to finish her bachelor's degree in Sociology in 1946. She later returned to earn a masters degree in Social Work in 1957. In 1962, she married the Reverend Leon H. Mhoon of Holsey Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, who died March 3, 1969. A few days later, Harriett was honored as the Outstanding Social Worker of the Year by the Southern Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers for her dedicated service to the chapter and community. An active social worker in Minneapolis since 1946, Harriett was specifically active in the areas of mental health, aging and community organizations. She served as Director of Social Work Services at Anoka State Hospital for over 16 years. In 1976, she received the Alumna of the Year award from the University of Minnesota for her professional achievements. Upon her retirement on June 29, 1984, Harriett received the State of Minnesota Certificate of Merit for 27 years of service and diligent efforts in the performance of her duties for the Department of Public Welfare. In 1988, the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work awarded Harriett the honor of designation as a Board Certified Diplomat in Clinical Social Work. She was further designated as Emeritus in 1991. Harriett had a wide range of responsibilities and served on numerous boards including the Governor's Council on Aging and the Metropolitan Health Board as well as memberships and offices held in the Minnesota Welfare Association, Committee on Christian Social Action, and numerous others. In addition to her professional activities, Harriett also devoted significant time and energies to educational development working in conjunction with the University of Minnesota School of Social Work and was an active and devoted member of the Wesley United Methodist Church. Harriett passed away on May 22, 2005 leaving a legacy of love and tireless devotion; she will be sadly missed by many people. Harriett is survived by her son, Lee Henry Mhoon; sister, Virginia Lane Frazier; cousin, Ophelia Copes; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Service Fri., 11 AM, Wesley United Methodist Church, 101 E. Grant St., Mpls. Visitation Thur, 5-8 PM & Fri. 10 AM at THE CHURCH. Interment, Lakewood Cemetery. Memorials preferred to Wesley Church. Albin Chapel-Eden Prairie OBIT @ albinchapel.com Ralph, Jim, Dan Albinson (952) 914-9410
Published on May 25, 2005
Luvenia Helen Lane
Luvenia Lane’s quote from the 1941 North High School yearbook stated, “Sincerity is a great asset”. Luvenia, the younger of the two sisters, worked as a junior clerk for the War Department – Munitions Division.
Minneapolis Spokesman
A third Lane sister served in the US Army’s Women’s Corps (WAC) during WWII.
Virginia Lane Frazier was one of the first Black US Army’s Women’s Corps (WAC) soldiers to enlist in Minnesota during World War II. She served with the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, a unit made up entirely of Black women that was stationed in England between February and November of 1945. The battalion won praise for clearing a backlog of mail that provided solace to American soldiers in combat. READ MORE HERE.
