Two thousand and five marked the year Martha Sharp and her husband Waitstill were named Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem for their humanitarian efforts. This distinction recognized their role in helping hundreds of individuals, including Jewish people, flee persecution throughout their time as representatives of the American Unitarian Association during the turbulent era of the Second World War.
Early Career and Education
Born in 1905 in Providence, Rhode Island, Martha Sharp pursued higher education at Pembroke College within Brown University and later at Radcliffe College. She established a foundation in social work, focusing on humanitarian engagement and community service. Her early professional life involved managing social welfare programs, which informed the logistical skills she would later utilize on an international stage.
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In February 1939, Sharp and her husband departed for Prague as representatives of the commission for service under the American Unitarian Association. Despite the rapid advance of the German military into the city in March 1939, they maintained their relief operations. Collaborating with organizations like the American Friends Service Committee, she facilitated the visa application process for numerous refugees. Her efforts included personally escorting thirty-five refugees to Great Britain and coordinating the departure of children through recognized organizations.
Lisbon and Humanitarian Initiatives
Following the collapse of relief plans in France in 1940, the Sharps transitioned their base of operations to Lisbon, Portugal. From this neutral territory, they assisted intellectuals and families in escaping Vichy France. By the end of her 1940 posting, Sharp facilitated the safe passage of twenty-seven children and ten adults to the United States. Later, in 1943, she established Children to Palestine with the support of Hadassah to provide aid to orphaned youth, and in 1944, she negotiated the release of Spanish refugees held in Portugal.
Post-War Life and Recognition
Sharp entered the political sphere in 1946 when she ran for a seat in the United States Congress, though she was unsuccessful against Joe Martin. Her post-war career continued with humanitarian advocacy, serving on the boards of organizations such as the Girls Clubs of America. In 1946, she received the Order of the White Lion 5th Class. She remained active in social causes until her death in 1999 at the age of 94 in Providence.
Fast facts
- Born: 1905, Providence
- Died: 1999, Providence
- Education: Pembroke College, Radcliffe College
- Primary Field: Social work
- Major Recognition: Righteous Among the Nations (2005)
- Political Activity: Ran for Congress in 1946
- Affiliation: American Unitarian Association
- International Honor: Order of the White Lion 5th Class (1946)
Questions readers ask
What was Martha Sharp's primary professional background?
She was a trained social worker who applied her skills to humanitarian aid and relief operations during and after the Second World War.
What specific international honors did Martha Sharp receive?
She was named Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem in 2005 and was awarded the Order of the White Lion 5th Class in 1946.
Achievements
- Righteous Among the Nations — 2005
- Order of the White Lion 5th Class — 1946
- Worked as social worker
- Educated at Radcliffe College and Pembroke College in Brown University
