Bula Croker: Difference between revisions

 

==Socialite and entertainer (1930-1945)==

Croker's sister Gonia joined the rest of the Edmondson family at the Wigwam after her husband George Tinnen's death in 1929. Her mother lived with them, but their father had died in 1927.{{sfn|Cooper|2022|p=185}} Croker was interested in liberal politics and became a supporter of [[Franklin Roosevelt]] in the early 1930s. She was said to be the first Palm Beach resident to allow Black beach-goers to use her beach. She gave numerous programs focused on her Native heritage to raise funds for the [[Red Cross]] and other charities, and often lent her home as a venue for charitable causes.{{sfn|Lynfield|1983b|p=214}} In 1933, Croker was appointed as staff by Governor [[David Sholtz]].{{sfn|''The Palm Beach Post''|1932|p=1}} As one of the first women in Florida to serve as staff to a governor,{{sfn|''The Palm Beach Post''|1932|p=1}}{{sfn|''The Miami News''|1932|p=6}} she was named chair of the [[Reconstruction Finance Corporation]]'s local affiliate the Palm Beach County Emergency Relief and Civil Works Council.{{sfn|''The Miami Herald''|1933|p=39}} When she tried to fire a worker sent by the [[Civil Works Administration]] of the state, the entire council was dismissed.{{sfn|''The Atlanta Journal''|1933|p=12}} The following year she attempted to run as a representative for Florida to the [[United States House of Representatives|United States House]], but was defeated by [[J. Mark Wilcox]].{{sfn|''The Key West Citizen''|1934|p=1}}{{sfn|''The Stuart News''|1934|p=1}}