Ella T. Grasso
Why Included
Connecticut governor and daughter of Italian immigrants whose career spanned state and federal public service.
Biography
Ella T. Grasso (1919–1981) was born in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, to Italian immigrant parents. She studied at Mount Holyoke College and served in Connecticut's legislature, as secretary of the state and in the U.S. House of Representatives. Elected governor in 1974, she served from 1975 to 1980. Her career lets readers trace the different responsibilities of state and federal government, as well as the opportunities available to women in public life. The Museum of Connecticut History documents her family background, education and public service.
Notable For
- Governor of Connecticut, 1975–1980
- U.S. Representative
- Connecticut secretary of the state
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ella T. Grasso Italian?
Yes — Ella T. Grasso is of Italian heritage. Connecticut governor and daughter of Italian immigrants whose career spanned state and federal public service.
Articles about Ella T. Grasso
Notable Italian Americans: Building Community
· 5 min read
Explore La Guardia, Grasso, Pastore and Celebrezze through public service, archival photographs and a community-history activity for Heritage Month.
Explore the wider history of Italian Americans.
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Quick Facts
- Field
- Politics & Governance
- Specialty
- Governor
- Years
- 1919–1981
- Birth Place
- Windsor Locks, CT
- Origin
- Italian American descendant
- Biography Review
- Draft — Pending Review
- Ancestry Verification
- Confirmed
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- Bill de Blasio(b. 1961)
- Joseph Califano(1931–2023)
- Anthony Celebrezze(1910–1998)
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