Happy Birthday Mary Lasker

US #3432B – from the Distinguished Americans Series

Health activist and philanthropist Mary Woodward Lasker was born on November 30, 1900, in Watertown, Wisconsin.

Lasker and her parents suffered from health issues for many years.  Her parents had hypertension and she suffered from bad ear infections.  The lack of medical treatments for these conditions left Lasker dissatisfied with the state of medicine.  This would inspire a lifetime commitment to medical research and drug development. 

US #1263 – Lasker launched her own crusade against cancer.

Lasker attended the University of Wisconsin and Radcliffe College, graduating in 1923 with a degree in art history.  She did her postgraduate study at Oxford and then settled in New York City, where she worked in an art gallery.  Over the years she built one of the best private art collections in the country.  After a brief marriage, Lasker found some success selling affordable fabrics that pictured movie stars. 

US #4625 was issued to raise awareness for heart health.

Mary remarried in 1940 to Albert Lasker, a pioneer in modern advertising.  Albert shared Mary’s love of art and interest in improving public heath.  Together the Laskers hoped to make health insurance more easily available to all Americans and to improve overall health by contributing to research on diseases.  To aid in their quest, they founded the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation in 1942.  The foundation would soon offer the country’s top prizes in medical and clinical research and journalism.  

The Laskers were strong supporters of President Harry Truman’s recommendation for universal health insurance.  It faced strong opposition however, so the Laskers focused their efforts on medical research.  While Lasker was neither a doctor nor a researcher, her work revolutionized the medical community.  Over the years she concentrated on cancer, mental health, heart disease, arthritis, and hypertension.

Lasker used her social standing, powers of persuasion, and personal wealth to promote the rapid growth of biomedical research.  Doctor Jonas Salk, who developed the first effective polio vaccine, called Lasker “a matchmaker between science and society.”

US #2087 was issued for the 100th anniversary of the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Prior to Lasker’s advocacy, private universities and pharmaceutical companies typically conducted expensive medical research.  Decades could pass before physicians learned the outcome and applied the findings to their patients.

Item #M84-26 – First Day of Issue Maximum Card

Lasker campaigned for greater cooperation between scientists and the medical community as well as for government funds to finance research.  Confronted with opposition, Lasker countered, “If you think research is expensive, try disease.”

US #3432B – Colorano Silk Cachet First Day Cover

Lasker’s efforts led to an increase in money given to the National Institutes of Health and the establishment of research centers focused on specific diseases, including the National Cancer Institute.  Over the years she served as director, chairman, or trustee of several organizations including the American Cancer Society, the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation, and the National Committee for Mental Hygiene. 

Item #M10476 – Breast Cancer Awareness Stamps and First Day Covers Set

In addition to medical research, Lasker was also passionate about urban beautification.  She supported the planting of trees and flowers in Washington, DC and New York.  She also pushed for the installation of lighting and fountains.  A pink tulip was named after her in the 1980s.

US #3432B – Fleetwood Plate Block First Day Cover

For her contributions, Lasker received dozens of honorary degrees and awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.  She died on February 21, 1994.  Upon her death, she left over 10 million to the Lasker Foundation to continue her life’s work. 

Click here for more about Lasker and the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation. 

Click here to see what else happened on This Day in History.

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3 Comments

  1. Now I know who she was and the story behind the stamp. Thanks again for the article. I enjoy having a background with my stamps.

  2. Instead of joining forces and coming to a consensus in order to help Americans as it should be, noticed all the opposition that pioneers such as Ms Lasker had to endure, in AMERICA.

  3. Mary was married to Albert who was the chief funder of the Negro Project. She was a colleague of white supremacist and eugenics advocate Margaret Sanger.

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