Skip to main content

Palmer, Nina Watkins, 1931-2021

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1931 - 2021

Biographical Note

Nina Watkins Palmer (1931-2021) was a political activist for woman's, children's, and family issues.

Nina Eileen Watkins was born on May 18, 1931, to Arthur Vivian Watkins and Andrea (Rich) Watkins in Orem, Utah. Nina was the youngest of seven children. When she was a teenager, the family moved to Arlington, Virginia when her father, Senator Arthur V. Watkins, was elected United States senator for Utah. Nina met William Martin Palmer while studying at George Washington University. They were later married in Salt Lake City, Utah. Together they settled in Salt Lake City and had four children.

Palmer was very involved with many different organizations. She was an original member of the Utah Federation for Drug Free Youth, was a member of the Governor's Task Force on Youth Alcohol and Drug Use, and the Governor's Council on Volunteerism. Palmer started the Utah Association of Women in 1977. The Utah Association of Women changed its name in 1997 and became the Worldwide Organization for Women. Palmer worked to get her women's organization granted consultative status by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. She traveled the world to participate in United Nations meetings and conferences. In 2000, she was also elected to the Board of Directors of the World Movement of Mothers. Palmer died in Erda, Utah, September 6, 2021.

Citation:
Nina Watkins Palmer papers, 1966-2014 (original member of the Utah Federation for Drug Free Youth; member of the Governor’s Task Force on Youth Alcohol and Drug Use; Governor’s Council on Volunteerism; started the Utah Association of Women in 1977; The Utah Association of Women changed its name in 1997 and became the Worldwide Organization for Women; worked to get her women’s organization granted consultative status by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations; traveled the world to participate in UN meetings and conferences; in 2000, was elected to the Board of Directors of the World Movement of Mothers)

Tooele Online, via WWW, September 17, 2022 (Nina Watkins Palmer; political activist for women's issues; daughter of United States Senator Arthur Watkins; youngest of seven children; moved to Arlington, Virginia as a teen; father was elected the United States senator for Utah; met William Martin Palmer at George Washington University; married in Salt Lake City, Utah; settled in Salt Lake City; had four children; struggled with Alzheimers and cancer; died September 6, 2021 in Erda, Utah)

FamilySearch, via WWW, September 17, 2022 (Nina Eilleen Walker; b. May 18, 1931; parents Arthur Vivian and Andrea (Rich) Watkins in Orem, Utah)

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Nina Watkins Palmer papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 9550
Scope and Contents Contains scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, correspondence, financial records, handbooks, conference materials, training materials and reference materials. The materials were collected by Nina Watkins Palmer through her association with the Utah Federation for Drug-Free Youth, the Utah Association of Women, and the Worldwide Organization for Women. Subjects in the collection include the roles of women and men, the traditional family, education, youth, marriage, religious liberty, and family...
Dates: 1966-2014
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Nina Watkins Palmer papers

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.