[photograph of a portrait of Mary Eugenia Byrnes O'Conor]

Mary Eugenia Byrnes O'Conor (1896-1971)

MSA SC 1545-1204. 1961 by Stanislaw Rembski (b. 1896). Commissioned by legislature at suggestion of Mrs. J. Millard Tawes.

Mary Eugenia Byrnes O'Conor was the wife of Herbert R. O'Conor, the fifty-first governor of Maryland serving in office from 1939-1947. Known as Eugenia, she was married to O'Conor on November 24, 1920, a year before he was appointed to his first political post as an assistant state's attorney. They had five children: Herbert, Jr., Eugene, James, Robert, and Mary (O'Conor) Farley. While First Lady, Mrs. O'Conor was noted for her skills as a hostess, entertaining a wide variety of diplomats and royalty in Government House. In addition to a variety of honorary positions she held while First Lady, Mrs. O'Conor became the Governor's unofficial observer of institutions for women in the state.


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