The daughter of a Presbyterian minister, Mildred McAfee was born on May 12, 1900, in Parkville,
Missouri. As a young girl she was heavily influenced by her family’s focus on both education
and faith. She attended Vassar College where she studied English, sociology, and economics.
She also played both hockey and basketball, and was involved in the student government and the
school’s Christian Association. During her time at Vassar, she earned the reputation as a student
devoted to her studies and as an enthusiastic leader. After she graduated, McAfee taught
elementary and middle school for three years. McAfee’s passion for knowledge continued, and in
1928, she earned a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Chicago. McAfee then
worked at Centre College, serving as professor of Sociology and Dean of Women until 1932. In 1936,
she became one of the youngest college presidents in the United States when she was appointed
President of Wellesley College, one of the “Seven Sisters” women’s colleges in the northeast.
On July 30, 1942, with heavy influence from Eleanor Roosevelt,
the U.S. Congress established the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service,
or WAVES. The WAVES were signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on July 30,
1942. Mildred McAfee took a leave of absence from Wellesley College and was commissioned
as a Lieutenant Commander on August 3, 1942 in the Naval Reserve. She became the first
female commissioned officer in the Navy and was chosen to be the first director of the WAVES.
As director of the newly formed WAVES, one of McAfee’s goals was change. During her tenure
as director, McAfee fought for the members of the WAVES to have the same benefits and pay
rates as their male counterparts.
McAfee’s efforts were successful, and on November 9, 1943, Public Law 183 went into effect,
which entitled all members of the Women’s Reserve to the same benefits as male service members.
The new law also allotted for one officer to hold the rank of captain in the Women’s Reserve.
Later in November of 1943, McAfee was promoted to Captain.
Captain McAfee continued to work for change while serving as the director of the WAVES.
She was successful in integrating African American women into the Naval Reserve Officer Corps,
and she made it possible for them to serve in many different jobs. McAfee ensured that
African American females would receive the same treatment as the rest of the WAVES.
At the peak of World War II, McAfee was in command of 86,000 WAVES, including more than 8,000
female officers and 75,000 enlisted personnel. McAfee received the Distinguished Service Medal
from Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on November 7, 1945 for her leadership of the WAVES.
She was the first woman to receive this recognition. In 1946, McAfee resigned her
commission and returned to Wellesley College. McAfee married Reverend Dr. Douglass Horton, and
continued to work in an administrative capacity at Wellesley College until her retirement in 1948.
After retiring from the college, Mildred McAfee Horton devoted her life to working in religion.
She worked with her husband in civic projects as well as at their church. She became a leader
in social reform and education with an emphasis on religion bridging the gap between different
faiths. For her achievements in education and religion, she received 31 honorary degrees.
Mildred McAfee Horton died on September 2, 1994, in Berlin, New Hampshire.