August 26, 1927 – November 19, 2006
Named to the Maine BPW Hall of Fame March 21, 2009
Jeanne Littlefield was born in Dexter, Maine, the daughter of Fred Littlefield and Wilhelmina Littlefield. She was a graduate of Colby College. She married Earle Hammond and raised seven children while working full-time outside the home. Through all of this time, Jeanne worked tirelessly for the equality of women. In 1955, she joined an organization to which her mother belonged, the Waterville Business and Professional Women’s Club.
Jeanne held every local organization office, sat on most of BPW’s committees and served as the BPW/Maine state president in 1984-1985. As state president, Jeanne exemplified BPW’s theme of “Involved and Visible”. She lobbied for BPW’s own bill ‘An Act to Designate the 3rd Week in October as Maine Business Women’s Week’. In 1988 she challenged each past state president to contribute to the Margaret Chase Smith Window fund at the National BPW Headquarters Building in Washington, DC.
Jeanne also held the positions of: District Director, Chair and Editor of the state newsletter, Chair of the Legislative Committee, Chair of the Highway Safety Committee, Chair of the Scholarship Committee, and Chair of the Women in Transition/Speakers Bureau. She was a member of the ERA Committee and the State Nominating Committee. Jeanne attended many of the National and State Conventions along with Regional Meetings.
Jeanne also was active in the American Association of University Women organization and served as state president of AAUW as well.
Jeanne became active starting in 1970 with the annual Futurama Crafts Fair (established in 1961 and held for 25 years each May at the Augusta Armory), serving on different committees and became chair of the Futurama Scholarship Committee from the mid 1970’s to early 1980’s. After her presidency of BPW/Maine, Jeanne contributed time and effort to establishing the BPW/Maine Futurama Foundation in 1987 to provide an ongoing endowment for scholarships. Jeanne served as a founding trustee and was president of the Futurama Foundation for several years until her death. The Jeanne L. Hammond Memorial Scholarship was established in her memory.
The National Women’s Hall of Fame was established in Seneca Falls, NY in 1969. In 1990, the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame was founded by BPW/Maine and BPW/Maine Past State Presidents including Jeanne. For the Tenth Maine Women’s Hall of Fame, the BPW/Maine Futurama Foundation during Jeanne’s presidency became a co-sponsor. In her later years, Jeanne spent the winters in southern California, but always returned to Maine in time for the Hall of Fame ceremony held annually in March. Returning to Maine in March allowed her to be present for more than a few spring snowstorms.
In her many roles, Jeanne worked both in the forefront and behind the scenes to support her interests in women’s issues. Her way with words, both orally and written, and her actions have influenced hundreds of people through the years. Jeanne’s graciousness, dignity and calming presence have touched the hearts of many.
