Immigrant of the Day: Elizabeth Furse (Born in Kenya)

Elizabeth Furse (born October 13, 1936) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1993 -99), representing the 1st District of Oregon.

Furse was born in Nairobi, Kenya, to British parents, and grew up in South Africa. She was the first person born in Africa to win election to the U.S. Congress.

Inspired by her mother, Furse became an anti-apartheid activist in 1951 in South Africa. She moved to England in 1956, before eventually moving to Los Angeles, California. While in Los Angeles, she became involved in a women’s self-help project in South Central L.A. and with Cesar Chavez’s United Farm Workers Union. Moving to Seattle, Washington in 1968, she became involved in Native American causes.

Furse became a U.S. citizen in 1972. After graduating from Evergreen State College, she settled in the Portland, where she attended, but did not graduate from Northwestern School of Law. In 1986, Furse co-founded the Portland-based Oregon Peace Institute, establishing a mission to develop and disseminate conflict resolution curriculum in Oregon schools.

Furse was elected to Congress in 1992. In 1994, she won reelection by 301 votes. Two years later, she won 52% of the vote. Furse declined to seek reelection in 1998.

Since retiring from Congress in 1999, she has served as Director of the Institute for Tribal Government at Portland State University. In addition, she co-owns Oregon-based Helvetia Vineyards with her husband.

KJ