Artifact Details
Eloise Page was the first female Chief of Station-the highest job for case officers abroad.
Eloise Page began her intelligence career in 1942 as a secretary to OSS chief William Donovan. A Virginia native, she transferred to the newly formed CIA in 1947 and rose steadily through its ranks – while never giving up her Southern drawl or ladylike white gloves. Page became the CIA’s first female chief of a flagship station and, as a senior executive, the first female head of a major component of the Intelligence Community.
Video
The Debrief: Behind the Artifact - Eloise Page
This is CIA trailblazer Eloise Page who served in multiple positions in the Directorate of Operations during her 4 decade career here at CIA.
Miss Page started her career as an administrative assistant in the office of General Donovan, which soon became the Office of Strategic Services. During World War 2 she served in the counter intelligence area within the OSS.
After World War 2 she was sent to Brussels to run post war operations there. When the CIA was created in 1947 Miss Page joined the Science and Technology division where she ran technical requirements and scientific operations for the DO through the 1950’s and in 1979 Miss Page became the first female Chief of Station.
Imagine that, for 32 years the CIA had stations all over the globe, but only men held the highest position in country, Chief of Station. That is until Eloise Page came in and broke through that glass ceiling with her sophisticated white gloves, a staple that she wore throughout most of her agency career.