Cora Bussey Hillis

Biography

Cora Bussey Hillis devoted her life to the wellbeing of children, becoming a powerful advocate for juvenile justice and child welfare in Iowa. Through her leadership with civic and religious organizations, she helped establish the state’s first juvenile court and later the Iowa child welfare department, insisting that every child deserved compassion, education, and protection.

Her tireless work brought together physicians, educators, and legislators, and the programs she championed continued to grow after her death in 1924. Her memory rests at Woodland Cemetery, where generations of families recall her courage in giving young lives a firmer foundation.