Dorothy Shoemaker McDiarmid (October 22, 1906 – June 8, 1994) was a teacher, real estate broker, Quaker activist, and Virginia legislator for nearly 26 years.

In 1932, Dorothy married fellow Swarthmore graduate Norman Hugh ("Mac") McDiarmid (1907–1993), and their marriage lasted 61 years until his death.

In 1959, she ran for the general assembly (a part-time position) to oppose the Byrd Organization's plan of Massive Resistance to the United States Supreme Court decisions in Brown v. Board of Education, which included a Prince Edward County, Virginia case.

McDiarmid championed public schools, as well as improved services for children and women and distribution of state budget monies according to population.

[5] McDiarmid succeeded in adding kindergarten to the public school schedule, as well as helping create George Mason University and five community colleges in Northern Virginia.

[10] After McDiarmid announced her retirement in 1989, David A. Battaglia won the Democratic primary to succeed her, but lost to Republican real estate developer Richard L. Fisher in the November general election.

[11] McDiarmid died of a heart attack at Inova Fairfax Hospital on June 9, 1994, within a year after her beloved husband Mac's death, though survived by their children and grandchildren.