Wyoming History – Sharing History

On January 5, 1925, Nellie Tayloe Ross was inaugurated as the Governor of Wyoming, making her the first female to hold the office in the history of the United States. After her term as Governor, Ross spent the rest of her career in politics, becoming a director for the National Democratic Committee and the Director of the U.S. Mint. Her ambition and desire to do good is still an inspiration for women in politics today.

Nellie Tayloe Ross was born and raised in Missouri and attended a teaching college before teaching kindergarten. She met William Ross, a lawyer, and after their marriage, the two moved to Cheyenne. William ran for Governor of Wyoming in 1922 and won. The two moved into the Governor’s Mansion with their three sons. Almost two years later, two months before William was slated to run for reelection, he passed away suddenly from appendicitis.

Upon his death, the Democratic Party of Wyoming approached Nellie about running in her husband’s place. She did so, won, and was inaugurated in January 1925. For her first term, Nellie outlined 11 proposals she wanted the state legislature to pass, including giving state loans to farmers and ranchers, requiring budgets for cities and counties, designating more funds to the state university, and earmarking industrial jobs for women. She was able to get five of her 11 proposals passed. Ross ran for reelection in 1926 but did not win.

In 1932, Ross was given the job as Director of the Women’s Division of the National Democratic Committee. As such, she had a major hand in the campaign of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected that year. Shortly after his election, Roosevelt gave Nellie the job as Director of the U.S. Mint. She served as director for 20 years. Her outlook on politics throughout her career is perhaps best summarized in a quote she gave to the New York Times in 1925: “Men and women, we are all alike citizens, moved by the same love of country and entertaining the hopes and fears for its future. Conditions that affect one, affect all. Just as in the family the prosperity of the group is reflected upon each of its members, so it is in the State, and in so far as our activities promote the general welfare, in exactly so far do they promote that of both men and women. Both have the same responsibilities, and there is no plea for good citizenship that cannot and should not be made to both alike.”

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Tag: Wyoming History

The First Female Governor