Digital Bob Archive

Women became eligible to run for the Territorial Legislature in 1914, but it was not until 22 years later, after 17 election campaigns by 14 different women, that one of them won a seat in the House of Representatives.

The first woman to file for the Alaska Legislature was Mary A.C. Gibson, a Ketchikan public stenographer. She campaigned throughout Southeastern Alaska for a House seat, on an interesting platform:

1. Complete enfranchisement of women.

2. Legislation to prevent further location of fish traps in Alaska waters and removal of those now located.

3. Legislation obliging a husband to support his wife and children.

4. A law requiring a residence of six months to qualify for the right to fish Alaskan waters.

5. Legislation making Southeastern Alaska, from Dixon Entrance to Mount St.
Elias, a separate territory.

6. A law prohibiting government employees from engaging in other business, on penalty of removal.

Mrs. Gibson ran as an Independent, one of 17 First Division candidates for the four House seats, and came in 10th. She beat all four Progressive Democrat candidates and three of the four Socialists.

The second woman candidate for the House was Grace V. Bishop of Juneau in 1918. She filed as a Democrat and missed nomination in the Primary by 171 votes.

Mrs. Katheryn Kittilsen, wife of a Nome doctor, ran in 1922, won a Republican nomination but lost the seat to fellow Republican Dick Raelson by three votes.

In 1926 there were two women candidates: Jetta H. Gray of Juneau, Republican, and Mrs. Omie McCarthy of Nome, Independent. Both failed of nomination. Nome fielded two Republican women in 1928: Mrs. George Maynard, wife of the local newspaper publisher, and Dr. Lemoinie von Neusebach Zesch, a dentist. Neither made it past the Primary.

Miss Emily Morgan of Nome and Florence Nafsted of Cordova, both Republicans, ran unsuccessfully in 1932. Florence Nafsted was to again fail of election in 1934 and 1936. Crystal Snow Jenne, Juneau Democrat, waged unsuccessful campaigns in 1934 and 1936, although in the 1936 Primary she outpolled such later political luminaries as Frank Peratrovich and Bob Ellis. Other women candidates in 1936 were Mrs. Garnet Martin, Nome Democrat; Catherine Palm, Fairbanks Democrat; Juanita Anderson, Seldovia Independent; and Nell Scott, Seldovia Democrat.

It was Nell Scott who finally won a seat and in 1937 became the first woman to sit in the Alaska Legislature.