Those who knew Alice Mary Robertson often described her as generous to a fault, fiercely strong-willed, hardworking, and deeply outgoing. It's likely that this remarkable combination of traits paved the way for the extraordinary career milestones she would go on to reach. On July 20th, 1921, Alice Mary Robertson made history by becoming the first Congresswoman in the United States. Representing the state of Oklahoma, she earned the distinction of being the first woman ever elected to serve in the House of Representatives.
Fun Facts
- Alice Mary Robertson was born on January 2nd, 1854, in Indian Territory.
- On March 4, 1921, she officially took office in the House of Representatives, which at that time made her the second woman to be elected to Congress.
- In a curious twist of fate, the same individual — William W. Hastings — served as both her predecessor and her successor.
- Beyond her Congressional achievement, Alice Mary broke ground in several other roles: she was America's first female postmaster of a Class A office, the first woman to preside over the American House of Representatives, and the first female clark hired at the Indian Office at the Department of the Interior.
- Teaching was among her passions, she found deep fulfillment in social work, and she developed a specialization in Native American rights.
- For decades, Alice Robertson stood alone as the only woman elected to Congress from Oklahoma — a distinction that held until Mary Fallin won her Congressional seat in 2006.
- A member of the Republican Party, Robertson sought re-election but was unable to secure a seat in the 68th Congress.
- Notably, she earned the distinction of being the first woman to defeat an incumbent representative in an election.
- Alice Robertson passed away on July 1, 1931, at the age of 77.