National Women's History Month - Rhoda Fox Graves

After the 19th Amendment was passed and women had the right to vote, the next logical step was for them to secure their place in the political process by campaigning for public office. It wasn't easy; men viewed women in a more passive political role. Voting was one thing, but holding an office was an entirely different matter.

Rhoda Fox Graves' start in politics began with her work to get women the right to vote. In 1920, with the passage of the 19th Amendment, she became active in politics. She was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1924 and served there until 1932. In her first campaign for the Assembly, her opponent in the primary, Frank L. Scott, is reported to have boasted, "Anybody can beat a woman." (Apparently "anybody" didn't include a man named Frank L. Scott!) Her victory was looked upon as a triumph for women's rights, especially since the county she represented was one of the last in the state of New York to accept women's suffrage. Former Assemblyman Grant Daniels stated, "Because of her conquest of the initial resistance to women in politics, the cause of women's rights had been greatly advanced."

She won a seat in the Senate in 1934 as a "clean candidate" in the wake of a scandal about the incumbent's connection with a large power utility. She worked for the introduction of women jurors and for the development of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Power project.

Rhoda Fox Graves was the first woman to become Vice President of the St. Lawrence County Republican Committee. She was the first woman to be elected from a northern county to the legislature and head a Senate Standing Committee (Agriculture).

She served for 14 years in the Senate, retiring in 1948. She died two years later.


And, hey! My latest installment of All's Fair is up at Indulgence. Go on over for a free read!

Also, mark your calendars--I'm being all temptin' and torrid tomorrow at Whiskey Creek Press Torrid's blog. Stop by for a visit. I'll have a sneak peak at Chocolate-Covered Werewolves, my story in the April release Spring Flings Anthology.