Wednesday, May 20
The Governor Lady (Nellie Tayloe Ross)
In January 1925, Nellie Tayloe Ross became Wyoming’s governor, the first woman, and so far the only woman, to serve in that office. She also was the first woman in the country to serve as a state’s governor, although a Texas woman became her state’s governor shortly after Nellie’s inauguration.
Nellie’s husband, William Bradford Ross, served as Wyoming’s governor from 1923 until his untimely death in early October 1924. An election was held the following month to select someone to serve the final two years of his term. Nellie ran and won handily. However, when she ran for reelection she lost. In 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt appointed her as Director of the U.S. Mint, an office she held for twenty years. She died in 1977 at the age of 101.
This free program is presented by Rick Ewig, a former instructor of public history and associate director of the University of Wyoming’s American Heritage Center. Ewig holds a master’s degree in history from the University of Wyoming. He is the past editor of the state historic journal, Annals of Wyoming, and past president of the Wyoming Historical Society.
WHEN: 5 p.m., Wednesday, May 20
WHERE: Carriage House at Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum, 100 Fort Street, Buffalo WY 82834
