Lethia Cousins Fleming directed national campaign efforts among African American women for three Republican presidential candidates, and led the National Association of Republican Colored Women (1920) and women’s activities in Cleveland’s 11th Ward for almost a decade (1920s).
Ohio civic activist and political strategist
The first African-American woman judge in Ohio and the first to sit on the Ohio Industrial Commission, the highest state position ever held by an African-American woman at that time.
1600s duchess of Ormond and Lady Dingwall
The first practicing African American woman lawyer in Cleveland, and was also active in welfare work and politics.
Sherlie Hereford Rainey (3 Feb. 1939-7 Aug. 1992), mayor of Woodmere (1985-89), was the first African-American woman to hold a mayoral position in Cuyahoga County. Also an athlete, Rainey set an American record for the standing long jump (1958) and was National Amateur Athletic Union champion of that event for 3 years. She was elected to the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.
Margaret Laird (1861-1978) of Essex County was a leader in the women’s suffrage movement, and was one of the first two women elected to the New Jersey Assembly.
Republican Marie Muhler, of Marlboro in Monmouth County, was a founding member of the New Jersey Bi-Partisan Coalition for Women’s Appointments designed to promote the candidacies of women. She was elected in 1975 to the New Jersey State Assembly’s 11th District.
In 1986, Joan Child became the first woman Speaker of Australia’s House of Representatives.
Irish doctor, politician, and the first female Commissioned Officer in the Royal Navy