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
On January 20, 2021, Kamala D. Harris became the first woman, the first African American woman, the first Indian-American, the first person of Asian-American descent, and the first graduate of an HBCU to be sworn in as the Vice President of the United States of America.
In 1945, Jessie Street was the first Australian woman delegate to the United Nations.
Politician Barbara McConnell served the New Jersey state government for more than 30 years as a political figure, business executive, and public policy adviser.
Evelyn Wynona Moore Lipman was the first African American woman elected to serve on the New Jersey State Senate.
Madaline Worthy Williams became New Jersey’s first black assemblywoman in 1958.