Many knew Alice Mary Robertson as outgoing, hardworking, strong-willed, and generous to a fault. Perhaps these qualities allowed her to achieve her career milestones. Alice Mary Robertson became the United State’s first Congresswoman on July 20th, 1921. She was the first woman elected into the House of Representatives, representing the state of Oklahoma.

Fun Facts

• Alice Mary Robertson was born on January 2nd, 1854, in Indian Territory.
• She took office in the House of Representatives on March 4, 1921, making her the second woman to be elected to Congress at the time.
• Coincidentally, her predecessor and successor were the same person: William W. Hastings.
• Alice Mary was also 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.
• She was a teacher, took great joy in social work, and specialized in Native American rights.
• Until Mary Fallin was elected to Congress in 2006, Alice Robertson was the only woman elected to Congress from Oklahoma.
• Robertson was a Republican who failed to secure a seat in the 68th Congress after running for re-election.
• She, however, was the first woman to win against an incumbent representative.
• Alice Robertson died on July 1, 1931, at 77.