Anna Johnson Gates: Difference between revisions

Anna Johnson Gates
Anna Johnson Gates
Born	January 25, 1889
Died	January 12, 1939 (aged 49)
Nationality	American
Occupation(s)	Politician, Suffragist
Known for	first woman elected to the West Virginia Legislature

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Anna Johnson Gates (January 25, 1889 - January 12, 1939) was an American suffragist and progressive era politician who was the first woman elected to the West Virginia Legislature.

She married Harry Gates, and after his death, she married Tom Gates in 1915.^[1]

Women's civic clubs

Gates was active in the General Federation of Women's Clubs. In the 1920s, she was the founder of the Charleston Business and Professional Women's Club, and the Women's Democratic Executive Committee.^[1]

Political career

Gates began her political career by working with suffrage organizations in Kanawha County, distinguishing herself as an activist and gaining respect in the community. She remained politically active after women gained the right to vote and established herself as a successful voice for the Democratic Party in her area of West Virginia. She served as associate chairman of the Democratic executive committee of Kanawha County in 1920.^[1] In July 1922, Gates announced her candidacy for a seat in the West Virginia House of Delegates. Her election would make her the first women to hold a seat in the West Virginia Legislator.^[2]

West Virginia legislator

Gates was a trailblazer with her accomplishments as a female legislator in West Virginia in the 1920s.^[1] During her first speech as a member of the West Virginia Legislature, Gates commented, “Women in most states are awakening to their political responsibilities. The women do not urge the election of women as women, but believe women should be represented in office, and only ask for cooperation.” ^[3]

While in the legislature, Gates served as the Chairperson of the Committee on Arts, Science and General Improvements. She also was on the prohibition and temperance, education, humane institution and public buildings, and medicine and sanitation committees.^[1]^[3]

Later community service

Although Gates did not seek reelection for her seat in the Legislature, she continued to remain politically active and served on the city and county Democratic committees. She was a delegate to the 1932 National Democratic Convention in Chicago when Franklin D. Roosevelt was nominated as the candidate for President of the United States.^[1]

Red Cross

Gates volunteered for the Red Cross during World War II, and she was the secretary of Charleston Board of Affairs.^[1]

Death and legacy

Gates died at age 49 after an illness of more than three years after receiving treatment at the Mayo Clinic at Rochester, MN. She is buried in Spring Hill cemetery.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Mrs. Tom Gates Dies in Hospital; First Woman Legislator's Funeral to Be Held Tomorrow". Charleston Gazette. Charleston, West Virginia. January 13, 1939. Retrieved 28 March 2010 – via the Archives and History of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History.
^ "Normalcy Sick, Mrs. Gates Will Run for House; Charleston Woman Seeks to Represent Local District In Legislature; Favors "Back to Wilsonism"". Charleston Gazette. Charleston, West Virginia. July 16, 1922. Retrieved 28 March 2010 – via the Archives and History of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History.
^ ^a ^b Jett, Jaelyn (January 23, 2008). "A Bold Few Blaze the Legislative Trail For Many". Wrap-up. XIX (2). Charleston, WV: West Virginia Legislature. Retrieved 15 March 2010.

[Mrs._Tom_Gates_Dies_in_Hospital-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Mrs. Tom Gates Dies in Hospital; First Woman Legislator's Funeral to Be Held Tomorrow". Charleston Gazette. Charleston, West Virginia. January 13, 1939. Retrieved 28 March 2010 – via the Archives and History of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History.

[Normalcy_Sick,_Mrs._Gates_Will_Run_for_House-2] "Normalcy Sick, Mrs. Gates Will Run for House; Charleston Woman Seeks to Represent Local District In Legislature; Favors "Back to Wilsonism"". Charleston Gazette. Charleston, West Virginia. July 16, 1922. Retrieved 28 March 2010 – via the Archives and History of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History.

[Wrap-up-3] Jett, Jaelyn (January 23, 2008). "A Bold Few Blaze the Legislative Trail For Many". Wrap-up. XIX (2). Charleston, WV: West Virginia Legislature. Retrieved 15 March 2010.

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[2]

[3]

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+{{short description|American politician}}
-'''Anna Johnson Gates''' was a [[suffragist]] and [[progressive era]] politician who was the first woman elected to the [[West Virginia Legislature]]. Gates was elected in 1922 as a delegate from Kanawha County, and served for one term. <ref name="Wrap-up ">{{cite journal|last=Jett|first=Jaelyn|date=January 23, 2008 |title=A Bold Few Blaze the Legislative Trail For Many|journal=Wrap-up |publisher=West Virginia Legislature|location=Charleston, WV|volume=XIX|issue=2|url=http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Wrapup/2008/issue_2/wrapup.cfm|accessdate=15 March 2010}}</ref>
+{{Infobox person
-==Family and early life==
+| name          = Anna Johnson Gates
-Anna Johnson, daughter of James T. and Isabel Spruce Johnson, was born in [[East Bank, West Virginia]] on January 25, 1889. Anna attended Montgomery County public schools, and a business school in [[Parkersburg, West Virginia]].
+| image         = Anna Johnson Gates.jpg
+| alt           =
+| caption       =
+| birth_name    =
+| birth_date     = {{birth date|1889|1|25|mf=y}}
+| birth_place    =
+| death_date     = {{death date and age|1939|1|12|1889|1|25|mf=y}}
+| death_place   =
+| nationality   = American
+| alma_mater    =
+| other_names   =
+| occupation    = Politician, Suffragist
+| years_active  =
+| known_for     = first woman elected to the West Virginia Legislature
+| notable_works =
+| spouse        =
+}}
+'''Anna Johnson Gates''' (January 25, 1889 - January 12, 1939) was an American [[suffragist]] and [[progressive era]] politician who was the first woman elected to the [[West Virginia Legislature]].
+She married Harry Gates, and after his death, she married Tom Gates in 1915.<ref name="Mrs. Tom Gates Dies in Hospital">{{cite news|url=http://www.wvculture.org/history/women/gatesanna03.html|title=Mrs. Tom Gates Dies in Hospital; First Woman Legislator's Funeral to Be Held Tomorrow|date=January 13, 1939|work=Charleston Gazette|via=the Archives and History of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History|accessdate=28 March 2010|location=Charleston, West Virginia}}</ref>
-Anna married Tom Gates in 1915 after the death of her first husband, Harry Gates.
-==Public service==
+==Women's civic clubs==
+Gates was active in the [[General Federation of Women's Clubs]]. In the 1920s, she was the founder of the Charleston Business and Professional Women's Club, and the Women's Democratic Executive Committee.<ref name="Mrs. Tom Gates Dies in Hospital"/>
+==Political career==
-===Women's civic clubs==
+Gates began her political career by working with suffrage organizations in Kanawha County, distinguishing herself as an activist and gaining respect in the community. She remained politically active after women gained the right to vote and established herself as a successful voice for the Democratic Party in her area of West Virginia. She served as associate chairman of the Democratic executive committee of Kanawha County in 1920.<ref name="Mrs. Tom Gates Dies in Hospital"/> In July 1922, Gates announced her candidacy for a seat in the West Virginia House of Delegates. Her election would make her the first women to hold a seat in the West Virginia Legislator.<ref name="Normalcy Sick, Mrs. Gates Will Run for House">{{cite news|url=http://www.wvculture.org/HiStory/women/gatesanna01.html|title=Normalcy Sick, Mrs. Gates Will Run for House; Charleston Woman Seeks to Represent Local District In Legislature; Favors "Back to Wilsonism"|date=July 16, 1922|work=Charleston Gazette|via=the Archives and History of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History|accessdate=28 March 2010|location=Charleston, West Virginia }}</ref>
-Gates was active in the [[General Federation of Woman’s Clubs]]. In the 1920s, she was the founder of the Charleston Business and Professional Women’s Club, and the Women’s Democratic Executive Committee.
 ===West Virginia legislator===
-During her first speech as a member of the West Virginia Legislature, Gates commented, “Women in most states are awakening to their political responsibilities. The women do not urge the election of women as women, but believe women should be represented in office, and only ask for cooperation.” <ref name="Wrap-up "/>
+Gates was a trailblazer with her accomplishments as a female legislator in West Virginia in the 1920s.<ref name="Mrs. Tom Gates Dies in Hospital"/> During her first speech as a member of the West Virginia Legislature, Gates commented, “Women in most states are awakening to their political responsibilities. The women do not urge the election of women as women, but believe women should be represented in office, and only ask for cooperation.” <ref name="Wrap-up ">{{cite journal|last=Jett|first=Jaelyn|date=January 23, 2008 |title=A Bold Few Blaze the Legislative Trail For Many|journal=Wrap-up |publisher=West Virginia Legislature|location=Charleston, WV|volume=XIX|issue=2|url=http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Wrapup/2008/issue_2/wrapup.cfm|accessdate=15 March 2010}}</ref>
-While in the legislature, Gates served as the Chairperson of the Committee on Arts, Science and General Improvements. <ref name="Wrap-up "/>
+While in the legislature, Gates served as the Chairperson of the Committee on Arts, Science and General Improvements. She also was on the prohibition and temperance, education, humane institution and public buildings, and medicine and sanitation committees.<ref name="Mrs. Tom Gates Dies in Hospital"/><ref name="Wrap-up "/>
+==Later community service==
+Although Gates did not seek reelection for her seat in the Legislature, she continued to remain politically active and served on the city and county Democratic committees. She was a delegate to the 1932 National Democratic Convention in Chicago when [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] was nominated as the candidate for President of the United States.<ref name="Mrs. Tom Gates Dies in Hospital"/>
 ===Red Cross===
-Gates volunteered for the Red Cross during World War II, and she was the secretary of Charleston Board of Affairs.
+Gates volunteered for the Red Cross during World War II, and she was the secretary of Charleston Board of Affairs.<ref name="Mrs. Tom Gates Dies in Hospital"/>
 ==Death and legacy==
+Gates died at age 49 after an illness of more than three years after receiving treatment at the [[Mayo Clinic]] at [[Rochester, MN]]. She is buried in Spring Hill cemetery.<ref name="Mrs. Tom Gates Dies in Hospital"/>
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
+{{Portal bar|Biography|Politics}}
+{{Authority control}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Gates, Anna Johnson}}
+[[Category:1889 births]]
+[[Category:1939 deaths]]
+[[Category:Suffragists from West Virginia]]
+[[Category:Burials at Spring Hill Cemetery (Charleston, West Virginia)]]
+[[Category:Democratic Party members of the West Virginia House of Delegates]]
+[[Category:People from Kanawha County, West Virginia]]
+[[Category:Women state legislators in West Virginia]]
+[[Category:American Red Cross personnel]]
+[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]
+[[Category:20th-century members of the West Virginia Legislature]]