Nettie B. C. Depp
Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky
Marker Inscription
Nettie B. C. Depp (1874-1932). The first female public official in Barren Co., she was elected in 1913, seven years before women were allowed to vote. She was Barren Co. schools superintendent from 1914-1917. Instrumental in unifying local schools to create county’s first 4-year high school, housed in former Liberty College, Glasgow. (Reverse) During her time as superintendent, she introduced a uniform curricula for all schools, improved & repaired local one-room schools, and built seven new school houses. She was later principal at Cave City School until 1923. She was asked to run for re-election as superintendent, but declined. Taught school in Scottsville from 1923-31. Presented by Glasgow B&PW Club
Erected by Kentucky Historical Society
The Story
Elected in 1913—seven years before women could vote—Nettie B. C. Depp became the first female public official in Barren County, serving as schools superintendent from 1914 to 1917. She introduced a uniform curriculum, repaired the county's one-room schools, built seven new schoolhouses, and helped unify local schools into the county's first four-year high school. She continued teaching into the 1930s, declining a chance to run again for superintendent.
Why it matters
Depp's election before suffrage shows how women exercised public leadership through education even before winning the ballot, quietly reshaping the schools of rural America.
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Related people
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Themes & tags
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