Susanna M. Salter
Argonia, Sumner County, Kansas
Marker Inscription
In honor of Mrs. Susanna Madora Salter, first woman mayor in the United States. She served as Mayor of Argonia, Kansas, 1887. Born March 2, 1860
Erected by Woman's Kansas Day Club
The Story
In 1887 the town of Argonia elected Susanna Madora Salter as mayor—making the 27-year-old the first woman to hold that office anywhere in the United States. Her election came just as Kansas women had gained the right to vote in municipal contests, and it drew national attention to the place of women in public life.
Why it matters
Salter's mayoralty was a national first, an early breakthrough for women in American elected office.
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Related people
- · Susanna Madora Salter
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