Cora Reynolds Anderson
American politician (1882–1950)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cora Reynolds Anderson (April 10, 1882 – March 11, 1950) was an American politician who served in the Michigan House of Representatives as a member of the Republican Party. She was the first woman and Native American elected to the Michigan House of Representatives.
Cora Reynolds Anderson | |
|---|---|
Anderson in 1924 | |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the Iron County district | |
| In office 1925–1926 | |
| Preceded by | Patrick H. O'Brien[1] |
| Succeeded by | William C. Birk[2] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 10, 1882 L'Anse, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | April 11, 1950 (aged 68) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Charles Harold Anderson |
Early life
Cora Reynolds Anderson was born on April 10, 1882, in L'Anse, Michigan, to Robert B. Reynolds and Madeline Bachand. She was of English, French, and Chippewa descent.[3] She was a member of the first graduating class of L'Anse High School.[4] In 1903, she married Charles Harold Anderson.[5]
Michigan House of Representatives
Elections
In 1924, Anderson won the Republican nomination in the Iron County district and won in the general election without opposition to succeed Patrick H. O'Brien.[6][1] She was the first woman and Native American to serve in the Michigan House of Representatives.[7][3] Anderson was inaugurated on January 7, 1925.[3]
On April 28, 1926, Anderson announced at a meeting of the Michigan Federation of Republican Women's clubs that she would seek reelection.[8] During the campaigned she urged other women to seek election to political offices.[9] On July 28, she filed to renomination as the Republican candidate, but was defeated in the primary by William C. Birk.[10][11] No other women were nominated by the Republican Party during the 1926 elections.[12] In the general election Birk won and Anderson left office on January 7, 1925.[3]
Tenure
In 1925, Speaker Fred B. Wells appointed Anderson as chair of the committee on the industrial school for girls at Adrian, Michigan.[13] During the fifty-third session of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1925 to 1926 she served on the Agriculture, Insurance, and Northern State Normal School committees.[3]
On September 9, 1925, Anderson was selected to serve as vice president of the Republican Women's Federation of Michigan.[14] From January 5 to 6, 1926, she served as a delegate, as one of the first women to do so, representing Michigan at the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence tidewater congress.[15]
Later life and legacy
Anderson died on March 11, 1950, in Pentland Township, Michigan.[3][4]
On December 19, 2000, the Anderson House Office Building (the office building for Michigan state House members) was named in her honor.[16] In 2001, she was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.[17] In 2022, a bill to name the post office located at 404 US-41 North in Baraga County, Michigan the “Cora Reynolds Anderson Post Office” was signed into law.[18][19]
See also
- Eva McCall Hamilton — first woman to serve in the Michigan Senate[20]
- List of Native American politicians
