Ross, Nellie Tayloe, 1876-1977

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Nellie Davis Tayloe Ross (November 29, 1876 – December 19, 1977) was an American politician, the 14th governor of Wyoming from 1925 to 1927 and director of the United States Mint from 1933 to 1953. She was the first woman to be sworn in as governor of a U.S. state, and remains the only woman to have served as governor of Wyoming.

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri she lived in Miltonvale, Kansas and Omaha, Nebraska before moving to Cheyenne, Wyoming with her husband, lawyer William Bradford Ross, whom she married in 1902.

After many unsuccessful attempts running for office, William B. Ross was elected governor of Wyoming in 1922 and served from January 1923 to his death in October 1924. Ross succeeded her late husband's successor Frank Lucas as governor when she won the special election in November 1924, becoming the first female American governor on January 5, 1925. She was a staunch supporter of Prohibition during the 1920s. She lost re-election in 1926 but remained an active member of the Democratic Party.

In 1933, Ross became the first female Director of the United States Mint. Despite initial mistrust, she forged a strong bond with Mary Margaret O'Reilly, the Assistant Director of the Mint and one of the United States' highest-ranking female civil servants of her time. Ross served five terms as Director, retiring in 1953. During her later years, she wrote for various women's magazines and traveled. Ross died in Washington, D.C., at the age of 101.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Beach, Cora M. (Cora May), 1878-1968. Letters, 1924-1928. Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Mint. 1792 - 2007. Correspondence Relating to the Lincoln One-Cent Coin Design National Archives at Philadelphia
referencedIn Records of the Forest Service, 1870 - 2008. Historical Files, 1901 - 1962 National Archives at Denver
referencedIn Matthew J. Connelly White House Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1952. Presidential Appointments Files, 4/1945 - 12/1952 Harry S. Truman Library
referencedIn White, Sue Shelton, 1887-1943. Papers, 1898-1963 (inclusive), 1909-1963 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Ruth H. Loomis papers, 1925-1989 Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
referencedIn Records of the National Park Service, 1785 - 2006. National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013 - 2017 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
referencedIn Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. Papers, 1833-1975 (bulk: 1884-1972) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Freeborn, Julia. Hon. Nellie Tayloe Ross / Julia Freeborn. University of Wyoming, William R. Coe Library
referencedIn Wilkins, Edness Kimball, d. 1980. Papers, 1868-1979. Wyoming, State Archives and Historical Department
referencedIn George Tayloe Ross papers, 1929-1970 Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
referencedIn Edness Kimball Wilkins Papers, 1868 - 1979 Wyoming State Archives
referencedIn Papers, 1898, 1909-1963 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. Papers: Series III-IV, 1900-1972 (inclusive) [microform]. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Nellie Tayloe Ross Papers, 1880s-1998 Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
referencedIn Records of the First Lady's Office (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Christine Macy's Files, 1998 - 1999 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Carl L. Sackett Papers, 1871 - 1971 Wyoming State Archives
referencedIn Henry Morgenthau, Jr. Papers. 1866 - 1960. Diaries of Henry Morgenthau, Jr., 4/27/1933 - 7/21/1945 Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf Ross, Nellie Tayloe, 1876-1977. Nellie Tayloe Ross papers, 1885-1998, (bulk 1924-1977). Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
referencedIn Records of the National Park Service. 1785 - 2006. Grand Teton National Park Commemorative Posters, 2000 - 2000 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Gould, Lewis L. Gubernatorial spouses collection, 1908-1971. University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Ross, George Tayloe. George Tayloe Ross papers, 1929-1970. Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
referencedIn Sackett, Carl L., 1876-1972. Carl L. Sackett collection, 1871-1971 (bulk 1920-1965). Wyoming, State Archives and Historical Department
referencedIn Loomis, Ruth H. Ruth H. Loomis papers, 1925-1989. Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
referencedIn Averitt, Kaye,. Kaye Averitt collection, 1905-1977. Western Michigan University, Dwight B. Waldo Library
referencedIn Scheer, Teva J., 1950-. Teva J. Scheer papers, 1941-2005. Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
Relation Name
associatedWith Averitt, Kaye, person
associatedWith Beach, Cora M. (Cora May), 1878-1968. person
associatedWith Emma (Guffey) Miller, 1874-1970 person
associatedWith Freeborn, Julia. person
associatedWith Loomis, Ruth H. person
associatedWith Loomis, Ruth H. person
associatedWith Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. person
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
parentOf Ross, George Tayloe person
parentOf Ross, George Tayloe. person
spouseOf Ross, William Bradford person
spouseOf Ross, William Bradford. person
associatedWith Sackett, Carl L., 1876-1972. person
associatedWith Scheer, Teva J., 1950- person
associatedWith SUE SHELTON WHITE, 1887-1943 person
leaderOf United States Mint. corporateBody
associatedWith White, Sue Shelton, 1887-1943. person
associatedWith Wilkins, Edness Kimball, d. 1980. person
associatedWith Wyoming. Governor (1923-1924 : Ross) corporateBody
associatedWith Wyoming. Governor (1925-1927 : Ross) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Miltonvale KS US
Cheyenne WY US
Omaha NE US
Saint Joseph MO US
District of Columbia DC US
Subject
Politics, Practical
Politics, Practical
Occupation
Teachers
Governors
Governors' spouses
Politicians
Activity

Person

Birth 1876-11-29

Death 1977-12-19

Female

Americans

English

Information

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