Harvat, Emma J. (Emma Julia), 1870-1949

Emma Julia Harvat (April 24, 1870 - May 30, 1949) was an American businesswoman and politician. She notably served as the first female mayor of Iowa City, Iowa from 1923 to 1925, the first woman to be elected leader of a United States municipality with a population exceeding 10,000.

Born in Iowa City, she attended the Iowa City Academy and Williams Commercial College, studying business, an unusual field for the time for women. Following her studies, Emma worked at the Lee Welch bookstore as a clerk. By 1902 Emma had accumulated enough savings to buy the shares of John Ries of the Lee and Ries bookstore, and owned the entire operation in another two years. Selling the store for a profit, she moved to Kirksville, Missouri, where she bought and turned around a failing bookstore, going on to buy and sell other businesses in Kirksville and surrounding towns. At the age of 43 Emma was financially secure and she returned to Iowa City to retire.

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