Nolan, Mae Ella, 1886-1973

Mae Ella Nolan (September 20, 1886 – July 9, 1973) was an American politician who became the fourth woman to serve in the United States Congress, the first woman elected to Congress from California, the first woman to chair a Congressional committee, the first Catholic woman to hold a seat in the House, and first to fill the seat left vacant by her husband's death.

Born Mae Ella Hunt in San Francisco, she attended the public schools in San Francisco, St. Vincent’s Convent, and Ayers Business College of San Francisco. Mae Ella worked at a dry goods store run by her father before earning a certificate in stenography and going to work at Wells Fargo Express. In 1913 she married John I. Nolan, a former iron molder and labor activist, shortly after he was elected to the 63rd Congress (1913–1915) on the Bull Moose Party ticket. He was elected unopposed to a sixth term in November 1922 but died weeks after the election. The Union Labor Party quickly nominated Mae Ella Nolan to succeed her husband. She also received the support of the executive committee of the California Women’s Republican League. On January 23, 1923, she was elected as a Republican to the remaining few weeks of the 67th Congress; on that same day, voters also sent Nolan to the full term in the 68th Congress, set to commence on March 4, 1923.

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