Boland, Veronica Grace, 1899-1982

Veronica Grace Boland (March 18, 1899 – June 19, 1982) was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the first woman from Pennsylvania to serve in the United States Congress.

Born Veronica Grace Barrett in Scranton, Pennsylvania, she graduated from the Scranton Technical High School in 1918. She later married Patrick J. Boland, a carpenter and building contractor. After being elected to Scranton’s city council and school board and serving as Lackawanna County commissioner from 1915 to 1919, Patrick Boland was elected to the U.S. House as the nominee of the Republican, Democratic, and Labor parties, choosing to caucus with the Democrats. Rising to the position of Democratic Whip, he was praised for his ability to determine how a vote would come out quickly and accurately.

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