Josephine Corliss Preston was born to John Wesley and Josephine (Kinney) Corliss the 26th of May 1873 in Fergus Falls, MN. She attended public schools in the area and attended one year at Carleton College in Northfield, MN. She continued to take classes while she taught school. She taught 6 terms in rural schools in MN before coming to Washington State in 1892. In 1893, Josephine Corliss met and married Herbert P. Preston in Waitsburg, Walla Walla County, Washington. Herbert P. Preston was a son of W.G. Preston, one of Waitsburg's pioneers and philanthropists. Mrs. Preston taught primary and high school in the Waitsburg area for 4 years. Beginning in 1896, she spent 7 years in the city schools of Walla Walla, WA. February 1904 the position of Asst. County Superintendent was created in Walla Walla and Mrs. Preston was asked to fill the position, which she did until Feb. 1907. She was then appointed the County Superintendent to fill out the unexpired term of the former Superintendent. In 1908 she won the election for County Superintendent on the Republican ticket. She was elected to a second term in 1910 with no opposition. Mrs. Preston won the Republican primary in 1912 to run for the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. She ran against another woman and won the election to become the first woman Superintendent in the State of Washington. She took office in 1913 and held the position until 1928. She was known for the idea of "teacher's cottages" for rural teachers of the State so the teachers wouldn't have to room with various families while teaching. Mrs. Preston became the President of the National Education Association during her tenure as Superintendent of Public Instruction.
From the description of Mrs. Josephine C. Preston's scrapbook of newspaper clippings, 1912-1920 bulk 1916-1919. (Washington State Library, Office of Secretary of State). WorldCat record id: 164327356
