Alice Robertson

Alice Robertson was an American educator, civil servant, and politician who became a notable figure in the history of Oklahoma and the United States Congress. A member of the Republican Party, she served as the U.S. Representative from Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district from 1921 to 1923, gaining distinction as the second woman elected to Congress and the first to defeat an incumbent congressman. Prior to her political career, she was a dedicated educator and administrator within the Bureau of Indian Affairs and a prominent civic leader, known for her work with soldiers during World War I. Her tenure in the House of Representatives was marked by a conservative, pro-business stance and notable opposition to feminist causes, including the Sheppard–Towner Act.

Early life and education

Born at the Tullahassee Mission in the Muscogee Nation of the Indian Territory, she was the daughter of William Schenck Robertson and Ann Eliza Worcester Robertson, both Presbyterian missionaries. Her maternal grandfather was Samuel Austin Worcester, a famed missionary and printer who defended Cherokee rights before the Supreme Court in Worcester v. Georgia. Raised in a bilingual environment speaking both English and the Muscogee language, she was deeply influenced by her family's commitment to education and service. She pursued her own education in the Northeastern United States, graduating from Elmira College in New York in 1873, an experience that broadened her perspectives before she returned to the Indian Territory.

Career and public service

Her professional life began in education and service to the federal government. She worked as a clerk in the Bureau of Indian Affairs office in Washington, D.C., and later served as the superintendent of the Henry Kendall College Indian Girls’ School in Muskogee. A strong advocate for practical education, she later founded the Muskogee Indian Boarding School and served as its postmistress. During World War I, she gained national prominence for her volunteer work, operating a large canteen for soldiers passing through Muskogee and serving as the chairwoman of the local Council of Defense. This civic leadership, combined with her deep roots in the community, established the foundation for her subsequent political career.

U.S. House of Representatives (1921–1923)

In the 1920 election, she successfully challenged Democratic incumbent William W. Hastings to become the first woman elected to Congress from Oklahoma. Her single term in the 67th United States Congress was characterized by a staunchly conservative and independent record. She was the first woman to preside over a session of the House of Representatives and was a firm supporter of the policies of President Warren G. Harding. Notably, she opposed several measures popular with the burgeoning women's movement, voting against the Sheppard–Towner Act, which provided funding for maternal and infant care, and against the creation of the Women's Bureau. Her pro-business votes, including support for the Fordney–McCumber Tariff, and her opposition to bonuses for veterans contributed to her defeat by Hastings in the 1922 election.

Later life and death

After leaving Congress, she remained active in public affairs but did not seek federal office again. She returned to Muskogee and continued her involvement with civic organizations. In her final years, she faced financial difficulties and was appointed as a clerk at the Muskogee Veterans Hospital through the patronage of her former congressional colleague, Senator John W. Harreld. She died on July 1, 1931, in Muskogee and was interred in the city's Greenhill Cemetery.

Legacy and honors

Her legacy is that of a pioneering but politically complex figure. As the second woman to serve in the U.S. House and the first from Oklahoma, she broke significant gender barriers in American politics. Her life is commemorated by a statue in the Oklahoma State Capitol and the Alice Robertson Middle School in Muskogee is named in her honor. Despite her opposition to certain feminist legislative priorities, her career is studied as an important chapter in the early political history of women in the United States and the development of Oklahoma.

Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma Category:American women in politics Category:People from Muskogee, Oklahoma