Alice Mary Robertson

Early Life and Education

Alice Mary Robertson was an American educator, social worker, government official, and politician. Roberston was popularly known to hold the distinction of being the second woman elected to the United States Congress and the first from Oklahoma.

Alice Mary Robertson was born in Tullahassee, Indian Territory, on January 12, 1854 to missionary parents Ann Eliza (née Worcester) and William Schenck Robertson. Robertson was raised by missionary parents who worked closely with the Creek Nation. As Creek Nation workers, they translated many works into creek language including the Bible.

As a child, she was educated under the supervision of her parents before she started her formal education. She later attended Elmira College, in Elmira, New York.

Career

Robertson started her career as a clerk working in the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in Washington, D.C. Immersed in Creek language and culture from a young age, she returned home to become a teacher at the Tullahassee Mission School. Robertson also taught at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, from 1880 to 1882.

With solid teaching experiences, Robertson established the Nuyaka Mission, a school dedicated to providing education for Native American girls. Robertson ardently advocated for the rights and well-being of Native Americans, actively opposing the allotment policy that aimed to divide tribal lands into individual plots.

Due to the cause she believes and fights for, Robertson was appointed by the BIA as the first government supervisor of Creek Indian schools. She also served as the United States postmistress of Muskogee, Oklahoma, under the appointment of President Theodore Roosevelt.

Thereby making her the first woman postmaster of a Class A post office. Robertson was a selfless person. During World War 1, she provided canteen service to local troops, which led to the start of Muskogee Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Politics

As time went by, Robertson became more involved in politics. She remarkably made history in 1921 by running and winning for the U.S House of Representative as a Republican candidate.

In a stunning victory, she defeated the incumbent Democrat, William W. Hastings, who also hailed from Creek descent. Notably, she became the first woman to defeat an incumbent congressman and remained the sole female representative from Oklahoma until 1986.

Throughout her tenure as a congresswoman, Robertson remained committed to championing the causes of Native Americans, women, and children. Her unwavering dedication to social justice left an indelible mark on American history.

Robertson was unsuccessful in her attempt to be re-elected in 1922, as Hastings emerged victorious and regained his seat. Following her defeat, she returned to Oklahoma and continued her career as an educator and social worker.

Death

In later years, Robertson was appointed by President Warren G. Harding as a welfare worker at Veterans Hospital Number 90 at Muskogee. She also devoted her life to other hobbies and passions such running a dairy farm and owning a cafe. Unfortunately, her home and cafe were burnt down as a retaliation by her opponents for her votes in Congress.

Sadly, Robertson passed away at the age of 77 in Muskogee, Oklahoma in 1931.