Notable Oregon Women Firsts

With an average 15% of women in leadership across all sectors, we know increasing women’s involvement will create lasting and necessary change. We envision an Oregon where women have equal representation in leadership positions and lead confidently in their chosen fields. The Center aims to be an advocate, an authority, and a resource that provides women with the knowledge and networks needed to take on leadership roles throughout Oregon. Below are a few trailblazers that led the way.

"If anyone's rights are at risk, then each of us is at risk." - Gov. Barbara Roberts

Black and white photo of Lola Baldwin

LOLA BALDWIN

First Policewoman in Oregon (1908)

Born 1860, Died 1957

SANDRA MCDONAUGH

First Woman Portland Business Alliance President (2004)

ATTORNEY GENERAL ROSENBLUM

First Woman Attorney General of Oregon (2012)

HOUSE SPEAKER TINA KOTEK

First Openly Gay Speaker of a State House in the U.S. (2012)

REP. JESSICA VEGA PETERSON

First Latina in Oregon House (2012)

Black and white photo of Carolyn Shelton

CAROLYN SHELTON

First Woman Oregon Governor (1909)

(stand in for 3 days in 1909)

Black and white image of Kathryn Clark

SENATOR KATHRYN CLARKE

First Woman State Senator (1915)

Black and white photo of Judith Ramaley

JUDITH RAMALEY

First Oregon Woman University President (1990)

Photo of Virpi Wikman in front of Oregon Capitol building

VIRPI LEA WIKMAN

First Woman to Have a Multnomah County Building Named For Her (1982)

Black and white image of Maurine Neuburger

MAURINE NEUBERGER

First Woman Elected to U.S. Senate from Oregon (1960)

Avel Gordly

First African American Woman Elected to the Oregon State Senate (1996)

Magazine clip of Dorothy Ann Hobson

DOROTHY ANNE HOBSON

First Woman Editor of the Valsetz Star (1937)