From collection Member List
A pioneering female politician, Margaret Chase Smith, Alpha, Colby College, was the first woman to serve as a U.S. Senator, the first woman to serve in both houses of congress, and the first woman to represent the state of Maine in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate. Smith is a recipient of the U.S. Air Force’s most prestigious award and was presented with 96 honorary degrees, as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award by President George H. W. Bush in 1989.
Margaret Chase Smith was born on December 14, 1897 in Skowhegan, Maine. She married Clyde Smith, a politician 21 years her senior, on May 14, 1930. Soon after, she became active in politics and was elected to the Maine Republican State Committee, which she served on from 1930-1936. When her husband was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Maine’s 2nd congressional district in 1936, Smith served as his secretary in Washington, D.C.
When her husband died in April 1940, Margaret Chase Smith ran in and won the special election to fill the remainder of his term. This made Smith the first woman elected to Congress from Maine. Three months later, she won the general election and was elected to a full two-year term in the House of Representatives in her own right. Over the next eight years, Smith was re-elected to three more terms, never receiving less than 60% of the vote.
In 1947, Smith announced her intention to run for the U.S. Senate. Facing a tough Republican primary against three well-established male candidates, Smith won primary and received more votes than her three opponents combined. In the general election in 1948, she defeated her Democratic challenger by a margin of 71% to 29% and became the first woman to represent Maine in the Senate and the first woman to have served in both houses of Congress.
In 1964, Smith ran as a candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. She was ultimately unsuccessful and did not receive the nomination, but she has the distinction of being the first woman to be placed in nomination for the presidency at a major party’s convention. When Margaret Chase Smith was ultimately defeated and left office in 1972 she was the longest-serving female Senator in history, a distinction that was not surpassed until January 5, 2011, when Senator Barbara Mikulski was sworn in for a fifth term.
Margaret Chase Smith passed away in 1995 at the age of 97.
Margaret Chase Smith was born on December 14, 1897 in Skowhegan, Maine. She married Clyde Smith, a politician 21 years her senior, on May 14, 1930. Soon after, she became active in politics and was elected to the Maine Republican State Committee, which she served on from 1930-1936. When her husband was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Maine’s 2nd congressional district in 1936, Smith served as his secretary in Washington, D.C.
When her husband died in April 1940, Margaret Chase Smith ran in and won the special election to fill the remainder of his term. This made Smith the first woman elected to Congress from Maine. Three months later, she won the general election and was elected to a full two-year term in the House of Representatives in her own right. Over the next eight years, Smith was re-elected to three more terms, never receiving less than 60% of the vote.
In 1947, Smith announced her intention to run for the U.S. Senate. Facing a tough Republican primary against three well-established male candidates, Smith won primary and received more votes than her three opponents combined. In the general election in 1948, she defeated her Democratic challenger by a margin of 71% to 29% and became the first woman to represent Maine in the Senate and the first woman to have served in both houses of Congress.
In 1964, Smith ran as a candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. She was ultimately unsuccessful and did not receive the nomination, but she has the distinction of being the first woman to be placed in nomination for the presidency at a major party’s convention. When Margaret Chase Smith was ultimately defeated and left office in 1972 she was the longest-serving female Senator in history, a distinction that was not surpassed until January 5, 2011, when Senator Barbara Mikulski was sworn in for a fifth term.
Margaret Chase Smith passed away in 1995 at the age of 97.
Related Items
Margaret Chase Smith to Phyllis Markley and Paula Williams Letter, October 17, 1989
Margaret Chase Smith,Alpha, Colby College, writes to Phyllis Harris Markley,Delta Sigma, Western Illinois University, and Paula Jackson Williams, Delta Upsilon, Missouri State University,about receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
SKIPY Scrapbook, Page 17
This page features two newspaper clippings about Margaret Chase Smith, Alpha, Colby College, speaking at Tufts University commencement.
SKIPY Scrapbook 2, Page 21
This scrapbook page features a newspaper clipping describing an event at the Greek Embassy attended by the Washington DC Metro Alumnae Chapter and a group photograph of chapter members.
Katharine Tener Lowry Scrapbook, Page 46
This page features a letter from Senator Margaret Chase Smith, Alpha, Colby College, to Katharine Tener Lowry, Theta, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, accepting an offer to become a Sigma Kappa.
Reporting the Wonderful Women of Sigma Kappa, c. April 1964
This bulletin provides updates on the recent achievements of Sigma Kappa alumnae and of collegians and chapters. Of particular note is the update about Margaret Chase Smith, Alpha, Colby College, running for president.
Sigma Kappa One Hundredth Anniversary Convention Scrapbook, Page 6
This scrapbook page features a program and three photographs from the 1974 National Convention Centennial Banquet. It also includes a quote from Margaret Chase Smith, <i>Alpha</i>, Colby College, that reads "For you are a par...
Margaret Chase Smith Portrait Negative Plate
This negative plate features an image of Margaret Chase Smith, <i>Alpha</i>, Colby College, wearing a prominent necklace.
Fort Lauderdale Alumnae Chapter 1990s Scrapbook, Page 51
This scrapbook page features an invitation to the 1992 Zeta Chi Chapter 10th Anniversary Ball and two newspaper clippings announcing awards received by Sigma Kappa Alumnae.
