Bertha Ethel (Knight) Landes (1868-1943) was the first female mayor of a major American city, serving as mayor of Seattle from 1926 to 1928. Landes vowed to clean up city government, running for mayor on the platform of "municipal housekeeping." She served only one term as mayor but remained a civic leader in such organizations as the Women's University Club, the Woman's Century Club, the League of Women Voters, and the Women's Auxiliary of University Congregational Church.
The handbill pictured here advertises Ms. Landes' campaign for mayor, which she won in the election held March 9, 1926. The handbill lists ten prominent Seattlites who endorsed her: W. E. Forkner; Dr. David C. Hall; John H. Reid; Byron Phelps; W. Walter Williams; Mrs. Ham Bonnar; Mrs. J. W. Marlatt; Mrs. E. F. Pugsley; Mrs. Norman Compton; and Mrs. Wylie Hemphill.
Caption information source: "Landes, Bertha Knight (1868-1943)," by Mildred Andrews, HistoryLink.org Essay 5343.
ID Number: 1974.5855.6
Date: 1926
Physical Description: 1 handbill ; 4 x 5 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
Credit: MOHAI, Collection on Bertha Landes, 1974.5855.6
