MINNIE CRAIG (1883-1966)
America’s First Female Speaker of a State Legislature

North Dakota was the first state in the nation to have a woman in a legislative leadership position. Minnie Craig, of Esmond, was elected by her colleagues to serve as speaker of the North Dakota House in January 1933. This was not a token position - the speaker is the presiding officer of the state house of representatives. Also, 1933 was not an ordinary year in the state. North Dakota was severely suffering from the Depression after years of drought and grasshoppers, and the state treasury had no money. Farmers were losing their land all over the state because of mortgage foreclosures, and many banks had closed. More than a third of the population lived on relief.