Grace A. Richardson, New Hampshire’s first county commissioner (Cheshire County). Her photograph from a 1922 Boston Sunday Globe newspaper.
According to Leon Anderson, New Hampshire legislative historian, “Grace A. Richardson of Keene “agent” for that city’s Bureau of Public Service ( a private charitable society) became New Hampshire’s first woman County Commissioner in the 1922 election. She was re-elected on the Republican ticket for the following 12 years.”
A Boston Herald newspaper article of 1923 adds many details to this brief synopsis: “Miss Richardson has been running Cheshire county since the last election, when she won over two men in her own party (Democratic) and seven in the Republican party, both sides giving her the vote. Miss Richardson, who has been in social service work for many years, came to Keene from Boston in 1919. While in Keene she has not only been at the head of the social service work, but held for three years a position in the office of the county commissioner, where she became fully acquainted with its requirements. She was convinced that her vote in county affairs help the women and children of the county and that is her reason for becoming a candidate for the office.” Continue reading
