The voices of trailblazing Utah women echo through history, shaping not just a state but an entire nation. From Martha Hughes Cannon, who shattered political glass ceilings, to Mae Timbimboo Parry, who advocated for Native American rights and worked tirelessly to preserve their precious legacies, these women weren’t just participants in Utah’s story—they were its authors.
Politics
Martha Hughes Cannon (1857–1932)
The exceptional journey of Martha Hughes Cannon, which led her to become the first woman state senator in Utah, truly stands as a shining beacon of her brilliant mind, enduring tenacity, and pioneering spirit.
Born in Wales in 1857, Cannon’s family immigrated to the United States and settled in Utah when she was just three years old. Raised in a devout Mormon household, Cannon was instilled with values of education, service, and faith from an early age. Fueled by an unquenchable desire for knowledge, Cannon began her academic journey at the University of Deseret (now the University of Utah) at age 16, where she distinguished herself not just through stellar grades but also with a remarkable enthusiasm.
Cannon’s quest for education was challenging, especially as she pursued the study of medicine—a field controlled by men. Undeterred, she persevered to earn a medical degree from the University of Michigan in 1880, etching her name as one of Utah’s pioneering female physicians.
Cannon’s career wins weren’t just about medicine; she was also heavily involved in the fight for women’s voting rights. Highlighting the glaring absence of women’s perspectives in governance and societal reform, Cannon stepped into the forefront as a vocal champion for their voting rights. Her medical expertise was beneficial, but it was truly her flair for oration that accelerated momentum within the movement.
In 1896, Utah achieved statehood, and Cannon made history by running as a candidate for the Utah State Senate, becoming the first woman in the United States to hold such a position. Even with steep opposition, notably from her own spouse competing in the same political race, Cannon’s bid for office found a place in the hearts of voters who were drawn to her smarts, honesty, and unwavering drive for forward movement.
Cannon won the election and secured her spot as Utah’s—and the nation’s—first woman state senator. While in office, she continued to practice medicine and wrote several groundbreaking bills focused on public health and sanitation. She also fought to improve working conditions for women and girls and led the efforts to fund education for blind students, as well as hearing- and speech-impaired students.
Olene S. Walker (1930–2015)
Born in Ogden, Utah, in 1930, the path to political stardom for Walker was paved by dedicating herself to a life of public service. In 1980, she was elected to the Utah House of Representatives, where she served for eight years. She earned a reputation for being pragmatic and firm on principles—qualities that made her stand out as a lawmaker. During her time in the House, Walker was a champion for reshaping education, sticking to tight budgets, and preserving Utah’s natural surroundings.
In 1993, Walker was appointed Utah’s first woman lieutenant governor to serve alongside Governor Mike Leavitt. As Utah’s lieutenant governor, she focused on boosting the economy, making healthcare more affordable and more accessible, and strengthening Utah’s education system.
In 2003, Walker’s political career reached its pinnacle when she became Utah’s first and only woman governor following the resignation of Governor Leavitt, who was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. During her time as Utah’s governor, Walker kept education and the economy at the top of her agenda, as well as healthcare and the environment. Navigating a sea of political obstacles, Walker’s grounded strategies and emphasis on collective leadership not only resonated with Utahns from every political walk of life but also garnered her widespread admiration. In fact, when she left office in 2005, she did so as one of Utah’s most popular governors—with an 87 percent approval rating.
Suffrage and Civil Rights
Emmeline B. Wells (1828–1921)
Emmeline Wells made her mark as a prominent advocate of women’s rights and a fierce champion of suffrage—a particularly critical role as Utah transitioned from U.S. territory to statehood.
On February 14th, 1870, Utah women were among the first in the nation to vote under equal suffrage laws—a full 50 years before Congress passed the Nineteenth Amendment granting all American women this right. This groundbreaking move by the Territorial Legislature positioned Utah at the forefront of advocating for gender equality. However, the U.S. Congress rescinded all Utah women’s right to vote in 1887.
From 1877 to 1914, Wells used her editorial role at the Woman’s Exponent to create a powerful platform to continue advocating for women’s suffrage, education, equal rights, fiscal autonomy, and other reforms. But her push for change didn’t stop at just words. Demonstrating visionary leadership within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she harnessed this influence to further women’s causes on both statewide platforms as well as national ones—notably representing Utah at various suffrage conferences across the United States.
Perhaps one of her most impactful contributions was during Utah’s push for statehood when she vigorously lobbied for enshrining women’s voting rights within the new state constitution—a feat achieved successfully when Utah joined the Union in 1896 with full voting rights granted to its women citizens.
Alberta Hill Henry (1920–2005)
In the spheres of civil rights and education, Alberta Hill Henry was an unstoppable force who significantly shaped Utah through her unwavering dedication to change—a profound impact felt not only within her local community but echoing throughout the entire state.
When she moved to Utah in 1949, Henry quickly became one of Utah’s most prominent civil rights leaders. She served as the president of the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP and tirelessly fought for equal housing and employment opportunities.
Just as passionately as she fought for civil rights, Henry also worked hard for students from minority groups to receive better education. She established the Alberta Henry Education Foundation in 1967 to assist low-income and minority students with college tuition.
More than just giving financial help, Henry pushed for school courses to include stories from different cultures and backgrounds. She challenged the usual educational narrative that often sidelined non-white viewpoints. But her work didn’t just stop at local schools. It made waves all across Utah’s education scene.
Over the course of her life, Henry served on more than 100 boards and committees, most notably the Utah State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. And in 1970, she was awarded a commendation certificate from President Richard Nixon.
Native American Advocacy
Zitkala-Ša (1876–1938)
With a name meaning “Red Bird” in the Lakota language, Zitkala-Ša’ stood as an emblematic figure at the intersection of Native American advocacy and early 20th-century literature. Born Gertrude Simmons Bonnin on the Yankton Indian Reservation in South Dakota in 1876, her life journey was marked by a quest for identity between her Indigenous heritage and the encroaching influences of Western culture.
Her education began at White’s Manual Labor Institute, a Quaker-run boarding school in Indiana. This experience would later fuel much of Zitkala-Ša’s literary work—narratives that eloquently voiced the internal conflict experienced by many Native Americans navigating between their cultural roots and assimilation into white society.
The thread connecting Zitkala-Ša’s legacy to Utah weaves through both personal circumstance and broader activism efforts against injustices faced by Native communities nationwide—including those impacting tribes within Utah itself such as the Navajo Nation or Goshute tribe, among others residing across this region. She advocated for civil rights for women and Native Americans, including the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act, which gave Native Americans the right to vote in the United States.
In 1926, Zitkala-Ša continued to lobby for Native American suffrage rights through the National Council of American Indians, which she co-founded with her husband.
Mae Timbimboo Parry (1919–2007)
Born in Washakie, Utah, in 1919, Mae Timbimboo Parry was a prominent figure in contemporary Native American advocacy who dedicated her life to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage and rights of Indigenous peoples, particularly those of the Northwestern Shoshone tribe. Through her multifaceted efforts, Parry played a pivotal role in rewriting history, repatriating tribal artifacts and remains, and advocating for Native American communities at both state and federal levels. She served as a representative on the White House Council for Indian Tribal Affairs, where she worked to create programs to better serve Native Americans across the country.
Central to Parry’s advocacy work was her commitment to documenting Native American stories and challenging the prevailing narratives that have often marginalized Indigenous perspectives. In her efforts to rewrite history, She focused extensively on the Bear River Massacre, a tragic event in 1863 where hundreds of Northwestern Shoshone men, women, and children were killed by U.S. Army troops. Through meticulous research and community engagement, Parry worked to ensure that the true impact and significance of the massacre are accurately represented in historical records, challenging distorted narratives and fostering healing within her community.
Furthermore, Parry was been instrumental in advancing legislative initiatives in Utah aimed at addressing historical injustices and restoring dignity to Native American tribes. Notably, she played a key role in the development of Utah’s repatriation act, which provides a framework for the return of Native American artifacts and human remains to their rightful tribes. She also served on the Utah Indian Cooperative Council in the 1990s.
Through her advocacy and collaboration with policymakers, Parry was instrumental in shaping policies that promote the well-being and sovereignty of Native American tribes and give greater recognition of their rights and contributions to American society.
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