Edna Beard

Edna Louisa Beard (July 25, 1877 – September 18, 1928) was the first woman legislator in Vermont; she was the first woman elected to the Vermont House of Representatives, and the first woman elected to the Vermont Senate.

A native of Illinois, her parents were from Orange, Vermont, and returned there in the early 1880s. Beard was raised and educated in Orange, graduated from Spaulding High School in Barre, and became a school teacher and administrator. She also served in local offices including town treasurer, and operated a dairy farm in partnership with one of her brothers.

In 1920, the Constitution's Nineteenth Amendment made it possible for women to vote in statewide and national elections. Beard ran for the Republican nomination to represent Orange in the Vermont House of Representatives. She lost, and subsequently filed to run as a third party candidate. 40 women in Orange registered to vote between the primary and general elections, and enough supported her to tip the scales for Beard, who won the seat and became Vermont's first woman state legislator. She served one term, 1921 to 1923, and in 1922 was a successful candidate for the State Senate, becoming the first woman to serve in that body. She left politics in 1924 because of ill health, but remained active on her farm and in her church.

Beard never married or had children. She died in Orange, and was buried at Orange Center Cemetery.

Early life Beard was born in Chenoa, Illinois on July 25, 1877, the daughter of Royal Edson Beard (1845–1912) and Flora (Curtiss) Beard. Her family was originally from Orange, Vermont, and they moved back to Orange in 1883. She was educated in Orange, and graduated from Barre's Spaulding High School in 1896.

Beard received her qualification as a teacher, and taught at several local area schools. She was both a teacher and superintendent of the Orange town schools beginning in 1906. She also served on the school board, was the town's assistant postmaster, and spent 16 years as town treasurer (1912–1928), after succeeding to the office following the death of her father, who was the incumbent.

She was given the first choice of seats in the House, and, as reported by the Rutland Herald, "She chose seat no. 146, and for a long time no man had the courage to select seat no. 145, which adjoined hers. She was buried in the Beard family plot at Orange Center Cemetery in Orange.

Legacy A portrait of Edna Beard by artist Ruth Mould is on display at the Vermont State House.