Emma Maria Harrington

Emma Maria Harrington (née Sternberger), commonly known as Mrs. E. C. Harrington, was an American attorney, labor and voting rights activist, and the first woman registered to vote in San Francisco. She was described by her contemporaries as “a brilliant speaker and organizer."

Career Born in Denmark to Jewish parents, she lived in Utah during her youth and earned a degree in psychology before moving to San Francisco. There, she served as the president of the San Francisco Workingwomen's Association and the San Francisco Women's Progressive Nonpartisan Organization. She was involved in political campaigns as well, organizing P. H. McCarthy Women's Clubs to support McCarthy's reelection run in 1911, as well as campaigning for William Howard Taft in 1912.

Mrs. Emma Maria Harrington taking the oath as the first woman to register in San Francisco. Her husband, the registrar, E. C. Harrington, is officiating. October 18, 1911.

On October 17, 1911, Harrington became the first woman registered to vote in San Francisco. At the time of her registration, she listed herself as a member of the Union Labor Party and her profession as "cashier in justice courts." registering female department store employees and posting announcements about registration deadlines in department store fitting rooms.

In 1914, she became eligible for the California Bar Association after successfully passing the qualifying exams, Despite receiving 21,000 votes, she ultimately lost the election. The following day, San Francisco mayor James Rolph announced that masks were no longer required.

In 1921, she ran for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors with the endorsement of the Taxpayers’ Association of San Francisco.