Rhoda Fox Graves

Rhoda Fox Graves (July 2, 1877 – January 25, 1950) was a suffragist, women's rights activist, and early female Republican party politician from St. Lawrence County, New York in the United States. Graves was the first woman to serve in the New York State Senate, the first woman to hold office in both the upper and lower legislative houses in New York State, and the first woman to chair a New York Senate Committee.

Early life and education Rhoda Fox Graves was born on July 2, 1877, to Leander and Rhoda Martha (Burt) Austin in Fowler, New York. Her mother died from medical complications from childbirth, and her father placed her with his friends, LaFayette and Rhoda Ann (Shippee) Fox. The Foxes formally adopted her at age two.

Rhoda Fox grew up on the Fox family farm in Fowler, a small town southeast of Gouverneur, New York. She went to local public schools, the District School at Fowler, the Gouverneur High School, and Wesleyan Seminary in Gouverneur.

Prior to her marriage, Graves was a school teacher in rural public schools in the Gouverneur area. They had two sons, Mark and Paul.

She was unsuccessful in her first attempt to attain a seat in the New York State Senate in 1932, but was elected in 1934. She was a member of the State Senate from 1935 to 1948, sitting in the 158th, 159th, 160th, 161st, 162nd, 163rd, 164th, 165th and 166th New York State Legislatures.

Graves was founding member and vice chairman of a Republican State Committee council of women formed in 1929 to educate women voters about the upcoming election.

After her election to the State Senate, Graves founded the Organized Women Legislators of New York State and was its first president.

After Graves's re-election in January 1939, she became chair of the high-profile Senate Agricultural Committee.

In 1948, Graves announced that she would not seek re-election and that her son Paul D. Graves would be a candidate to succeed her for her seat. Paul Graves had a sizable win and took office in 1949. In 1953, he was appointed to the New York State Supreme Court, where he served until his death at age 64 in 1972.

Rhoda Fox Graves died on January 25, 1950, while at her winter home with her husband in Hollywood, Florida, of a heart attack. She was buried at the Riverside Cemetery in Gouverneur.