Kathryn Clarke (1873 – August 19, 1940) was an American politician, and the first woman to serve in the Oregon Senate.
Biography Clarke was born in 1873 to John Clarke and Catherine McGregor Clarke in Gardiner, Oregon.East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, Umatilla Co., Or.) 1888-current, February 12, 1915, DAILY EVENING EDITION, Image 8 In January 1915, Senator George Neuner Jr. resigned to serve as district attorney, so governor Oswald West, the cousin of Clarke, set to appoint a replacement. He initially offered the post to Dexter Rice, a judge, but Rice declined. A special election was held on January 20, which Clarke won by 76 votes.Miss Clark in Maiden DebateDaily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1903-1919, January 21, 1915, Image 1 Clarke served until January 1917.The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current, January 09, 1916, SECTION TWO, Image 30
See also Marian B. Towne, first woman to serve in the Oregon House of Representatives Sylvia McGuire Thompson, Oregon politician who became first female member of the Democratic National Campaign Committee
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