Colvin, Mamie White

Mamie White Colvin-- also known as Mamie W. Colvin and Mamie White -- was the Prohibition party candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York in the primary elections of 1918. Earlier that year, she ran on the Prohibition ticket as a candidate for Congress, when a special election was held in New York after several congressmen resigned their posts. Though news media expected her to gain support from women voters as the only female candidate, Colvin only polled 382 votes out of 24,000 cast. Colvin continued her political career running as the Prohibition candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 21st District in 1922 and as the Dry candidate for delegate to New York convention to ratify 21st amendment in 1933. Colvin was married to D. Leigh Colvin who was also an organizer and political candidate working to advance Prohibition. Mrs. Colvin was heavily involved in the Women's Christian Temperance Union, first as head of its New York state chapter and later as its national president from 1944 to 1953. Colvin graduated from Wheaton College, Illinois in 1905. She later completed graduate work in sociology at Columbia University. Colvin was a lauded orator, receiving several awards for her achievements in public speaking.