From collection Candidates
Mary Howard, a 23 year old teacher, campaigned for County Superintendent of Schools in Sangamon County, Illinois in 1873. She was one of the first women in Illinois to run for office. Howard was the Anti-Monopoly Party candidate, and did not win her race. In a letter accepting the party's nomination she wrote: "I am ready to make this venture, for the sake of seeing the question of woman holding office contested in our county".
