Katherine Mayo Cowan

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Katherine Mayo Cowan (1883 - 1975) was the first woman mayor in North Carolina,[1] and as of 2021, the only woman to serve as mayor of Wilmington, North Carolina.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Early life[]

Katherine Elizabeth Mayo was born in 1883.[2] She was the daughter of William E. Mayo and Mary Agnes Mayo.[8]

Career[]

In 1921, James Cowan was elected mayor.[9] He died in office.[10]  His wife, Katherine, was appointed to fill his term.[10][11][12] Mayor Cowan was a member of the local chapter of the League of Women Voters and was the local representative to the 1925 national convention.[13]

According to an account in 1929, "Mrs. Cowan served during the closing months of 1924 and until June 1925 when she yielded the reins of office….to Mr. Walter H. Blair, elected in May 1925."[4] Mrs.Cowan ran to be mayor for a second term. She spent no money on her campaign, and did not actively campaign for office.[14] Cowan lost the election.[15]

By 1930, Cowan lived in Charlotte, and was a saleslady at a dry goods store.[16]

In the 1930s, Cowan was active in Democratic politics in Washington DC.[17] By the late 1930s, Cowan was a supervisor with the Works Progress Administration.[18]

Personal life[]

Katherine married James Hill Cowan in 1904.[19][20] They married after a brief engagement, and it was an elopement. At the time, the newspaper reported "The bride is a young woman of striking personality and charming manner."

By 1920, the Cowans lived on 214 Nun Street, James was the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. He and Katherine had five children, aged 14 years old to five months old.[21]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Markovich, Jeremy (2015-11-04). "A Milestone for Women, Mayors, and North Carolina". Our State. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  2. ^ a b "106 women who have made a difference in Wilmington". Wilmington Star-News. March 3, 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  3. ^ Ingram, Hunter (March 12, 2020). "Cape Fear Unearthed: Wilmington's Trailblazing Women". Wilmington Star News. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b "The First Woman Mayor". Wilmington Morning Star. February 12, 1929.
  5. ^ "Woman Becomes Mayor" Washington Evening Star, 23 September 1924
  6. ^ "Wilmington North Carolina" Miami Herald, September 24, 1924
  7. ^ "Photos: 100 for 100th: Women who have shaped Wilmington". Wilmington Star News. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  8. ^ North Carolina County Registers of Deeds. Microfilm. Record Group 048. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC.
  9. ^ Wilmington Dispatch, May 18, 1921
  10. ^ a b "Mrs. Cowan Named Mayor to Succeed Her Late Husband" Wilmington Morning Star, September 19, 1924
  11. ^ Mayor K. M, Cowan To Be Sworn Into Office this AM" Wilmington Morning Star, September 22, 1924
  12. ^ "Wilmington Has Woman Mayor". The Mount Airy News. September 25, 1924. p. 8. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  13. ^ Wilmington News Dispatch, March 12, 1925
  14. ^ "Mrs. Cowan Will Seek Re-election to Mayoralty". Wilmington Morning Star. March 19, 1925.
  15. ^ "Walter Blair is Sworn in Monday as City's Mayor". Wilmington Morning Star. June 2, 1925.
  16. ^ 1930 census, Charlotte North Carolina
  17. ^ "Women's Democratic Board Will Convene," Washington Evening Star, June 6, 1935
  18. ^ 1938 Washington DC City Directory
  19. ^ "A Romantic Marriage". Wilmington Messenger. June 24, 1904.
  20. ^ Wilmington Dispatch. June 24, 1904. Mr. James H. Cowan, one of Wilmington’s most popular and polished young men, and Miss. Katherine Elizabeth Mayo, the charming daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Mayo, were the principals in a romantic marriage which was celebrated at 6 o’clock p.m. yesterday at the rectory of St. Thomas’ Catholic Church… {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ^ 1920 Census, Wilmington NC
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