First woman state representative honored with portrait at capitol

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A portrait of Oklahoma's first woman state representative is unveiled during a state Capitol ceremony. <br/><br/>Amelia Elizabeth ``Bessie'' McColgin is scheduled to be inducted

Thursday, March 31st 2005, 5:52 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A portrait of Oklahoma's first woman state representative is unveiled during a state Capitol ceremony.

Amelia Elizabeth ``Bessie'' McColgin is scheduled to be inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame today. She was elected to the Oklahoma Legislature in 1920.

McColgin came to Oklahoma in 1901 and helped her husband stake claim to a piece of property near Rankin in Roger Mills County in 1903.

Although the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote was ratified in 1920, it was not enacted in time for McColgin to vote in her own election. Her election paved the way for three women who were elected to the House in 1923.