Jane Pratt: North Carolina's First Congresswoman

by Marion Elliott Deerhake

On May 25th, 1946, after 22 years as a congressional secretary, Jane Pratt was elected as North Carolina's first congresswoman. The press reported with great interest how "Miss Jane" won by a landslide with only a $100 campaign budget. She hit the ground running, voting to the pass the Atomic Energy Act, working tirelessly to mitigate a century of flood disasters in western North Carolina, and serving the constituents she knew so well.

This first biography of Congresswoman Jane Pratt recounts her youth and fascinating career on Capitol Hill. It also provides a unique federal view of North Carolina's early 20th century history. After working as a rare female newspaper editor in the early 1920s, Pratt became secretary to five tarheel congressmen over some 30 years. Her career spanned the roaring twenties, the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War. Pratt's amazing network was a who's who of leaders in North Carolina and Washington, DC. Her decision not to run for re-election offers insight into why 46 years passed before the state elected another woman to Congress.

317 pages, Paperback

Published April 16, 2024

Reviews

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the 1920s, when most women didn't work much outside the home -- let alone in government or politics -- Jane Pratt left a newspaper job in North Carolina to become a Congressman's secretary in Washington. Some twenty-two years later, after the death of her second Congressional boss, Pratt won an election to serve out his term. While in office, and even before that as a secretary, Pratt weighed in on a host of significant issues. These included, among others, veterans' benefits, the management of atomic energy, compensation for farmers, childhood nutrition and child labor, fair labor standards, and flood control (a recurring problem in North Carolina). Pratt chose not to run for a full term against male rivals with vastly superior sources of funding. But what she accomplished was substantial. In this biography, Marion Deerhake tells Pratt's story in its historical context, not only in terms of the struggle for women's rights but also against backdrops that included the Great Depression, the Second World War, the Cold War, and the inner workings of Congress. I found the book hard to put down and an easy, pleasurable way to learn more about our country's history and one of its unknown trailblazers.

[Merrill C · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Jane Pratt: North Carolina's First Congresswoman" is an inspiring biography of a trailblazing woman in politics. The book highlights her significant contributions and offers a rich view of early 20th century North Carolina history. Pratt's unique perspective as a female newspaper editor and her extensive experience as a congressional secretary gave her the connections and insights that made her the right person to serve at the time. Her extensive network of influential leaders makes this a must-read for anyone interested in political history and women's contributions to public service.

[Lucretia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and well written book about Jane Pratt, North Carolina's first congresswoman. Deerhake's research is impeccable and she brings Pratt's talents and abilities for public service to life in this history of her career. The book is also an excellent history of North Carolina in the early-to-mid 20th century. Highly recommended.