Nevada History: On The GO! – “Undismayed by Any Mere Man”: The Accomplishments of Nevada’s Female Lawmakers, 1919–1959 (Off-site, SVL)

April 4, 2026, 1 – 2:30 pm
Speaker: Dr. Dana Bennett, historian

In 1914, when Nevada women won the right to vote, they also won the right to hold public office. Four years later, Sadie Hurst of Reno became the first woman to win a seat in the Nevada Legislature, blazing the trail for 20 additional women who served in that lawmaking body over the next 40 years. These 21 legislators represented both major political parties, hailed from nearly every county in the state, and reflected a wide range of personal and professional backgrounds. This presentation will introduce these remarkable Nevadans, describe their legislative experiences, and explore their enduring contributions to the state.

Speaker Bio:

Dana Bennett was raised in what is now known as Old Southwest Reno and is a graduate of Reno High School. An early member of the Historic Reno Preservation Society (HRPS), Dr. Bennett has long enjoyed reflecting on the Reno of her youth. She holds three academic degrees in history, including a master’s degree in women’s history and a PhD, for which her dissertation examined Nevada’s female legislators prior to 1960. Dr. Bennett and her husband currently reside in Midas, Nevada, a community whose history she is equally passionate about. She serves as President of Friends of Midas, a historic preservation organization that has been active for more than 30 years.