17 Facts About Belle Reeves

Belle Reeves was an American Democratic politician from Washington.

Belle Reeves became the first female Washington Secretary of State in 1938 upon her appointment by Governor Clarence D Martin.

Belle Reeves served as Secretary of State for ten years through successful elections in 1940 and 1944, dying while in office in 1948.

Belle Reeves was the first woman featured at a national convention of either major party.

However, the Times was not profitable, and alongside setting the type, Belle Reeves took other work as the local correspondent for the Spokane Spokesman and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Belle Reeves was elected court reporter and legal recorder for several districts, taught shorthand, and recorded candidate speeches in the 1896 United States presidential election, including those of the unsuccessful candidate William Jennings Bryan, a politician she greatly admired.

Frank and his brother Fred went into law practice together, while Belle Reeves left work to raise Zelma and began volunteering with numerous organizations, including the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

Belle Reeves helped Frank study law and establish his practice, eventually going on to receive her own law degree from the University of Washington.

In 1922, after husband Frank had retired and with their daughter Zelma grown, Belle Reeves won the House of Representatives seat in Washington's 56th legislative district that Frank had previously held.

Belle Reeves's candidacy resulted from her wide community involvement in Wenatchee: she won her primary by 100 votes when a group of Wenatchee women chose her as their write-in candidate without her prior knowledge or consent.

Belle Reeves was one of only five women in the entire Legislature when first elected, and served several terms as the only female legislator.

In 1933, tragedy struck as Belle Reeves led a floor fight against an effort to support federal repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment.

Still, Belle Reeves held onto the seat for five more years, even while taking over management of their 100-acre fruit orchard.

In February, 1938, Washington Secretary of State Ernest Hutchinson died suddenly, and Governor Martin appointed Belle Reeves to fill the position.

At times when both the governor and lieutenant governor were out of state, Belle Reeves served as acting governor, the first woman to do so in Washington.

Belle Reeves won again in 1944, this time with the most votes ever received by any candidate in the state up to that time.

Belle Reeves received the only state funeral ever held in the House Chamber of the Washington State Legislature.