Bertha Knight Landes
Encyclopedia
Bertha Knight Landes was the first female mayor of a major American city. Landes served as mayor of Seattle, Washington from 1926 to 1928. She was born in Ware, Massachusetts
to Charles Sanford Knight and Cordelia Cutter. Her father, a veteran of the Union Army, moved the family to Worchester in 1873. She attended Indiana University
, where she received a degree in history and political science in 1891. After three years of teaching at the Classical High School in Worcester, Massachusetts
, she married geologist Henry Landes, with whom she had two children and adopted one. She and her family later moved to Seattle.
She served on the Seattle City Council
1922–1926, the last two years as council president, before becoming mayor.
She died in Ann Arbor, Michigan
at the house of her son, in 1943. She was interred at Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park
. Today, the largest meeting room at Seattle City Hall is named in her honor.
Ware, Massachusetts
Ware is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,707 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.Part of the town comprises the census-designated place of Ware....
to Charles Sanford Knight and Cordelia Cutter. Her father, a veteran of the Union Army, moved the family to Worchester in 1873. She attended Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
, where she received a degree in history and political science in 1891. After three years of teaching at the Classical High School in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, she married geologist Henry Landes, with whom she had two children and adopted one. She and her family later moved to Seattle.
She served on the Seattle City Council
Seattle City Council
The Seattle City Council is committed to ensuring that Seattle, Washington, is safe, livable and sustainable. Nine Councilmembers are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections and represent the entire city, elected by all Seattle voters....
1922–1926, the last two years as council president, before becoming mayor.
She died in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
at the house of her son, in 1943. She was interred at Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park
Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park
Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park originated in 1885. It is located on both sides of Aurora Avenue in Seattle, Washington, and occupies roughly . It is the largest cemetery in Seattle.-History:...
. Today, the largest meeting room at Seattle City Hall is named in her honor.
External links
- Municipal Archives exhibit
- American National Biography Online at www.anb.org