Alice S. Presto facts for kids

Alice S. Presto was a brave suffragist and a true pioneer. She was the first Black woman to run for office in the state of Washington.

Alice S. Presto's Early Life

Alice S. Presto was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, around 1879. Her parents were Martha Murphy and Franklin Sampson. Alice grew up with three brothers and two sisters. In the 1890s, she moved to Seattle, Washington. There, she met Walter Leo Presto, who became her husband. Walter was an Afro-Cuban immigrant. He worked as a porter and later became a minister. Alice and Walter had three children: Gladys (born 1898), Dorothy (born 1902), and Martha (born 1904). They had sadly lost two other children at birth.

Fighting for Rights: Alice Presto's Career

For many years, Presto was a stay-at-home mom. She cared for her three children. During this time, Washington made history. In 1910, it became the first state to allow women to vote. This happened before the Nineteenth Amendment was passed for the whole country.

Leading Important Groups

This historic event inspired Presto to become a key figure in the fight for civil and political rights. She helped start the NAACP branch in Seattle. The NAACP works for equal rights for all people. Presto served as the secretary for this branch for six years.

In 1916, Presto also founded the Woman's Political and Civic Alliance (WPCA). She was the president of this important group. She also helped create the Washington State Federation of Colored Women's Club. In this group, she served as the second vice president.

Running for State Senate

In 1918, Alice Presto made history again. She ran for the state senate as a Republican. This made her the first Black woman to run for a law-making office in Washington state. Her ideas for change were very clear. She wanted equal pay for women. She also supported more money for widows' pensions. Presto believed in an Industrial Insurance Act to help workers. She also wanted to reform child labor laws. Plus, she pushed for free tuition for children of taxpayers at state public schools. Presto received 460 votes but did not win the election.

Continued Activism

After her election campaign, Presto continued her work. She remained involved with the WPCA, serving as a treasurer. She was also a treasurer for the King Country Republican League. Presto was also a member of the Seattle chapter of the Universal Negro Improvement Association.