Bertha Whedbee facts for kids

Bertha Par Simmons Whedbee (1876 – 1960) was an amazing woman who worked hard for change. She was an activist, a suffragist (someone who worked for women's right to vote), and the very first African American woman to become a police officer in Louisville, Kentucky.

Her Life and Work

Bertha Par Simmons was born in West Virginia in 1879. She loved learning and became a kindergarten teacher. She was part of the first group to graduate from the Colored Kindergarten Association in 1901.

In 1898, Bertha married Ellis D. Whedbee, who was a doctor. They moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and had four children. Bertha quickly became involved in the movement for women's voting rights. This was a time when women across the United States were working hard to gain the right to vote in elections.

Becoming a Police Officer

Something important happened in 1919 that changed Bertha's life. Her 17-year-old son, Ellis Jr., had some trouble with the local police. Bertha felt her son was treated unfairly. She spoke up to the police about it, and she was also arrested.

This experience inspired Bertha to make a big change. On March 3, 1922, she asked to be appointed a police officer. Just a few weeks later, on March 22, 1922, Bertha Whedbee became the first African American woman to work for the Louisville Metro Police Department.

Her job was to work mostly with other African Americans in the community. She served on the police force until 1927. She decided to leave her job in protest when other African American officers were let go by a new city government.

Bertha Whedbee passed away in 1960. She was buried in Louisville Cemetery. For many years, there were no headstones for Bertha or her husband, Ellis Sr. But in 2018, headstones were finally placed to honor them.