Ethel Maynard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ethel Maynard
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| Member of the Arizona House of Representatives |
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| In office 1967–1973 Serving with Etta Mae Hutcheson
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| Succeeded by | Emilio Carrillo |
| Constituency | 7th district – Seat B 11th district |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ethel Reed Maynard
November 23, 1905 Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | May 20, 1980 (aged 74) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Aubre de Lambert Maynard
(m. 1928–1930) |
| Children | 1 |
Ethel Reed Maynard (born November 23, 1905 – died May 20, 1980) was an important American politician and activist. She was also a registered nurse. Ethel Maynard served in the Arizona House of Representatives as a member of the Democratic Party. She made history by becoming the first black woman to serve in the Arizona Legislature.
Maynard was born in Waterbury, Connecticut. She worked as a nurse in Harlem, New York, for eighteen years. In 1946, she moved to Tucson, Arizona. During the 1950s, she was a leader in the Arizona NAACP. This group works for civil rights. She was also very active in the Arizona Democratic Party. She served on committees and attended a big meeting called the 1956 Democratic National Convention in 1956. In 1966, she was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives. She served there until 1972.
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Ethel Maynard's Early Life
Ethel Reed Maynard was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on November 23, 1905. She trained to be a registered nurse. For eighteen years, she worked as a nurse in Harlem, New York. In 1946, she moved to Tucson, Arizona. After moving, she started working at the Tucson Medical Center. She worked there for more than twenty years. She married Aubre de Lambert Maynard on August 15, 1928. They had one child together before they divorced in 1930.
Ethel Maynard's Career in Public Service
In 1951, Maynard was chosen to be the second vice-president of the Arizona NAACP. The NAACP is a well-known civil rights organization. She also served as vice-president of the Tucson Council for Civic Unity. This was another group that worked for civil rights. She started the Safford Area Council of the Tucson Committee for Economic Opportunity. She was also on its board of directors.
In 1954, she was elected as a Democratic state committee-member. This meant she helped lead the Democratic Party in her area. In 1955, she was elected as a committee-member from the 1st ward in Tucson. During the 1956 presidential election, she was a delegate. This meant she represented her state at the 1956 Democratic National Convention. In 1957, she joined the advisory board of the Tucson Democratic Central Committee. Later, in 1959, she was named to its board of directors.
In 1963, Maynard announced she wanted to join the Tucson city council. She ran for the Democratic nomination but did not win. In the main election, she received some write-in votes for city council and for mayor.
Serving in the Arizona House of Representatives
In July 1966, Maynard announced she would run for a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives. This is a part of the state government that makes laws. She ran from the 7th district. She won the election, making her the first black woman elected to the Arizona legislature. This was a very important achievement. She was reelected in 1968 and again in 1970. She tried for a fourth term in 1972 but was not reelected.
While in the Arizona House of Representatives, Maynard worked on several important committees. These included the Judiciary Committee, which deals with laws and courts. She also served on the Suffrage and Elections Committee, which handles voting rules. Another committee she was on was the Public Health and Welfare Committee, which focuses on health and well-being for people.
In 1967, Maynard was appointed to the public health and welfare and state government committees. She and another politician, Leon Thompson, worked together. They introduced a bill to bring back Arizona's Commission on the Status of Women. This commission helps women in the state. It had been started in 1966 but then stopped in 1967. This left Arizona as one of only two states without such a commission. In 1968, Maynard was also a member of the Tucson Commission on Human Relations. This group helped with racial integration in different areas.
Ethel Maynard's Legacy
Ethel Maynard passed away on May 20, 1980, due to heart failure. Her important work was recognized in 2006. She was inducted into the Arizona Women's Hall of Fame. This is a special honor for women who have made a big difference in Arizona. Since her time, many other black people have been elected to the Arizona House of Representatives. Twenty-one black people have served, including six women and fifteen men. Her work helped open doors for others.
See also
- Female state legislators in the United States
- List of African-American U.S. state firsts
- List of first African-American U.S. state legislators
