10 Fascinating Facts About Women’s History in the Quad Cities
- Mary Louisa Putnam: In 1868, Mary Louisa became the first female member of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences (now the Putnam Museum & Science Center) and secured most of the donations for the academy’s building and worldwide publications. She became the first female president of the academy in 1879.
- Phebe Sudlow: In 1874, Phebe Sudlow was unanimously appointed as the Superintendent of Davenport Schools, becoming the first woman in U.S. history to hold such a position.
- YWCA Quad Cities: The Rock Island YWCA opened its doors in 1917, offering programs and services aimed at empowering women and promoting racial justice in the community.
- Kathryn Kirschbaum: In 1971, Kathy Kirschbaum was elected as the first female mayor of Davenport. With a population of 98,464, Davenport was the second largest. municipality with a woman mayor at the time.
- Wendy Ellis: In 1973, Wendy Ellis became the first female to appear on local TV news in the Quad Cities, breaking gender barriers in regional journalism.
- Madison Keys: Born in Rock Island, Illinois, Madison Keys rose to prominence in professional tennis, achieving a career-high ranking of World No. 5. Her powerful playing style has made her a standout figure in women's tennis.
- Sister Joan Lescinski: In 2007, Sister Joan Lescinski became the first woman to serve as president of St. Ambrose University, leading the institution from 2007 until her retirement in 2021.
- Cheri Bustos: Representing Illinois's 17th congressional district, which includes parts of the Quad Cities, Cheri Bustos served as a U.S. Representative from 2013 to 2023. She was the first woman elected to Congress from her district.
- Stephanie Acri was the first female mayor of Moline, elected in 2017.
- Dr. Andrea Talentino: Inaugurated October 15, 2022, Dr. Talentino is the first female president of Augustana College and the ninth president of the college.
Do you know more inspiring women who have made history in the Quad Cities? Share their stories with us, we’d love to highlight even more trailblazers from our community!