Decades went by before a woman served in a municipal office. In 1929 Bessie Joyce was listed as a member of the Superintending School Committee. It wasn’t until 1962 that another woman, Roberta Joyce, was elected to the School Administrative District #76 School Board. She served until 1972.
Roberta recalled being tired of coming up against the opinions of two men when determining school business. She thought that with at least five people more opinions would be voiced and better decisions made.
Roberta requested of the town, which asked the legislature to expand the number of school committee seats from three to five. This request was granted and in the 1974 town report lists five Directors of Maine School Administration District No. 76 including two women, Melita Staples and Josephine Beale. Women have served on the school board ever since.
Roberta was also elected the first female selectman for the town of Swan’s Island in 1964. She served in this position until 1969. There was not another woman in this position until Nancy Carter was elected in 2004.
Velma Morse Holmes
Swan's Island Historical Society
The 1952-1953 town report lists nine members comprising the school consolidation planning committee. The three women noted were Irene Kent representing Atlantic, Avis Norwood from Minturn, and Velma Holmes from Swan’s Island.
Also during the 1950s Velma M. Holmes became the first town teasurer, followed by Bernice Sprague who served in this position from 1957 until 1992. The town treasurer position has been held by a woman ever since. In 1953, Irene Kent was tax collector and was followed by Phyllis Staples.
In 1961 Amy Staples became our first female town clerk. During the town reports published in the 1960s women’s names began appearing in lists serving on committees for the town.
By the time the 1970s came around, women’s names regularly appeared on lists of people serving in town positions. In 1977 Julie Kent became our first female law enforcement officer, Lois Anderson was elected to the planning board, and Priscilla Lunt became a representative to the Regional Planning Commission.