Women’s History Month
By Beth Deyo
Women’s History Month celebrates the achievements of remarkable women who shaped our communities. In Sarasota and Manatee counties, women broke barriers in education, science, business, and the arts. Their innovations in farming, marine research, and culture created lasting impacts that continue to benefit our region today.
Community Builders
When Bertha Palmer arrived in Sarasota in 1910, she saw incredible potential in the undeveloped land. Her innovative farming techniques revolutionized local agriculture, from cattle ranching to commercial vegetable farming. Palmer worked alongside her laborers, proving that a woman could succeed in what was then considered a man’s world.
Her sharp business sense led her to acquire vast stretches of land from Venice to Tampa, helping set the stage for our region’s growth. Her legacy lives on at Historic Spanish Point in Osprey, the estate she generously donated to ensure future generations could experience Old Florida’s charm.
Photo: Institutional Archives,
Art Institute of Chicago.
Marie Selby preferred the thrill of adventure to high society’s constraints. As the first woman to drive cross-country in an automobile, she embodied the pioneering spirit that would later define her botanical legacy. Rather than attending fancy parties, Selby could be found racing boats, fishing, or tending to her beloved gardens. Her passion for horticulture and dedication to supporting women in the arts led to the creation of Selby Gardens, bringing to life her vision of combining natural beauty with cultural enrichment.
Photo: Selby Gardens
Many would agree that Mable Ringling played a major role in turning Sarasota into the cultural hub we know today. Her passionate support laid the foundation for establishing the Sarasota area as a premier arts destination. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and Ringling College of Art & Design continue to draw artists and art lovers from around the world.
Scientific Trailblazers
At a time when few women worked in technology, Olive Hitchings became Bradenton’s first telephone operator. She managed a complex 50-panel switchboard inside the Warren Opera House in downtown Bradenton. Her expertise connected the growing communities of Oneco, Palmetto, Bradenton, and the Village of Manatee, literally giving voice to our region’s progress. As one of the area’s first women in STEM, she helped lay the groundwork for our community’s technological advancement.
Photos: Manatee County Public
Library Historical Image Digital
Collection
Dr. Eugenie Clark broke scientific ground when she chose Sarasota as the base for her revolutionary marine research. Her work at Cape Haze Marine Laboratory earned her the nickname ‘Shark Lady,’ and caught the attention of the Vanderbilts, who built her a marine laboratory. It eventually evolved into today’s Mote Marine, one of the world’s leading research facilities.
Photo: Mote Marine
Aquarium
Pioneers in Education
Women built the foundation of our local education. Electa Lee pioneered education in our region by establishing Manatee County’s first school in the 1840s. Her vision for public education created opportunities for local children at a time when formal schooling was rare in the Florida frontier. Today, her legacy lives on as the namesake for Bradenton’s Electa Lee Middle School.
Photos: Manatee County Public Library Historical Image Digital Collection
Frankie Howze arrived in Palmetto in 1888 with a recommendation noting she was “the best teacher we ever had, despite the fact that she is a woman.” She began her local teaching career in Palmetto’s humble one-room schoolhouse — a simple box structure that doubled as a nighttime shelter for local pigs who slept beneath its floorboards. Over her remarkable 51-year career, she served as a teacher, principal, and even football coach at Palmetto Academy, while raising five children as a widow.
Emma Booker transformed education in Sarasota starting in 1918, beginning with just a rented room and orange crates for desks. Rising from teacher to principal in 1923, she raised funds for a permanent school building and personally underwrote her students’ continued education, creating opportunities where none existed before. Today, Emma E. Booker Elementary School carries on her legacy
Florine Abel broke new ground in 1945 as Manatee County’s first African American principal. At that time, black Florida students had their own education system.
Abel oversaw the program from 1959 to 1965, serving as the Superintendent of Negro Education. As federal courts began striking down segregation laws in the mid-1960s, Abel played a significant role in the transition to integrated schools. Her dedication to equal education opportunities is honored at Sarasota’s Florine J. Abel Elementary.
Abel also served on the Board of Trustees of Manatee Junior College, known today as the State College of Florida, and was a charter member of the Manatee County chapter of the Black Girl Scouts of America.
Local Civic Leaders
Women’s leadership in our local government began with Bertha Curry, who made history as the first woman to vote in Manatee County in 1920. Notably, she registered to vote in September 1919, months before the 19th Amendment was ratified, a bold action that established her as a true pioneer of equality. This historic moment opened doors for future leaders like Saundra Rahn, who joined the city council in 1969, and Patricia Glass, who became the county’s first female commissioner in 1979.
Minnie Thompson Rogers broke barriers as Florida’s first licensed female funeral home director, but her impact extended far beyond her business success. As creator of the West Bradenton Women’s Club and co-founder of the area’s first public nursery school, she championed community development. Her friendship with Mary McLeod Bethune led to securing National Youth Administration funds in 1937 for what would become the 13th Avenue Community Center, a place that helped shape generations of young lives in Manatee County.
Julia Reasoner Fuller preserved our community’s stories for future generations through her detailed diaries and scrapbooks that chronicle our region’s development. As our area’s first librarian, she helped ensure that the achievements of these remarkable women, and countless others, will never be forgotten.
The Legacy Continues
The groundwork laid by these pioneering women continues to shape our region today. Their courage to challenge conventions, dedication to community service, and drive to create positive changes set standards that still inspire us. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, their stories remind us that the strength of our community has always been built by those who dare to dream bigger, work harder, and turn bold visions into reality.
Photos: Manatee County Public
Library Historical Image Digital Collection