Jessaline Scott Papers

Jessaline Scott, also known as Mrs. I. G. Scott, represented the Fourth District on the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. She first became interested in politics as a teenager, after she volunteered with the Women's Party to gain the vote for women. In 1921, she married Irving Scott, a Minneapolis alderman. After serving two terms, Irv was defeated in 1925. He decided to run again in 1929, and was successful, serving until 1937. Irving was then appointed by the city council to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners in April 1937 to serve out the term of Emil Youngdahl, who had died in office. Irv served undefeated for 22 years until his death in August 1960. During all this time, Jessaline remained involved in her husband's political career, assisting him with research and attending meetings with him. After his death, she felt she was more than qualified to take his spot. She ran for the board in 1960 and won, becoming the first woman to serve on the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. She served until 1970. Jessaline Scott died in 1983 at age 83.