08/20/2026
August 20, 1937: Dixie Bibb Graves made history when she was appointed to the U.S. Senate, becoming Alabama’s first female Senator!
A leader in women’s suffrage, child labor reform, and human welfare, Graves delivered the first-ever Senate speech by a woman Senator while serving in the post. Described as possessing a "keen intelligence and amazing grasp of national problems," she broke ground for women in national governance.
Mrs. Graves knew the power of women, and was one of the leaders among women's organizations in Alabama. She was a member or officer in the Alabama Historical Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, No-Name Literary Club of Montgomery, Women's Missionary Union of First Christian Church (Montgomery), Young Women's Christian Association, League of Women Voters, Women's Christian Temperance Union, Alabama Federation of Women's Clubs, and United Daughters of the Confederacy. She also was active as a member of boards and national organizations; Alabama Illiteracy Commission, Board of Trustees of Boys Industrial School, American Red Cross, American Legion Auxiliary, National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, Board of Directors of Bob Jones College, and others.