My Election Day Tribute to Those Who Paved the Way

Regardless of political views, the election of a woman to the executive branch of our government is a big deal. One of the last glass ceilings of the public or private realm has now been shattered. But in my work the past four years, I have become aware of so many amazing women in our own Utah history who have been trailblazers in their own way. I chose to spend Election Day honoring just a few of them by visiting their graves with some of my Better Days 2020 teammates.

Alberta Henry is buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, across the street from the U’s stadium. According to the Better Days 2020 biography, she was the first African-American hire of the Salt Lake City School District, recruited to ease racial issues between the schools and the community. She also increased the number of black teachers and supported students of color towards graduation. Dr. Jackie Thompson, who has portrayed Alberta at a number of our Better Days 2020 events, joined us with her husband.

Emma McVicker is also buried in Mt. Olivet, and so we simply visited the other side of the cemetery to find her grave. We were met there by board members of Neighborhood House, which is the modern iteration of the first free public kindergarten which Emma started. She was appointed Utah’s first female state superintendent of schools in 1900.

Mt. Olivet is also home to Jennie Froiseth, although it took a bit of work to find her because she does not have her own headstone. Despite being quite prominent during her lifetime, she somehow didn’t receive her own resting place. Her husband is marked - see photo - so we had to approximate her final resting place beside him. Jennie was the founder of the Blue Tea, a literary organization for non-Mormons which later became the Ladies’ Literary Club. I have a special place in my heart for the Ladies’ Literary Club because we helped raise the funds to restore their South Temple Clubhouse last year.

Lastly, we drove a short distance to the Salt Lake City Cemetery where Emmeline B. Wells is buried. I’ve visited her grave many times, partly because Emmeline is my personal hero but also because my mother is buried nearby. It was especially meaningful to go on Election Day and share with Emmeline the gratitude and devotion we feel towards her and her work.