CORTEZ, ERNESTINA G.
First woman president of the Sociedad Juarez. The Sociedad Juarez is a non-profit organization assisting members with funeral costs, scholarships, weddings and quinceneras. (Sociedad Juarez was founded in 1910)
CUNNINGHAM, MARION
A prolific Bakersfield artist, for whom the Cunningham Memorial Art Gallery was named. This facility is now known as the Bakersfield Museum of Art. She was instrumental in organizing efforts to save the cable cars in San Francisco, by producing and selling multiple silk-screen prints of the cable cars. The San Francisco Chronicle described her as "one of the most gifted artists San Francisco has ever known".
Donahoe, Dorothy M.
Dorothy was perhaps best known for her political activities with the Democratic Party. She was a member of the Executive Board of the Kern County Democratic Women who gained strong support from the Democratic Party and the and the Business and Professional Women’s organization. Eventually, she won election to the California Assembly where she served as an assemblywoman from the 38th District from 1953 until her death in 1960.It is notable that one of the first buildings at Cal-State, Bakersfield was Dorothy Donahoe Hall.
Gutcher, Ann
Launched “Romper Room” on KERO-TV 23 (1957). She was known to viewers as “Miss Ann”. She also hosted "The Ann Gutcher Show" on KBAK-TV29. Additionally, she was Director of Public Information at Bakersfield College and Manager of the Kern County Board of Trade.
MacDonald, Mildred
MacDonald was well known in the real estate community of Kern County after entering the business with her husband in the 1950's. However, she also owned the Rexland Acres Water Company and a sawmill on top of Piute Mountain during the 1930's and 40's.
SAUNDERS, MAE
Saunders was a journalist for 46 years with The Bakersfield Californian. During that time she interviewed many notable people such as George Bernard Shaw, The Prince of Saudi Arabia, President Truman and Chief Justice Earl Warren. She was of the organizers of the Community Council of Metropolitan Bakersfield. This group supported day camps for underprivileged children and recreation for senior citizens.
Whittall, Judy
Judy Whittall, who lives in the village of Glennville (Kern County), is responsible through her own energies and monies, of saving, by preservation and restoration, the two oldest homes in Kern County. The buildings were originally gold-miners homesteads built in 1860.
Wilson, Eleanor
After serving as head of the Kern County Library System for twenty-five years, Eleanor Wilson retired in 1967. Her name, according to a newspaperman, was “synonymous with nearly every cultural event in Bakersfield.”
Copyright 2010 First Women of Kern County
 
|
