By Christine R. Valeriann, Maryland Women’s Heritage Center volunteer

First woman Registar in Allegany County
Elizabeth r. (Drenner) Menefee

Menefee moved to Cumberland, Maryland upon marriage, where she became an ardent worker for the enfranchisement of women and the first woman registrar in the county. Upon winning the right to vote she promptly ran for office, but lost to Mary E. W. Risteau (the first Harford County woman in the House of Delegates.) At a time when there were “few political appointments held by women at any time in this community,” she served as the state Democratic National Committee Woman throughout the 1930s, among other civic and community positions.