Ma Ferguson's inaugural dress, 1925

Miriam "Ma" Ferguson was elected the first female governor of Texas in 1924. She wore this beaded orchid crepe dress to the inaugural ball held in her honor in January 1925. Ironically, Ferguson did not have the support of women voters. Though they appreciated that Ferguson was opposed to the KKK, she planned to govern as a puppet of her husband, suffrage movement enemy James Ferguson. Rather than vote for the Fergusons, many women crossed party lines to vote for the Republican candidate.