Kittie O'Neil, Democratic Nominee for Superintendent of Schools, Trinity County [Trade Card]

Weaverville, CA: Journal Print, 1906. Ephemera. Fine. A promotional card, illustrated with a half-tone portrait, of an unsuccessful candidate for superintendent of schools for mountainous Trinity County in far northern California. This card most likely dates from before 1911, when women won the right to vote in California.

Katherine "Kittie" or "Kitty" O'Neil was born in California in 1861 to Irish immigrant parents. She began teaching at the Indian Creek public school near Weaverville in 1881 (see Pacific School and Home Journal, May 1881). In the 1900 census, she was living with her brother James, a gold miner, and her sister Mary, who taught school in the region for more than 40 years. In 1904, Kittie was listed as the president of the County Board of Education for Trinity County (see 1904 edition of the California Educational Directory). By 1910, Kittie had disappeared from the O'Neil siblings' household and I could find no trace of her after that, suggesting she had either married or died by then. There was an election for Superintendent of Schools in 1906, which Nellie M. Jordan won. This piece most likely dates from that election cycle.

3-7/8 by 2-1/4 inches. Printed on one side of a piece of thin cardstock. A fine example.