First Woman to Compete in State Oratorical Contest – Montrose Press, April 3, 1908

First Woman to Compete in State Oratorical Contest – Montrose Press, April 3, 1908

Author: Montrose Press

Year: 1908

This 1908 article from The Montrose Press documents a landmark achievement by Miss Elsie Lincoln Vandegrift , who would later become known as Elsie Lincoln Benedict , one of the most celebrated female speakers and psychologists of the early 20th century. At just 22 years old, she became the first woman ever to compete in the University of Colorado’s final round of its annual oratorical contest. Out of fifteen preliminary candidates, only five were selected for the final — and Elsie, representing Montrose, was among them. Her inclusion in this elite group broke gender barriers in Colorado’s academic institutions and foreshadowed her trailblazing role in national debates on suffrage, psychology, and personal development. This article captures the beginning of her historic rise from a small- town student to an international speaker and thought leader. Digitally preserved and shared by Heather Benedict, great- granddaughter of Elsie Lincoln Benedict. Source: Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection.