Permeal French ( 1867-1954 ):
Permeal French taught school at Silver City, Idaho in the 1890s. She was elected state superintendent of public instruction in 1898, was succeeded in the position by other women until 1932. French was later "dean of women" at the University of Idaho. Governor Steunenburg declared her to be the best superintendent the state ever had
Party Affiliation:
Democrat
Photographs:
http://www.uihome.uidaho.edu/default.aspx?pid=89478
Resources:
http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060131/NEWS0403/601310338/1050/NEWS04
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/naw:@field(DOCID+@lit(rbnawsan7023div15))
Woman’s Who’s Who of America.
Catholic Encyclopedia-Idaho
“Catholics prominent in the state's history are Judge John Clark of the Idaho supreme court, Henry Heitfeld, Senator of the United States, Congressman James Gunn, Miss Permeal French, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Joseph Perrault, Territorial Comptroller, and Joseph Fallon, Commissioner of Immigration.”
[Additional Notes]:
Dowager of Discipline: the Life of Dean of Women Permeal French (Gem Book Ser. )
by Dick D'Easum
Permeal Jane French became the first woman elected to state office in Idaho, when she won the position of Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1899-1903. The first dean of women at the University of Idaho, 1908-1936, she was considered one of the best known and best loved educators in Idaho of her time. As superintendent, she inaugurated the first uniform course of study in Idaho schools and set up the first statewide eight grade examinations. As dean, she established many traditions at the University, including women’s residence halls. During the Depression, when parents were sending sons, not daughters, to college, she toured the state to lecture on the importance of education for women. Born May 8, 1867 to Irish Catholic parents in Idaho City, she was graduated from the College of Notre Dame in San Francisco in 1887. She taught in Hailey and Silver City and held master’s degrees from the University of Idaho and George Washington University. After her retirement in 1936 with the title of Dean of Women, Emeritus, she moved to Seattle where she died in 1954.