Florence Prag Kahn
| Florence Prag Kahn | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 4th district |
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In office March 4, 1925 – January 3, 1937 |
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| Preceded by | Julius Kahn |
| Succeeded by | Franck R. Havenner |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 9, 1866 Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Died | November 16, 1948 (aged 82) San Francisco, California |
| Political party | Republican Party |
| Spouse(s) | Julius Kahn |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley |
| Religion | Judaism |
Florence Prag Kahn (November 9, 1866 – November 16, 1948) was an American teacher and politician who in 1925 became the first Jewish woman to serve in the United States Congress. She was only the fifth woman to serve in Congress, and the second from California, after fellow San Franciscan Mae Nolan. Like Nolan, she took the seat in the House of Representatives left vacant by the death of her husband, Julius Kahn.
Kahn was born in Salt Lake City, Utah to Conrad and Mary Prag, Jewish Polish immigrants who befriended the Mormon leader Brigham Young, and sold supplies during the gold rush. Her family moved to San Francisco, California in 1869. She graduated from the San Francisco Girls' High School in 1883, and received an A.B. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1887. She taught high school English and History. She married Julius Kahn in 1899, who served in Congress until his death on December 18, 1924.
Florence Kahn was elected as a Republican to the 69th Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husband, who had just been re-elected to a 13th term. She was reelected to the 70th, 71st, 72nd, 73rd, and 74th Congresses, serving from December 7, 1925 to January 3, 1937. She was the first woman on the House Military Affairs Committee.
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