Nancy Melvina Caldwell
| Nancy Melvina Caldwell | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Carroll County | |
|
In office January 11, 1928 – January 8, 1930 |
|
| Preceded by | J. Swanson Smith |
| Succeeded by | Byrum P. Goad |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Nancy Melvina Caldwell August 4, 1868 Carroll, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died |
February 11, 1956 (aged 87) Carroll, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Religion | Methodist |
Nancy Melvina "Vinnie" Caldwell (August 4, 1868 – February 11, 1956) was a schoolteacher and politician from Virginia.
Caldwell was born in Carroll County, Virginia, in the southwest portion of the state, to John Barger and Fannie Delilah (Givens) Caldwell. Her father was a native of Galax, and two years after her birth he returned there with his family. Caldwell was educated at the local public school, and at her mother's urging sat the exam to become a public school teacher. Upon receiving her certificate she began teaching in the area, ultimately holding positions at twelve schools during her career as an educator. She stopped working in the 1890s due to a variety of frustrations; she felt that her salary was too low, and that it was difficult in general to teach in an impoverished rural district. Consequently, she left Galax, later leaving Virginia altogether.
Caldwell had returned to Galax by 1920 and become involved in local politics, although the catalyst for her activities is unknown. Carroll County's branch of the Democratic Party nominated her to run for the Virginia House of Delegates in 1927. Southwestern Virginia was a Republican stronghold; nevertheless, although Republicans captured every other major office in the county, Caldwell defeated her opponent, a man, by a vote of 1,990 to 1,895. Upon taking her seat in January, 1928, she became one of four women in the Virginia General Assembly; the other three were Sarah Lee Fain, Sallie C. Booker, and Helen Ruth Henderson,whose mother had with Fain been one of the first two women elected to the House. During her time in Richmond Caldwell served on the Committees on Schools and Colleges, on Asylums and Prisons, and on Manufactures and Mechanic Arts. A staunch Democrat and ally of Governor of Virginia Harry F. Byrd, she assisted in the passage of a number of bills, including for education and for employment of the handicapped; she also was active in supporting bills to build the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Jackson Ferry Bridge. Many of the bills she introduced related to Galax and Carroll County; she also was patron of an unsuccessful bill which would have provided $100,000 to create pensions for mothers.
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