The first American woman to hold elected office was Lyda Conley. Elected in 1906 as a member of the Wyandotte Indian Council in Kansas, she was instrumental in advocating for Native American rights and land preservation. Her election was a significant milestone in the history of women's political participation in the United States, occurring at a time when women were largely excluded from political processes. Conley’s contributions extended beyond her tenure in office; she fought tirelessly for the protection of burial grounds and fought against the illegal sale of Native lands. This made her a significant figure in early American women's history.