// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Berta E. Baker? A baker by name.
Berta E. Baker | |
|---|---|
 Berta E. Baker | |
| North Dakota State Treasurer | |
| In office 1929–1932 | |
| Governor | George F. Shafer |
| Preceded by | Chessmur A. Fischer |
| Succeeded by | Alfred S. Dale |
| North Dakota State Auditor | |
| In office 1935–1956 | |
| Governor | Thomas H. Moodie Walter Welford William Langer John Moses Fred G. Aandahl Norman Brunsdale |
| Preceded by | John Steen |
| Succeeded by | Curtis G. Olson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Elbertie Colcord November 27, 1875 |
| Died | May 4, 1964 (aged 88) |
| Party | Republican |
Elbertie "Berta" Colcord Baker (November 27, 1875 – May 4, 1964) was a North Dakota public servant and politician. She was the first woman to be nominated for statewide office in North Dakota.[1] Baker served as the first female North Dakota State Treasurer from 1929 to 1932, and as the first female North Dakota State Auditor from 1935 to 1956. In total, she served in state office during seven different governors' administrations.
Early life
[edit]Elbertie Colcord was born near Sterling, Illinois, in 1875, the daughter of William H. Colcord and Fianna Viola Linerode Colcord. Her father died in 1892. She moved to North Dakota in 1907. Her husband became a state senator there.[2] After serving three years in the state senate, he died in an accident in 1924, at age 57.[3]
Career
[edit]Baker taught school in Illinois for five years. In 1928 she became the first woman nominated for statewide office in North Dakota.[1] She was elected as the North Dakota State Treasurer in 1928, and was the first woman to hold that office, which she held for the maximum allowed term of four years.[4][5] In 1931, she gave a radio address in support of farm cooperatives.[6]
After her term as State Treasurer ended, Baker sought the office of North Dakota State Auditor, and won. She served in that capacity until 1956,[7][8][9] when she retired at age 81.[10]
As a state official she occasionally met with other states' officials. In 1929 she went to San Francisco for a meeting of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers.[11] In 1955 she was one of 18 women in government to attend a breakfast with President Dwight D. Eisenhower.[12]
Personal life
[edit]Colcord married Albert Francis "Bert" Baker in 1895.[13] The Bakers moved to North Dakota in the spring of 1907 and settled on a farm in Renville County.[14] They had four children. Her husband died in 1924.[3] She died in 1964, at age 88, in Minot, North Dakota.[15]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Reception Saturday for Berta E. Baker". The Bismarck Tribune. July 9, 1928. p. 3. Retrieved May 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Senator Baker Fought Hard for Normal Appropriation". The Ward County Independent. March 10, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved May 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Lives of Sorlie and Frazier in Balance; Skulls Are Fractured; Bert Baker is Killed". The Fargo Forum, Daily Republican, and Moorhead Daily News. May 5, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved May 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Mrs. Berta E. Baker Gets Very High Vote". The Thomson Review. February 12, 1931. p. 14. Retrieved May 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Disbursements by State Shown Below Income; Treasurer Berta E. Baker Gives Report for Fiscal Year". The Dickinson Press. January 3, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved May 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Urges Cooperative Farm Enterprises; Berta E. Baker Sees Need of Rapid Change in Economic Structure". The Bismarck Tribune. March 21, 1931. p. 2. Retrieved May 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "N. D. Officials Face Inquirers; Mrs. Berta Baker and J. H. Newton Called in Capitol Probe". The Forum. January 29, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved May 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Auditor Can Sleep Again... Lost Letters Are Found". The Bismarck Tribune. March 15, 1940. p. 6. Retrieved May 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Paulson, John D. (June 1, 1941). "North Dakota Whirligig". The Forum. p. 4. Retrieved May 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Farewell Appearance". The Bismarck Tribune. December 14, 1956. p. 1. Retrieved May 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "States' Fiscal Officials in S.F. for Three-Day Meet; More System Urged in City Governments". San Francisco Chronicle. September 4, 1929. p. 21. Retrieved May 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Berta Baker to Visit Ike". The Bismarck Tribune. May 13, 1955. p. 7. Retrieved May 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Untitled brief item". The Daily Gazette. July 3, 1895. p. 8. Retrieved May 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Baker, Berta E. (December 12, 1955). "Christmas Brings Back Memories". The Bismarck Tribune. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved May 18, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Berta Baker, Former N. D. Auditor, Dies". The Forum. May 5, 1964. p. 18. Retrieved May 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.