Results tagged “Mattie Chapman” from York Town Square

Mattie Chapman scored a number of first during her long career in York County public service. Background posts: Thomas Chatman Jr., pioneering police chief: 'I thank God and the citizens of York for the opportunity to serve them' and First York City Latino councilman temporarily state's top appointed Dem and Pioneers Kim Bracey, Chuck Patterson vying for elected office.

York County voters elected Mattie Chapman to the office of prothonotary in 1975.

She became York County's first black elected county official.

Nineteen years earlier, she had become the first black person to even work in a county office when she became a clerk in the prothonotary's office.

Tuesday's primary election saw several black candidates cue up to become firsts... .

Former Chief County Detective Becky Downing, shown here in her 1997 York City Police trading card, was a pioneering police officer. She's also an answer to this year's women's history quiz. Background posts: World War II propaganda posters raised spirits, women's wrath and York County WWII nurse: 'You know, it was the biggest war ever, and they needed nurses' and
A short test of your women's history knowledge, Part I.

March is Women's History Month, and to get folks warmed up, here is a quiz about female pioneers in York County. (Answers below.)

Who was the first ...

1. First Latino city school board president?
2. First Latino school board member?
3. First appointed female mayor of York?
4. First elected female mayor of York?
5. First city female police officer?
6. First black elected York County row officer?
7. First female county commissioner?
8. First female York County Common Pleas Court judge?
9. First female state legislator?
10. First black homecoming queen, William Penn High School?

Crispus Attucks Community Center's Mildred Chapman told girls that they should care about the way they looked. 'You can be poor,' she said, 'but you don't have to look bad, or smell bad.' She and her husband, Russell W., (see photo below) were among the top leaders in York's black community in the middle of the 20th century. Background posts: Thackston Park area connects to York's past and Civil rights heroes stand out at Bradley exhibit.

Everyone in York's black community - heck, everyone in York - knew Mildred and Russell W. Chapman... .

Mattie Chapman began her York County government career as a clerk in the prothonotary's office and later was elected to head that department. Background posts: Katharine Beecher, Legacies, Delma Rivera, Legacies and Eleanor Johnson, Legacies.

Mattie Chapman has a number of firsts attached to her name.

She was the first back person to be hired in a row office in the York County Courthouse. She was the first black person to be elected to county office. And she was the first woman to be elected to honorary membership in the York County Bar Association... .