Nellie

Nellie B. Eales (1889 – 1989) was a British zoologist. She was a senior lecturer at the University of Reading and published research papers on a variety of zoological topics as well as a two volume catalogue on Professor F. J. Cole's extensive library. In 1910 she became one of the first women in the United Kingdom to graduate with a zoological degree as well as the first woman to graduate with a doctorate from University College, Reading.

Nellie Tayloe Ross was the first woman to serve as governor in the history of the United States.

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Nellie Tayloe was born in Missouri in 1876 and raised in Kansas and Nebraska. After completing her schooling, she became a kindergarten teacher and a piano instructor in Omaha, Nebraska.

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In 1900, Tayloe was visiting family in Tennessee when she met William Bradford Ross. The pair married in 1902, and had three children.

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William Bradford Ross was politically ambitious. He moved his family to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he set up a law practice and immersed himself in loca Democratic politics. He waged two losing political campaigns in the 1910s: for Wyoming’s at-large congressional seat in 1910, and for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 1918.

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Ross’ political fortunes changed in 1922 when he was elected governor of Wyoming. He took office on 1 January 1923.

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In October 1924, Ross died from complications after an appendectomy. Upon his death, the Wyoming Secretary of State, Republican Frank Lucas, ascended to the governorship in an acting capacity. Democratic politicos began courting Ross’ widow, Nellie Tayloe Ross, to succeed her husband in the governorship.

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Nellie Tayloe Ross was a grieving widow, but she agreed to run for the office. She refused to actually campaign, though; instead, the image of her run was to as a tribute to a deceased husband.

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There’s no reason to believe that Tayloe Ross was anything but genuine in her mourning, but those her knew her well knew that there was a latent ambition underneath the grieving exterior. In a letter, Tayloe Ross’ brother wrote to his wife, “Nobody ever wanted this more.” Tayloe Ross’ biographer suggests that, while her husband was alive, Tayloe Ross was less interested in pursuing her ambitions; without her husband, she decided to see what she could do herself.

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Tayloe Ross’ non-campaign worked. Three male candidates’ names were put forward in the Democratic nominating process; none of the three were interested in the job. In 1927, Tayloe Ross wrote that she herself was deeply ambivalent about accepting the nomination, though she relented. The Republicans seriously considered nominating her, as well (political parties held very different meanings in 1920s American politics), though they eventually nominating a former state representative. Tayloe Ross won the November special election easily, winning the popular vote by 8,000 votes (nearly 10% of votes cast) and carrying 20 of 23 counties.

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Tayloe Ross was sworn in on 5 January 1925. In doing so, she became the first woman to become governor in the United States. (She beat her nearest competition by just weeks: Miriam “Ma” Ferguson was sworn in to the governorship of Texas on 20 January 1925. Ferguson was, however, little more than a puppet for her husband, James “Pa” Ferguson. Pa Ferguson was indicted and impeached from the Texas governorship in 1917, and had been banned from holding further offices in Texas; he successfully used his wife’s candidacy to return to power.)

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As governor, Nellie Tayloe Ross largely continued the policies of her husband. These included banking reform, tax cuts, and ending child labor. She also called for stronger prohibition laws.

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Nellie ran for reelection in 1926, but lost by just over 1,000 votes in the general election. She blamed her campaign loss on her support of prohibition, as well as her continued refusal to campaign for herself.

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Though defeated, Tayloe Ross remained active in Democratic politics. She actively campaigned for Al Smith, the 1928 Democratic presidential nomination (something she had refused to do for her own campaign), and delivered a nominating speech at the 1928 Democratic National Convention. Her name was also thrown into contention for the vice-presidential nomination at the convention; she received 31 votes on the first ballot. (Ross was the second woman to have her name put in contention at a major party nominating convention; the nomination was seen as a gesture of appreciation for services on behalf of the party.) Smith lost the election, but Tayloe Ross became a significant presence at the Democratic National Committee.

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In 1932. Tayloe Ross became a public supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidential campaign, but was distrusted and disliked by many in Roosevelt’s orbit. Most notably Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly couldn’t stand her.

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Nonetheless, Franklin D. Roosevelt named Tayloe Ross the director of the United States Mint in 1933, the first woman to hold the role. She was initially suspicious of the Mint’s staff, and particularly Assistant Director Mary Margaret Reilly. The pair eventually developed something of a dual directorship role; Nellie became the public face of the Mint and Reilly oversaw day-to-day Mint activities. Within a few years, Reilly was forced to retire. Tayloe Ross eventually found a replacement, and successfully served in the role until 1953.

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Tayloe Ross largely retreated from public life after her 1953 retirement. She wrote for women’s magazines, but eschewed the feminist movement. She traveled extensively.

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Nellie Tayloe Ross died at the age of 101 in 1977 in Washington, D.C.. At the time she died, she had seen four other women elected to governorships. Of them, two—Miriam “Ma” Ferguson (D-TX, 1925-1927 & 1933-1935) and Lurleen Wallace (D-AL, 1967-1968)—were widely seen as puppet candidates for impeached (Ferguson) and term-limited (Wallace) husbands. The other two--Ella T. Grasso (D-CT, 1975-1980) and Dixy Lee Ray (D-WA, 1977-1981)--ran and governed for the roles in their own right.

Little Nellie of Holy God. She is such an inspiration!

Nellie Owens was the real life Nellie Olesen from the little House on the Prairie books. The character of Nellie Olesen in the book is a combination of 3 separate girls that Laura knew, one being Nellie Owens. The other two were Genevieve Masters, and Stella Gilbert.

The name of Marlowe's ship in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness.

Nellie Fors (also known mononymously as Nellie) is a Swedish singer.

Nellie Tayloe Ross was the 14th Governor of Wyoming, as well as the first woman to be sworn in as governor of any U.S. state.

Nellie Vladimirovna Kim is a retired Soviet gymnast who won three gold medals and a silver medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, and two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics. She was the second woman in Olympic history to earn a perfect 10 score and the first woman to score it on the vault and on the floor exercise, rivaling Nadia Comăneci, Ludmilla Tourischeva, and other strong competitors of the 1970s. Nellie Kim worked for a long time as a coach, training several national teams, and judged many major international competitions. As President of the Women's Artistic Gymnastics Technical Committee, she coordinates the introduction of new rules in women's gymnastics, as provided by the new Code of Points, developed by the FIG in 2004–2005 and in effect since 2006. Her gymnastic appearances are remembered for "her strong feminine, temperamental and charismatic appeal".

Actress Polly Bergen was born Nellie Paulina Burgin.

Nellie McKay (born Nell Marie McKay) is an English-born American singer-songwriter, actress, and former stand-up comedienne.

Nellie Oleson, anyone?

Yes, Nellie Oleson, rival of Laura Ingalls Wilder in her Little House books. There is also a comedy group called the Nellie Olesons.

Nellie Bly, an American journalist, author, industrialist, and charity worker, is a famous bearer. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nellie_Bly)

Tennis players Petr Korda and Regina Rajchrtová have a daughter Nellie Kordová.

I believe that this is the first name of Mrs. Lovett in Stephen Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Stree". This character was played by Helena Bonham-Carter.

Nellie is the nickname of Reneesme from Stephanie Meyer's popular Twilight Saga, from Breaking Dawn, the fourth book.

Renesmee's nickname is NeSSie, (ReNESmee, get it?) not NeLLie.

In the popular Rodgers & Hammerstein stage musical 'South Pacific,' Nellie Forbush is the lead female character. In the musical's original 1949 production, the character was portrayed by Mary Martin (who won a Tony Award for the role). In the 1958 film adaptation, the character was portrayed by Mitzi Gaynor. In the 2001 made-for-television film adaptation, the character was portrayed by Glenn Close.

Nellie Starr is the name of an 1838 Indian girl from the Sisters In Time series.

Nellie is an American Girl doll, best friend of Samantha.

An (in)famous Australian coloratura soprano of the early 20th century, Nellie Melba (born Helen Porter Mitchell), carried this name. Melba was not a stellar actress and her personality was the image of the stereotypical demanding opera singer, but her beautiful voice made up for it.