Pink tea, history served at Governor's Mansion

Four Nevada first ladies will step out of history Saturday to attend the annual Pink Tea sponsored by the Nevada Women's History Project. Nevada's current first lady, Dawn Gibbons, is also expected to attend.

The Pink Tea is a celebration of those who worked to gain women the right to vote. This year, also marks the 100th birthday of the Governor's Mansion.

A birthday cake in the shape of the mansion will be served along with tea, coffee and various delicacies. The tea is in the mansion this year and tours will be a part of the celebration.

Guests are encouraged to dress in period costumes for the tea, 2-4 p.m. at the Governor's Mansion, 606 Mountain St. Tickets are limited and cost $30.

What is now the Governor's Mansion was purchased 100 years ago for $10 from Mrs. T. Rickey and George Ferris, the renowned Reno architect who designed the house. Acting Gov. Denver Dickerson and his family were its first residents.

Kathy Noneman will portray Gov. Dickerson's wife, Una Reilly Dickerson, in a living history presentation during the tea. Mrs. Dickerson also was the first Nevada-born first lady and their daughter June was the only child born at the mansion.

Dickerson served as interim governor from 1908 to 1911, following the death of Gov. John Sparks, but did not run for office.

Joining Mrs. Dickerson will be first ladies Ellen Oddie, portrayed by Holly Van Valkenburgh, Marjorie Guild Russell portrayed by Grace Davis, and Vida McClure Boyle portrayed by Patty Bernard.

Ellen Oddie was the mother of Gov. Tasker Oddie. Because he was unmarried during his term as governor from 1911 to 1915, she performed the duties of official hostess for the mansion until her death in 1914.

First lady Vida McClure Boyle was the wife of Gov. Emmet Boyle, who held the office from 1915-1923. She was born in Virginia City in 1880 and was active in civic affairs until her death in Reno in 1972.

Marjorie Russell was the wife of Charles Hinton Russell, Nevada governor from 1951-1959. She served as a member of the Nevada State Museum's Board of Trustees and is remembered at the museum's Marjorie Russell Clothing and Textile Research Center.

These four Nevada women lived during the time when women fought for the right to vote and slowly became known for their own works, not just for their position as wives and mothers.

In the 1920s, women's suffragist meetings were often disrupted by angry husbands and other men. They began calling their meetings "teas" and decorating them in a pink theme, which is how they became known as "Pink Teas." If men happened to show up, all discussions about the right to vote would cease.

The Nevada Women's History Project held its first Pink Tea in 2001 to raise funds for the Sarah Winnemucca statue project in Washington, D.C.

The annual event continues to support the organization's projects, which include the Jean Ford Research Center in Reno. The center houses research material on Nevada women while its Web site at www.nevadawomen

.org provides easy access to many of the works.

What: The Pink Tea (limited to the first 75 people)

Where: Governor's Mansion, 606 Mountain St.

When: 2-4 p.m. Saturday

Cost: $30. Make checks out to Nevada Women's History Project and mailed to Marcia Cuccaro, 1005 W. Sunset Way, Carson City, NV 89703

Information: 883-1454 or 888-9867