Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, Maine
Legendary Senator's Research Facility Open to Public
Jun 5, 2009
First woman to be nominated for US Presidency by a major party! Maine's most famous senator was a prominent political figure in the US House and Senate from 1940 to 1973.
The library is housed in Chase Smith's former residence. Conveniently located at 56 Norridgewock Avenue in Skowhegan, the library is a mere 1/4 mile off State Route 201. It is an attractive stand of buildings situated along one of Maine's major rivers, the Kennebec. The 15-acre property also includes well-tended gardens, dry-stone walls, and a large expanse of lawn, providing an excellent view of the river.
It is open and free to the public. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm. Find visitor information and directions at the Margaret Chase Library website or call 207-474-7133.
It is a congressional research library and archives, with research material limited to qualified scholars. However, for non-scholars interested in the life of Margaret Chase Smith and her historical contributions, the library has a wealth of items on display: memorabilia, photographs, awards, correspondence, and citations from her long political career. The library was established in 1982 by Northwood University, which holds the property in trust to preserve Chase Smith's legacy not only as an advocate of public service, but also as a supporter of freedom in the US and the world.
First Woman Nominated for US Presidency
Margaret Chase Smith was a courageous self-starter, notable for many “firsts.”
- She was the first woman to be elected (not appointed) to both the House and the Senate (and the first woman from Maine to serve in either).
- She was the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for the US Presidency at a major party's convention—the 1964 Republican Convention, which eventually chose Barry Goldwater as its candidate.
- Chase Smith was the first woman chair of the Senate Republican Conference, from 1967 to 1972.
In No Place for a Woman: A Life of Senator Margaret Chase Smith (Rutgers University Press), author Janann Sherman details Chase Smith’s dedication to public service, her many accomplishments, and the struggles and biases she faced everyday.
A Great American Patriot and Distinguished Politician
Chase Smith was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1940 and to the US Senate in 1948 (where she served until 1973). She worked tirelessly at the state and national levels.
- When she left office in 1973, Chase Smith held the record as the longest-serving female senator in US history, ranking 11th in seniority in the Senate.
- She set a record for casting the largest number of consecutive roll call votes: 2,941.
- She became an expert in military affairs and aeronautics and served as the ranking Republican on both the Armed Services Committee and the Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee (helping our country be the first in the race to the moon!).
- She was granted the US Air Force's top recognition, the American Spirit Award.
- She was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest civilian awards in the US.
Standing Up to McCarthyism and the Red Scare
In addition to her tireless work and impressive accomplishments, Margaret Chase Smith will certainly be remembered for her courageous stand against Senator Eugene McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Yes, another “first”—she was the first to speak out in the Senate against the Red Scare and the unethical tactics of Senator McCarthy. Her Declaration of Conscience speech was given in June 1950 and is often listed in the top 100 speeches ever given by an American.
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