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Miss Minnie
Coulter, one of Sonoma County's teachers, was born in the city of Santa
Rosa in the year ---, well, we will not say just when, but it was something
over eighteen years ago. She has resided in the "City of Roses" all her life,
and was educated in the public schools. Upon leaving the high school she
entered Prof. A. C. McMean's Normal School, an excellent institution in this
city, and, after a thorough course of instruction there, appeared before the
County Board of Education of Sonoma County to take the necessary examinations
for a teacher's cartificate [sic]. It is almost unnecessary to say that she was
highly successful in those examinations. She was promptly granted a certificate
and on account of her open, frank and fair manner, her noticeable force of
character and very apparent ability, she was as promptly employed to teach in
one of the many public schools of our County.It was an outside, or a district
school, to be sure, but it was the beginning of her successful career as a
teacher. Having met with merited encouragement, and holding a Grammar Grade
certificate, Miss Coulter was called from one position to another, each being
higher and better in its turn, until she became one of Sonoma County's most
prominent teachers. She taught in the outside districts for over four years.
Her reputation and ability as a teacher having been thus established and
recognized, the Board of Education of Court House District, (Santa Rosa,)
resolved to employ her as one of its thirty teachers. She taught in the city
schools for four years and gave eminent satisfaction to trustees, principals
and patrons by her active, intelligent work and close attention to duty. In
1894 the Board of Education of this city granted Miss Coulter a leave of
absence upon her request. She then entered Leland Stanford Jr. University and
pursued the educational or pedagogical course for four years. Again her natural
ability and close application to work brought her well earned success. Her name
appears in the long list of graduates this year form that college. She hold the
degree A. B., Department of Education. President Jordan, Prof. Earl Barnes and
other instructors there have repeatedly complemented Miss Coulter upon her
scholarship, and have predicted for her a bright, useful and successful future.
Outside of her school work, Miss Coulter has held positions of honor and trust.
She is an active member of Native Daughters of the Golden West, and for two
years served as Grand Treasurer, one year as Grand Vice-President, and in
1893-94 held the high and responsible office of Grand President, winning the
praise and gratitude of her sisters for efficient and faithful service. Miss
Coulter acted as Secretary of the Sonoma County Teacher's Institute for five
consecutive years, and, we believe, was the first woman to hold that position
in this county. She overcame feminine timidity, attended strictly to her duties
and performed her work well. The Coulter family is well and favorably know in
Sonoma County. "Squire" S. T. Coulter is a Mexican war veteran, a California
Pioneer, a prominent member of the State and National Grange, and has a large,
lasting and warm acquaintance. On August 22d, 1898, Miss Coulter received a
most flattering compliment from the Democratic Convention in Sonoma County. She
was nominated by a large majority for the office of Superintendent of Schools.
A splendid reception was accorded her by the delegates and persons present, and
she has since been making a telling and winning canvass. This is the only
county office which the law permits a woman to hold. If the voters of Sonoma
County, irrespective of party, appreciate merit, ability, qualification and
application, and have an earnest desire for the advancement and betterment of
the public schools of their county, they will inquire into and satisfy
themselves as to the fitness of this young lady for that position and rally to
her support in the coming election. |
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