Ada Wien

Ada B. Wien (1907–1984) was born and raised in Nome and became interested in the debate on Alaska statehood from an early age. As an adult, she was one of six women elected as delegates to the Constitutional Convention. On Day 40 of the Convention, she responded to a male delegate’s criticism that she was being influenced on how to vote, stating: “I would just like to go on record as saying I do my own thinking.”

Ada and her husband Noel, the founder of the first airline in Alaska (Wien Air Alaska), attended the passing of the Alaska Statehood Bill in the United States Senate on June 30, 1958. In a later interview, Ada said statehood was an achievement that she was proud to be a part of as an Alaskan and as a United States citizen.

Did you know Ada B. Wien or have a story you’d like to share about her? Share your images and stories with us on Instagram and Facebook by tagging us (@anchoragemuseum and #ExtraToughWomenAK) and we’ll add them to our ongoing digital curation project. Stay tuned for more information about the upcoming exhibition and be sure to check back for new #ExtraToughWomenAK posts.

Image Credits:

Constitutional Convention Delegate Photographs, Vertical File Photograph Collections-Alaska Government, Alaska and Polar Regions Collections, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks, UAF-1983-185-1