Talented Women of the United States Midwest Quiz

Answer: Laura Ingalls Wilder

Georgia O'Keeffe was born in Sun Prairie and became one of the most noted woman artists of the early 20th century. Her subjects were flowers, landscapes, rocks, animal bones, vaginas, and sea shells.

Ada Deer, born in Keshena, became the first woman to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs. She has been politically active and teaches at the University of Wisconsin.

Although she was born in Russia, Golda Meir's formative years were in Milwaukee. She became one of the most recognizable world leaders when she was Prime Minister of Israel.

Answer: Ann Bancroft

Ann Bancroft is not to be confused with the actor with the same name. She quit her job in 1968 to join an expedition to the North Pole. In 1993 she led an all female group to the South Pole on skis.

Patty Andrews, along with her sister Laverne and Maxene, comprised the Andrew Sisters, the popular trio from the 1940's and 50's. Among their hits were "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", "Rum and Coca-Cola" and "Beat Me Daddy Eight to the Bar". During their career they had more top Billboard listing than Elvis or the Beatles.

Patty Berg was professional golfer who established the LPGA. She was a dominant female golfer for over three decades.

Answer: Judith Resnik

Dorothy Dandridge was a popular actor and singer. She was first black woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for her role in "Carmen Jones". Her singing was dubbed by another singer. She died an early death due an overdose of antidepressants.

Annie Oakley gained fame as a sharpshooter with Buffalo Bill's Western Show. She was immortalized in the stage musical and film "Annie Get Your Gun".

Victoria Woodhull was a true liberated woman of the 19th century. She gained fame as a spiritualist but became more interested in feminist issues. She and her sister established a feminist magazine which espoused many issues including free love. She was accused of sending salacious material through the mail but after a long court battle she was found not guilty.

Answer: Betty Ford

Ellen Burstyn won an Academy Award for her role in "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and has been nominated for several others.

Lily Tomlin is a well regarded actor and comic.

Madonna is just Madonna--the Material Girl.

Ford was the wife of Gerald Ford, President of the United States. She used her visibility as First Lady to champion for alcohol and drug abuse treatment.

Answer: Elsa Maxwell

Donna Reed won a Academy Award for her supporting role in "From Here to Eternity" and had a very successful TV sitcom.

Lillian Russell was a singer and actress famous for both her beauty and talent. She was a dominant theater personality during the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Anne Landers (pen name) wrote an advice column for many years as did her sister, Abigail Van Buren (pen name). They were born in Sioux City and were Esther and Pauline Friedland at birth.

Answer: Willa Cather

Ruth Etting was a popular entertainer and singer of the 1920s and 30s. She was married to a gangster named Martin 'Moe the Gimp' Snyder who managed her career. Their relationship was portrayed in the film "Love Me or Leave Me" which starred James Cagney as Snyder and Doris Day as Etting.

Kay Orr was not the first female governor but she was the first Republican.

Grace Abbott was social worker who served in many assignments in government. She was a major force in implementing child labor laws and was one the prime movers of the Social Security Act.

Answer: Molly Brown

Molly Brown was probably not called that often during her lifetime. Tammy Grimes won a Tony Award playing her in "The Unsinkable Molly Brown". Debbie Reynolds played her in the movie adaptation of the same name. Reynolds received an Oscar nomination but did not win. Kathy Bates played her in "Titanic" (1997).

Jean Harlow was the 'blonde bombshell' of the 1930s.

Bess Truman was the wife of Harry Truman, President of the United States.

Answer: Osa Johnson

Gwendolyn Brooks published twenty books of poetry and was the first African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize.

Earhart was a famous aviator. Much conjecture still surrounds her disappearance over the Pacific.

Carry Nation was a feisty advocate of the prohibition cause.

Answer: Belle Gunnes

Marjorie Main was a character actor with a distinctive voice. She was nominated for Academy Award for her performance in "The Egg and I", the first film in which she portrayed Ma Kettle that later developed into a whole series of films which featured Ma and Pa Kettle.

Janet Guthrie was the first female driver to participate in the Indianapolis 500.

Twyla Tharp"s career has been dance. As a choreographer, she has created dances for such ballets as New York, Boston, and Paris. She has been involved in many Broadway musicals and many movies.

(Although I realize that serial killing is a questionable 'talent', I thought it was an interesting story.)

Answer: Sue Grafton

Rosemary Clooney was a popular singer and actress of the 1950s. Her number one Billboard hits include "Come On'a My House" (1951), "Half as Much" (1952), "Hey There" (1954), and "This Ole House" (1959). Her most memorable film was "White Christmas" (1954). She suffered from bipolar disease much of her life.

Although Mary Todd Lincoln is generally associated with Illinois she, like her husband, Abraham Lincoln, was born in Kentucky.

Naomi Judd, along with her daughter, Wynonna, were a successful country/western duet winning several Grammies. Her other daughter, Ashley, is a successful actor.

Grafton's novels include ""A" is for Alibi", ""B" is for Burglar", ""C" is for Corpse", etc.