Born in Sellel, Russia in 1885, Freeda Lewis grew up in Ontario, Canada and moved to Phoenix with her husband Barnett E. Marks in 1906.

An outspoken representative of the Republican party, Freeda served as a minority leader in the state legislature in 1922 and represented Arizona on the Republican National Committee. She was also Maricopa County's elected representative and the Republican nominee for Speaker of the House.

Freeda was an early leader for women in politics and community work. She served as the legislative chairwoman Central Arizona District Federation of Women's Clubs and president of the Phoenix section of the Council of Jewish Women. She was active in Jewish charitable organizations and was well-known and respected for her intelligence and willingness to speak her mind.

For more information on Freeda Lewis and other Jewish women from Arizona, visit: http://www.azjhs.org/

Photo courtesy of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society.