Group wants Wyoming pioneer on $10 bill

The Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus is encouraging Wyoming citizens to support Esther Hobart Morris as the new face of the $10 bill.

Morris was a pioneer for women’s suffrage and among the first women to be appointed a justice of the peace in Wyoming. She was appointed to the post in South Pass City, Wyoming in 1870.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew recently announced that a woman will be represented on the new $10 bill and is asking for public input into what female should be on the currency.

“Esther Hobart Morris’s importance as a symbol for women’s suffrage and women serving in public office makes her worthy of this honor,” said WyoWLC Co-Chair Ruth Ann Petroff of Jackson. “As justice of the peace, she not only proved that women could serve in such capacities, but that they could competently and successfully manage public office.”

The caucus said Wyoming has a long history of female firsts, including being the first state to allow a woman to cast a vote to having the first woman elected governor.

The WyoWLC is asking Wyoming citizens to show their support for Esther Hobart Morris by signing an online petition at www.estherhobartmorris.com and posting on social media with the hashtag #TheNew10.