Lena Jones Wade Springs (March 22, 1883 - May 17, 1942) was the first woman placed in nomination for

Vice President of the United States The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest officer in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The vice ...

at a political convention. She was nominated at the

1924 Democratic National Convention The 1924 Democratic National Convention, held at the Madison Square Garden in New York City from June 24 to July 9, 1924, was the longest continuously running convention in United States political history. It took a record 103 ballots to nominate ...

. A native of

Pulaski, Tennessee Pulaski is a city in and the county seat of Giles County, which is located on the central-southern border of Tennessee, United States. The population was 8,397 at the 2020 census. It was named after Casimir Pulaski, a noted Polish-born soldier o ...

, she attended public schools, followed by Sullins College and post-graduate work at

Virginia College Virginia College was a private for-profit college located primarily in the southeastern United States. It offered classes, certificates, diplomas, and degrees related to specific professions such as health sciences, information technology, busines ...

in Roanoke. She became chair of the English Department at

Queens College Queens College (QC) is a public college in the Queens borough of New York City. It is part of the City University of New York system. Its 80-acre campus is primarily located in Flushing, Queens. It has a student body representing more than 170 ...

Charlotte Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont (United States), Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Meckl ...

, and married Col. Leroy Springs in 1913, a second marriage for both. An enthusiastic supporter of women's rights, she became a

Democratic National Committee The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is the governing body of the United States Democratic Party. The committee coordinates strategy to support Democratic Party candidates throughout the country for local, state, and national office, as well a ...

woman in 1922, and served as chair of the Credentials Committee in 1924. While her being supported for the vice presidential nomination was in essence a gesture, she received some votes in the election process, variously given as several, over 50, and 44.Our Campaigns - Candidate - Lena Jones Wade (Mrs. Leroy) Springs
/ref> She died on May 18, 1942, and is buried in Pulaski, Tennessee.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Springs, Lena 1883 births 1942 deaths Tennessee Democrats Female candidates for Vice President of the United States 1924 United States vice-presidential candidates Sullins College alumni People from Pulaski, Tennessee Women in Tennessee politics Queens University of Charlotte faculty 20th-century American women politicians 20th-century American politicians American women academics