Alabama Women's Hall of Fame
Born in Columbus, Georgia, Agnes Baggett moved to Montgomery with her family as a teenager. After serving as a clerk in multiple judicial and state offices from 1925-1950, she was elected Secretary of State in 1951. Four years later, Baggett became the first woman elected as State Auditor, in the first tern after the position was created, serving from 1955-1959. She was elected to the office of State Treasurer from 1959-1963, then re-elected to the office of Secretary of State for the 1963-1967 term. Baggett was re-elected to the State Treasurer’s office for two more terms, before being elected once again as Secretary of State in 1975. By the time she finished that term of office in 1979, she had served the citizens of the State of Alabama for 54 years, making her one of the most elected, and longest serving, officials in Alabama history.
As Secretary of State, Agnes Baggett modernized record keeping in her office by establishing a card index system to replace handwritten volumes, and received funding from the Alabama State Legislature to microfilm land records. She was also called upon to give dozens of speeches around the country, many of which focused on getting women more involved in politics and improving communities. Her most important objective, however, was being of service to others. In a 1956 speech, she stated, "We are all here to do a job…We are put here to be of service to our fellow man." She lived out that motto in service to the people of Alabama.
Other Inductees
Alabama Women's Hall of Fame