Frances V. Rummell
Pioneering Lesbian Author, Educator, and Hickman High School Teacher

Frances V. Rummell was a Columbia native, educator, and author whose work would later be recognized as groundbreaking in American literary and LGBTQ+ history. A graduate of Hickman High School and the University of Missouri, she went on to serve as a professor of French at Stephens College, shaping generations of students through her academic career.

In 1939, Rummell published Diana: A Strange Autobiography under the pseudonym Diana Frederics. The book is widely considered the first explicitly lesbian autobiography published in the United States. At the time, writing openly about same-sex relationships carried significant personal and professional risk, and Rummell took care to obscure her identity and alter details of her life. Even so, she made clear that her work was not fiction, but a truthful account of lived experience.

Within its pages, Rummell reflects on her early life, including recognizing her identity as a teenager, and offers a candid, deeply personal narrative that was virtually unprecedented in its time. Though the story is set in Kentucky, many elements closely mirror early 20th-century Columbia, capturing the nuances of the community with sharp observation and insight.

Rummell’s authorship remained unknown for decades, only being publicly identified in 2010. Today, her work is increasingly acknowledged for its cultural and historical significance, offering an early and courageous voice in the documentation of LGBTQ+ experiences in America.

Through her writing and her willingness to tell a story few others could at the time, Frances V. Rummell left a lasting mark that continues to resonate far beyond Boone County.

Almeta Crayton
Trailblazing Community Leader and Columbia’s First Black City Councilwoman

Almeta Crayton (1959-2013) moved to Columbia in 1991 as a 32-year-old single mother with her two-year-old son, Tyrone. Tyrone had been born prematurely in St. Louis, and Almeta moved to Columbia to be closer to the medical care he needed. Almeta remained in Columbia until her death in 2013 at the age of 53. Her accomplishments and gifts to the community during those 22 years are easily comparable to others who have lived in Columbia 50, 60 or 70 years. Almeta gave her heart and soul to the community.

Almeta felt she could make a difference though local politics. When she ran for the Columbia City Council for the first time in 1996, she lost by only 120 votes. When she ran again in 1999 at age 39, she won and became the first Black woman ever elected to the council. She said her son, Tyrone, and his future was one reason for her running for office. She wanted to do something about the drugs and crime she saw in central Columbia. After winning she said, “It’s time to get to work. That’s what I was saying I was going to do, and I’m going to do it.” (Columbia Missourian, Oct. 23, 2013)

Almeta served three terms on the council. She became its conscience. In council meetings she often asked why it seemed there were two sets of rules—one for the well-off in Columbia and one for the poorer, neglected neighborhoods. She would ask why there weren’t more jobs for the youth in her ward; why, in progressive, enlightened, prosperous Columbia did anyone struggle. She challenged the red tape that sometimes prevented her constituents from becoming more self-sufficient.

In her first year as councilwoman, she opened the Neighborhood Resource Center. That location is where her community food program, “Everybody Eats” began in 1998. For Almeta’s remaining 15 years the annual Thanksgiving Day event fed hundreds of families and individuals. The event continues today in her memory.

Almeta also led collections for Christmas baskets and school supplies. She was a member of the Fairview Road Church of Christ and the Boone County Democrats Central Committee. She served on the board of the Family Health Center, volunteered at West Boulevard Elementary and Gentry Middle Schools, and belonged to the Order of Eastern Star service organization.

Today, Almeta’s legacy lives on through “Almeta Crayton’s Community Programs”. The organization continues to produce the annual “Everybody Eats” event as well as the “Poor Man’s Breakfast”, held in January each year in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mary Paxton Keeley
First Woman MU Journalism Graduate, Pioneering Journalist, and Educator

Mary Paxton Keeley was a pioneering journalist, educator, and writer whose influence on Columbia and the field of journalism continues to resonate. A member of the first class admitted to the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism in 1908, she graduated in 1910 as the first woman to earn a journalism degree—an achievement that marked the beginning of a long and impactful career.

From the outset, Keeley demonstrated a strong sense of leadership and conviction. While a student, she successfully challenged policies that excluded women from participating fully in campus life, organizing her peers to advocate for change. This commitment to equity and access would remain a defining characteristic throughout her life.

After graduating, Keeley became one of the first female reporters in Kansas City. Her work often focused on social issues and investigative reporting, including coverage that exposed unsafe and unjust conditions affecting women. Her reporting required both persistence and courage, earning her a reputation for tackling complex and difficult subjects at a time when women in journalism were rare.

During World War I, Keeley traveled throughout Europe, working with the YMCA and documenting her experiences through writing and correspondence. She later returned to Columbia, where she earned a master’s degree from the University of Missouri and went on to teach journalism at Christian College (now Columbia College) for more than two decades. As an educator, she mentored generations of students while continuing her own prolific writing career.

Keeley authored plays, poetry, and a children’s book, and contributed to numerous publications, including regional and national magazines. Beyond her writing, she remained deeply engaged in the cultural life of Columbia—supporting the arts, contributing to local history efforts, and helping to shape the community she called home.

Known for her independence, intellect, and creativity, Keeley lived to the age of 100, leaving behind a legacy that reflects both professional achievement and a deep commitment to storytelling. Her life’s work continues to illustrate the lasting impact of women in Boone County history.

Mary Anne McCullum
First Female Mayor of Columbia, Civic Leader, and Advocate for Public Housing

Mary Anne McCollum is a trailblazer in Columbia politics and a steadfast advocate for her community. Her career began on a stormwater task force, but she quickly moved into city leadership, winning a seat on the Columbia City Council in 1985. Driven by a commitment to diversifying the local economy, supporting growth, and improving public housing, McCollum earned the trust of her constituents and secured re-election before setting her sights on an even larger role.

In 1989, at age 39, she made history as Columbia’s first—and to date only—female mayor, serving until 1994. During her tenure, McCollum helped establish Regional Economic Development Inc. (REDI) to strengthen the local business community and presided over the city’s inaugural Columbia Values Diversity breakfast, an event that continues to celebrate inclusion more than 25 years later.

Public housing was a central focus of her leadership. Even after leaving office, McCollum remained deeply involved, serving as a commissioner with the Columbia Housing Authority for 20 years, working to ensure the city provided safe, affordable housing for all residents.

Throughout her career, McCollum’s greatest impact came from her connection to people—listening to constituents, collaborating on solutions, and working tirelessly to make Columbia a stronger, more equitable city. Her leadership and dedication stand as a testament to the difference one woman from Boone County can make in shaping her community and the world around her.

Rosemary Ginn
First Female Missouri Ambassador, Business Leader, and Political Advocate

Rosemary Ginn was a pioneering businesswoman, political organizer, and diplomat from Columbia, Missouri. A graduate of Hickman High School and the University of Missouri, Ginn began her career deeply engaged in Republican politics, serving in leadership roles at the county, state, and national levels. She advocated for women’s participation in government, supporting initiatives such as the Equal Rights Amendment and broadening representation in party leadership.

Ginn also made her mark in business, becoming president of her family’s publishing company, Lucas Brothers Publishing, in 1971. Her leadership extended to international service when she was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg in 1976, becoming the first woman from Missouri to hold an ambassadorial post. She also chaired the U.S. Commission for UNESCO and later contributed to national women’s policy initiatives.

Throughout her career, Ginn combined business acumen, civic engagement, and a dedication to public service, leaving a lasting legacy as a woman from Boone County whose leadership shaped both her community and the world stage.