Miriam Amanda "Ma" Ferguson: From First Lady to Governor

This is a clip from a 1920's home movie which gives us a glimpse into Ferguson's first term as governor and her office at the home in the Governor's mansion.

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One of the many pardons Miriam Ferguson issued during her time as governor. This was one of the reasons "Ma" Ferguson's first term as governor of Texas was controversial. She issued around 3,595 acts of executive clemency (1,318 full pardons, 829 conditional pardons).

Image courtesy of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.

Miriam Amanda "Ma" Ferguson biography, includes a summation of her early life, life as first lady, time as governor, and life after leaving politics all together.

This is a letter from the public which is in response to her 1925 pardoning policy. The public was quite upset with her letting these individuals walk away scott free, this policy stirred up tons of controversy and later on an act was put into place! Removing the ability for state governors to pardon individuals, Pardon Attorney Reform and Integrity Act.

This is a letter from the public which is in response to her 1925 pardoning policy. The public was quite upset with her letting these individuals walk away scott free, this policy stirred up tons of controversy and later on an act was put into place! Removing the ability for state governors to pardon individuals, Pardon Attorney Reform and Integrity Act.

Miriam Amanda Wallace (Ma) Ferguson (1875-1961), first woman governor of Texas was born in Bell County, Texas, on June 13, 1875. She attended Salado College and Baylor Female College at Belton. Mrs. Ferguson served as the first lady of Texas during the gubernatorial terms of her husband (1915-17), who was impeached during his second administration. She quickly assured Texans that if elected she would follow the advice of her husband, and that Texas thus would gain "two governors for the price of one."

This is a political cartoon which is referring to the pardoning policy from 1925 which "Ma Ferguson put into place during her first term as governor of Texas.

Miriam Ferguson was a quiet, private person who preferred to stay home in her big house in Temple, Texas, and take care of her husband, raise her two daughters, and tend to her flower garden. But in 1924 she was elected governor of Texas." "She served two terms as governor: from 1925 to 1927 and from 1933 to 1935. She and her husband became known as "Ma" and "Pa" Ferguson. Her campaign slogan was "Two Governors for the Price of One.