Asian Wisconzine Section/Heidi M. Pascual
The First Female Filipino American Legislator in the U.S.
From APIAVote
Thelma Buchholdt was the first female Filipino American to serve in any state legislature in the country. Believe it or not, it was not in California, Hawaii, or Nevada — it was in Alaska in 1974.
Buccholdt was born in The Philippines in 1934. Graduating high school early at age 15, Buchholdt traveled stateside to receive a higher education. She met her husband during graduate school at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. They married and had four children together, before moving to Anchorage in 1965.
Buchholdt quickly became very active in the Anchorage community. She participated in the local March of Dimes and League of Women Voters chapters, as well as the Ad Hoc Committee of Young Democrats in Alaska. She was even an appointed member of the Alaska State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Buchholdt ran a surprisingly close race for Anchorage School Board, leading her to become the Alaska coordinator for the George McGovern presidential campaign. In 1974, Buchholdt once again ran for public office — successfully getting elected to the Alaska House of Representatives, a seat she would hold for four terms. This win would make her the first Filipino American woman to be elected to any state legislature in the country.
As a representative, she played a critical role in passing legislation to improve education, environmental protections, public art programs, support victims of domestic violence, mental health services, oil and gas taxes, infrastructure, and establishing legislation governing the Permanent Fund Dividend program.
In addition to the several organizations she was a part of, and her role as a legislator, Buchholdt also founded various centers and organizations, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Alaska, the Alaska chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society, the Filipino Heritage Council of Alaska, and the Asian Alaskan Cultural Center.
Thelma Buchholdt; Photo courtesy of Anchorage, Alaska Museum
After her time as an elected official, she continued to serve with the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. In 1980, Buchholdt became the first Asian American elected president of the National Order of Women Legislators. And in 1994, she was appointed director of Alaska's Office of Equal Opportunity. She also became an expert on the history of Filipinos in Alaska, writing a book "Filipinos in Alaska: 1788-1958" and produced a documentary on the subject.
Thelma Buchholdt's story embodies the American Dream. Moving from The Philippines for a better life in the United States, she was not only able to achieve that for herself — but dedicated her life to ensuring all Alaskans had a shot at a better life as well. Additionally, her historical research plays a key role in keeping the larger Asian American story alive.
