Minnie Buckingham Harper (May 15, 1886 – February 10, 1978) was an American politician and housewife. Born in Winfield, West Virginia, Harper was a resident of Keystone when she became in 1928 the first black woman legislator in the United States. She was appointed by Governor Howard M. Gore to the West Virginia House of Delegates to fill the vacancy left by the death of her husband Ebenezer Howard Harper. The McDowell County Republican Executive Committee unanimously recommended that Harper fill her husband's position. She did not seek reelection at the end of her term. References External links 1886 births 1978 deaths People from Putnam County, West Virginia Republican Party members of the West Virginia House of Delegates African-American state legislators in West Virginia African-American women in politics Women state legislators in West Virginia People from Keystone, West Virginia 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American women politicians 20th-century African-American women 20th-century African-American politicians