Female Deputies
First Woman Deputy Margaret Q. Adams
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Badge issued to Margaret
Q. Adams in 1912. This
badge is still held by her
family.
Deputy Margaret Q. Adams at work.
(far left) circa 1912-20's.
Margaret Q. Adams at work. Date:
sometime in the '40's. Although her
work was primarily clerical, she did in
effect run the evidence at the LA Co.
Courthouse. She is know to have also
gone on calls on occasion, especially
when the case involved women and
children. She told the family that there
were the times when she wore her gun
belt.
Margaret Adams at her retirement
party at age 72, in 1947, shown here
with Sheriff Eugene Biscailuz.
Margaret was godmother to Gene
Biscailuz/s son Judge Warren Biscailuz.
She often stated to her family that she
Click on photos to enlarge
Margaret Queen Adams was born July 26, 1874, in Dover Kentucky.
She came to California and Los Angeles with her father in about
1880 and lived much of her girlhood in the family home at 2nd and
San Pedro Sts.
Margaret's maiden name was Phillips and she became a deputy
sheriff through her brother-in-law Sheriff William Hammel, who had
married Margaret's sister Lillian Mary Phillips. Margaret had
become separated from her husband Elmer Adams and she needed to
work to support her two children.
Margaret was sworn in Feb. 16, 1912 and served in the departments
Civil Division for 35 years and retired when she was 72. Margaret
passed on from a stroke at age 99 in 1974.
In her later years of service she had been issued a 6-pointed star
which she was wearing when she was buried.
Click on image to enlarge.
Uniforms for female deputies
Click on picture to enlarge.
This hat and cap piece was part of the official female deputy uniform in the 1960's. With the changing
hair styles, which were not compatible with the uniform hat, it and the cap piece were no longer issued or
required wearing as part of the uniform.
During the 1970's the required female uniform changed the same as the male deputies except for the hat.
The female deputies were not required to wear the official hat. Late in the 1970's the male deputies were
not longer issued the hat and its use was only proscribed for special occasions.
Women of Class 100. (date unk)
click on picture to enlarge
Earliest Female
uniform..late 1940s
Female deputy uniform for the 1950s.
Female uniform from the
1950s.
Female deputy
uniform, less
jacket, for the
1960s.
Catherine F. Doan
wearing the last official
female deputy hat
authorized.
Catherine worked
Firstone Station
1968-1973.
EOW 6-9-07.
Sheriff Peter J. Pitchess with graduating
female deputies.
Taken in 1960's.
Sheriff Peter J. Pitchess with
graduating female deputies.
Taken approx. early 70's.
Male and female uniforms of the
50's.
Modern Class "A"
entitled to wear all
military ribbons earned.