Key Points:
- Women served as U.S. Marshals before 1923, with the first appointment occurring in 1887.
- Female deputy U.S. Marshals existed, though they were rare and often handled clerical duties.
- The character Marshal Mamie Fossett in 1923 is loosely inspired by historical precedent, but a woman in her role at that time would have been highly unusual.
Did Female US Marshals Exist in 1923?
The Paramount+ series 1923, a prequel to Yellowstone, introduces a female U.S. Marshal, Mamie Fossett, portrayed by Jennifer Carpenter. This raises the question of whether women actually held such roles at the time. Historically, women’s participation in law enforcement was limited, and female U.S. Marshals were extremely rare. While a few women had held deputy positions before 1923, a female Marshal in this era was far from common.
The U.S. Marshals Service was established in 1789, and for most of its early history, it was a male-dominated profession. Women were often restricted to administrative or support roles, with few exceptions. However, some historical records suggest that by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a handful of women did take on deputy marshal positions, though their responsibilities were typically different from those of their male counterparts.
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Who Was the First Female US Marshal?
The first known female U.S. Marshal was Phoebe Couzins, appointed in 1887. She initially worked as a deputy under her father, John Couzins, who was a U.S. Marshal in Missouri. When he passed away, she took over his duties for a brief period before being replaced. Though her tenure was short, she paved the way for women in law enforcement.
Another early female deputy U.S. Marshal was Ada Carnutt (sometimes spelled Carnutte), who served in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) in 1893. She was appointed under her father, Marshal Andrew Carnutt, but her role was more administrative than field-based. F.M. Miller, another woman often mentioned in discussions about female law enforcement pioneers, was also a deputy U.S. Marshal in the late 19th century, though records on her activities remain scarce.
By 1923, these cases were still considered anomalies. The idea of a woman actively tracking and arresting criminals, as depicted in 1923, would have been highly unusual at the time. It wasn’t until 1971 that the U.S. Marshals Service officially appointed a female deputy marshal in a modern capacity—Phyllis Ann Turnage.
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Was Mamie Fossett a Real US Marshal?
While 1923 introduces Marshal Mamie Fossett as a key figure in law enforcement, the real Mamie Fossett was a deputy U.S. Marshal in Oklahoma in the early 1900s. However, historical records indicate that she primarily worked in a clerical role rather than in the field, making her portrayal in 1923 more dramatic than historically accurate.
The show’s creative liberties align with Taylor Sheridan’s storytelling style. Yellowstone and its prequels often blend real historical elements with fictional narratives. The inclusion of a female marshal in 1923 adds a modern perspective to the historical setting but does not reflect the common reality of the time.
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Did Any Women Work in Law Enforcement in 1923?
Although female U.S. Marshals were virtually unheard of in 1923, women were making strides in other areas of law enforcement. The first policewoman in the United States, Alice Stebbins Wells, was appointed in 1910 in Los Angeles. By the 1920s, some women worked as police officers, primarily handling cases involving women and children. They were often referred to as police matrons, and their roles were generally limited to administrative tasks rather than direct enforcement or criminal apprehension.
Some women did serve as sheriff’s deputies in rural areas, particularly in cases where their husbands had held the position before them. However, even in these cases, their roles were typically more symbolic than active in field operations.
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How Accurate Is 1923’s Portrayal of Female US Marshals?
While 1923 is grounded in historical themes, it takes creative liberties in its portrayal of a female U.S. Marshal. Mamie Fossett’s character may be inspired by real women in law enforcement, but no evidence suggests that a woman held such a position with full enforcement powers in 1923. At best, a female U.S. Marshal in that era would have been highly exceptional and likely would have faced significant resistance from male colleagues and the public.
Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone universe is known for incorporating real historical struggles while adapting them for dramatic effect. In the case of Marshal Mamie Fossett, 1923 presents an empowering but historically unlikely scenario. While her presence enriches the show’s narrative, it is important to recognize the distinction between fiction and reality.
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Were There Female US Marshals in 1923?
The answer is technically yes, but very rarely. Women had served as deputy U.S. Marshals before 1923, but they were often limited to clerical duties. A fully empowered female U.S. Marshal actively enforcing the law in the manner depicted in 1923 would have been highly unlikely. However, the series’ decision to include such a character fits within its broader approach to storytelling—mixing historical accuracy with compelling drama.
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