Reprint from Collections & Connections
Fall 1997, Vol. 2, No. 1

A Cumberland County woman's civic and political career stretched outside her home, taking her influence even to the nation's capitol.

That woman was Pearl Carter Pace, whose papers, correspondence, photographs and other memorabilia are a part of the Manuscripts unit of the Library Special Collections Department.

Pat Hodges, Manuscripts Supervisor, said part of the Pace Collection came to Western in 1970. Then, last fall, Pace's granddaughter, Rebecca Gray, of Burkesville, contacted Hodges, saying several more boxes of materials, discovered in a barn, would also be coming to the University.

To process materials most recently added to his mother's collection, Stanley C. Pace donated $10,000, "a thoughtful and generous gift," Hodges said, providing resources necessary to give more immediate attention to the collection.

Pearl Carter was born in Tompkinsville in 1896. She became a school teacher; was wife and mother; ran a successful business; and became very active in politics, serving in many local and state Republican Party positions and as the Republican National Committeewoman for Kentucky from 1948 to 1957.

She brought national attention to Kentucky when President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed her in 1953 to the War Claims Commission (later the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission). Near the end of his administration, Eisenhower elevated her to Commission chairman, making her the second highest ranking woman in his administration, next only to the Treasurer, and the first Kentucky woman appointed by a President to a national post.

Research indicates that Pearl Carter Pace had a great philosophy of life: "Anybody can do anything he wants if he just wants enough to make the effort."

This philosophy took her into areas of life pretty much uncharted for rural, southern women. Of all her accomplishments, perhaps none catapulted her to fame more than her tenure as Cumberland County Sheriff, a position she held from 1937-1941. Although other women had served in this capacity, Pace was the first Kentucky woman--and perhaps the first in the nation--to be elected to the post.

According to written accounts, Pace's husband, Stanley Dan Pace, had been "drafted" in 1933 to run for Cumberland County Sheriff by county citizens determined to control rum-running during prohibition. He was elected--the first Democrat to hold that office since the 1800s. When his term ended, he was unable to succeed himself, so Pearl was drafted to run and was elected.

Mrs. Pace assumed her husband would continue to handle problems that arose, but that wasn't the case. "It wasn't until I took the oath of office that I realized it was I--not him--who had been elected," Pace said. "I was going to wear the badge."

Pace drew on her wit to curtail lawlessness. The most recalled example was a bootlegging raid. Despite covert efforts, Pace said in written accounts, suspects often knew about raids in enough time to hide evidence. Such was the case when Mrs. Pace and her deputies called on a woman who was suspected of moonshining.

When "the sheriff" and her deputies arrived at the woman's home, they could find not liquor. However, intuition provided the evidence Pace needed.

"There was a washing machine on the front porch, but on the edge of the porch was a tub of water," Pace said.

"The other tubs were dry. I knew there was something wrong with the picture and it suddenly dawned on me what it was. I rolled up my sleeve, put my arm in the tub of water and pulled out 3 half gallon jugs. My deputies asked how I figured it out.

"Being a woman, I knew that no mountain woman would ever let sundown catch her with her clothes on the line or her wash not completed."

Her tenure as Cumberland County Sheriff earned her titles such as "Pistol Packing Pearl" and "Two Gun Pace," although she said she never actually used a gun.

After resigning her Washington position in 1961, Pace moved back to Burkesville. Documents say soon after she had a massive stroke, leaving her with a speech impediment and partial impairment in her right arm and right leg.

Her indomitable spirit and tenacity were exhibited even near the end. From her ICU bed, Pace greeted relatives by gesturing at the surrounding machines saying, "Don't worry about them, I am ready to go. I am just not in a hurry."

Pace died January 14, 1970, in the county hospital.

Editor's Note: The writer is a student assistant in the Office of Marketing/Special Events for University Libraries.

~Erika Gladhill

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