Alaska Packard Davidson

Alaska Packard Davidson, sister of James Ward Packard, was born on March 1, 1868 in Warren, Ohio. She was likely named after the territory purchased by the United States from Russia in 1867. Married in Warren on November 7, 1893 to Ephraim Banks McCrum, Alaska started her own family including her daughter Esther. Sadly, Esther died on April 20, 1902 and the marriage between Alaska and Ephraim ended. In 1905, Alaska married James B. Davidson, carrying his last name for the rest of her life.

Years later, Alaska forged a path for herself that was not only significantly different from that of her brothers, but also any other women of the day. Alaska was the first female Special Agent to work for the Bureau of Investigations (later the name changed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the FBI). Despite her lack of higher education, she was hired by director William J. Burns as female agents were being hired to work on cases related to the Mann Act, which focused on combating interstate sex trafficking. Through the Mann Act, Congress passed a law in 1910 which made it illegal to transport women over state lines “for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose.” She worked in New York City and Washington, D.C., but no record remains of her specific duties.

On May 10, 1924, John Edgar Hoover became the acting director of the Bureau of Investigations. The Teapot Dome scandal created bad press, and Hoover sought to streamline the Bureau and search out corruption. He directed field offices to fire “unqualified agents”, many of whom were women and people of color. This led to Alaska’s resignation on June 10, 1924 ending her career as a Special Agent. It wasn’t until 1972 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act that women were hired, once again, to serve in the FBI.

After her husband, James’ death in 1929 in Fairfax County, Virginia, Alaska remained in the state until her own death on July 16, 1934 at the age of 66.