New book highlights ‘Incredible Idaho Women’
November 11, 2025
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8:33Now PlayingNew book highlights ‘Incredible Idaho Women’
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as posted by the channel#eastidahonews #idahowomen #idahohistory
IDAHO FALLS – Women who have made significant contributions in Idaho’s past and present are highlighted in a new book.
“Incredible Idaho Women: 43 Inspiring stories for all ages” was written and published by news outlet BoiseDev. Each chapter is devoted to a different person. The book is written with grade-schoolers in mind, but is accessible to all ages.
Kara Jackson, a managing partner with Boise Dev and an editor on the book, tells EastIdahoNews.com what inspired this project.
“The book was inspired by a trip I took in 2020 … to Sun Valley. My husband, Don, and I were biking and stopped in Champion’s Meadow, where all of the statues of the Olympians are. That’s the first time I learned about Gretchen Fraser.”
Jackson notes that Fraser is the first U.S. athlete to win a gold medal in skiing, which she won in 1948.
Fraser’s achievement was inspiring to Jackson and it made her want to tell other unknown stories about Idaho women.
Fraser is among those featured in the book. Seven of the women featured are from the eastern side of the state. They include Rebecca Mitchell Brown, a Baptist missionary who came to Idaho Falls in the late 1800s and played a role in helping Idaho recognize women’s right to vote. Brown also became the world’s first female chaplain when she served in that capacity in the Idaho Legislature.
Others highlighted in the book include Camille Johnson, a Pocatello attorney who serves as the primary general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jill McDonald, a speech pathologist from Rexburg, is also featured.
One chapter written by Jackson is about JoAn Wood. Wood is from Rigby and served in the Idaho House of Representatives for 32 years. She began her first term in 1982 and left office in 2014.
“The first time that she ran, she ran against four or five other men and won the seat. She continued to win the seat for 16 more elections,” Jackson says.
WATCH OUR CONVERSATION WITH JACKSON IN THE VIDEO ABOVE.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
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