Elizabeth Peratrovich, born on July 4, 1911, in Petersburg, Alaska, was a Tlingit woman who significantly contributed to the fight against discrimination in Alaska. Despite gaining citizenship in 1924, Alaska Natives faced discrimination, including restrictions on their living conditions, medical care, and education.
Elizabeth and her husband, Roy, actively campaigned against this discrimination. After four years of drafting legislation, gathering support from other Alaska Natives, and lobbying legislators, their anti-discrimination bill was passed by the House in 1945 and forwarded to the Senate.
On February 16, 1945, Elizabeth gave a compelling speech that aided the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945. This law was the first of its kind in both Alaska and the United States. Elizabeth continued to advocate for civil rights until her death on December 1, 1958.
In 2020, the United States Mint issued five million $1 gold coins to honor Elizabeth and the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945. Elizabeth is recognized as a significant figure in Alaska’s civil rights history.