Mary Trail papers

Mary Trail grew up on her family's farm located between Payette and Weiser, Idaho. She graduated from Payette High School and went on to Arizona State University where she earned BS and MA degrees in sociology. She lived in Arizona for 13 years and then moved back to Idaho, arriving in Boise in 1970.

She joined Information and Referral Services, Inc. in 1971 as a program specialist and became executive director in 1975, a position which she held until 1980. Trail served as a member of the YWCA Board of Directors from 1972 to 1976. She was also invovled with United Way and the American Association of University Women.

In 1981, Trail was a partner in Smithman, Smithman, and Trail, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in socio-economic research, when she was elected to the Boise City Council. She served as president of City Council until 1985.