While serving as President of the Oakland Board of Education, she was the only woman in the city holding an elected office.

[2][3][4] Annie Florence Brown was born on February 18, 1873,[5] in Yokohama, Japan, in which city she spent her early childhood.

[3] Annie's mother had become well known through her charitable work, and was president of King's Daughters' Home for Incurables in Oakland.

Brown consented to have her name placed on the ticket, and, without any speeches or electioneering on her part, was nominated by direct primary vote and subsequently elected by a majority,[2] serving during the period of 1911–1917.

[3] Brown found little time for "society" in the narrow sense of the term, but was active in philanthropic work.