Final answer:
Frances Perkins, though not an elected state officer for Illinois, was an influential figure in advancing women's leadership roles in government during the 1930s, and her feminist ideology and labor advocacy impacted policies in Illinois and across the nation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Illinois' first female major state officer was Frances Perkins, who became an influential figure in government during the 1930s, paving the way for women in leadership roles. Though she wasn't an elected state officer of Illinois, her work had profound effects on the state and the nation, as she was one of the key advocates for labor and social welfare reforms. Perkins was a trailblazer, being among the first women to be recognized as a feminist and choosing to keep her maiden name after marriage.
Other pioneering figures in advancing women's roles in society and politics include Florence Kelley and Mary Dickerson. Kelley became an advocate for children's labor rights in Illinois and was appointed by the governor to inspect conditions affecting child workers, while Dickerson was instrumental in the empowerment of women through the right to vote.