Early Fraternity Women Who Were Lawyers 1867-1902
 

I just came across this wonderful photo of Grace Hebard in the library at the University of Wyoming and I remembered this chapter of my dissertation. Since I was only looking at the seven founding NPC members I may have overlooked a few of the women from the organizations that joined NPC after 1902. I was also looking at women who became lawyers prior to 1902. I know there are several who became lawyers at a little later date, including Mary Love Collins, Chi Omega legend.

"During the time frameof this study, 1867-1902, women had few legal rights. Therefore, it is interesting to note that several of these early fraternity women became lawyers at a time when women were not yet allowed to vote. In 1870 there were five female lawyers in the United States. A year earlier, the first woman was admitted to the Bar. (Newcomer, 1959)."

Since copying and pasting is extremely frustrating to do on this small screen, here is the link for the rest of the post.

http://wp.me/p20I1i-KD

Helen St. Clair Mullen, one of the founders of AOII graduated at the top of her class from NYU law school and was admitted to the bar in NYC.

Would you happen to know off-hand when she was admitted to the bar? Or when she graduated from NYU law school. I will add her to the post when I get home.

I knew when I followed by advisor's advice, and limited myself to the seven founding NPC members, I would run into these situations. Hindsight is 20-20!

Helen graduated from Barnard in 1898, and was a law student at NYU in 1900 when she installed our Nu chapter there.

She later served on the New York Board of Education and was a Trustee for Barnard College.

I'll have to see if our history book includes that information.