Women – On Second Consideration

Lilith Wilson

Lilith M. Wilson (neé) Browne, was born on September 13, 1886 in Dublin, Wayne County, Indiana. In 1918, Wilson graduated from the socialist school Rand School of Social Science in New York. Three years later, she moved to Reading, Pennsylvania.

Wilson engaged in political activities prior to moving to Pennsylvania. She first joined the socialist party in 1906 and toured the country giving lectures, as well as being the party’s campaign organizer. Lilith married Reading socialist activist L. Birch Wilson in 1921. That same year she was elected to the National Executive Committee of the Socialist Party.[1] She also was involved with a ‘Debs Amnesty’ lobbying campaign which helped persuade President Warren G. Harding to commute Eugene Debs’ sentence from prison.[2] Her political involvement continued the following year when she was nominated as a socialist candidate for Pennsylvania Governor in 1922. She was the first female in state history to run for that position.[3] Wilson finished third in that election, but that did not deter her from politics. In 1928, she was elected chair of the National Women’s Committee of the Socialist Party. Two years later, Lilith became the first woman socialist elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and served two consecutive terms..

While serving in the House of Representatives, Lilith’s legislative work focused on child labor laws, expansion of women’s rights, economic improvement and job creation, and union workers protection. She supported legislation for unemployment insurance, income taxes, and a one cent poll tax. In 1935 she introduced a bill that would allow money to be drawn from the general funds to pay blind persons benefits under the existing ‘blind-aid’ act. Wilson said that her “bill would permit the general revenues of the commonwealth to be thrown in to make up the deficit and [insure] assistance for every blind person who needed it.”[4] She introduced a bill encouraging Pennsylvania to ratify the child labor amendment to the federal constitution.

Wilson died on July 7, 1937 in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. She is interred at Aulenbach Cemetery, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Representative Darlington Hoopes (Berks County, Socialist, 1931 to1936) said Wilson’s “service in the House of Representatives will stand as an enduring monument to her memory, and as an example for future Representatives to follow.”[5]

[1] www.readingpasocialists.org

[2] Reading Eagle, July 8, 1937

[3] www.readingpasocialists.org

[4] “Lilith Wilson Busy” Reading Times, January 21, 1935. page 1. www.newspapers.com

[5] Reading Eagle, July 8, 1937

Women’s Wednesday Feature: Marian Markley

Marian Evelyn Markley (née Hall), was born on April 8, 1906, in Treichlers, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Northampton High School in 1923. She was awarded an honorary Doctoral of Laws degree from Cedar Crest College in 1968.

Markley entered the political sphere as a secretary for Representative Franklin H. Lichtenwalter of Lehigh County. Lichtenwalter went on to serve as Majority Leader from 1943 to 1946 and Speaker of the House for the 1947-1948 session. As Markley continued to work for Lichtenwalter, she went from “not knowing what a House Bill looked like” to fully understanding the political system through hard work and dedication.[1]

In 1950, Markley was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Republican, representing Lehigh County. She defeated her fellow Sunday school teacher at Solomon’s Reformed Church, Democratic candidate William A. Shoemaker. Markley went on to serve eight consecutive terms in the House and fought for children and adults with disabilities through her legislative work. She was a prime sponsor of legislation which became Act 531 of 1951 that created daycare training facilities for children with special needs. Later she cosponsored legislation with Representative Mary Varallo that became Act 713 of 1957, which created a revolving fund for the State Council for the Blind to draw from and use to aid visually impaired persons to start small businesses. When Markley decided to retire from politics, she was second in seniority amongst House Members.

While serving in the House, Markley was elected Chair of the Education Committee (1957-1958), Chair of the Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Committee (1963-1964 and 1967-1968), and Chair of the Joint State Government Commission in 1967. Markley was elected Minority Caucus Secretary from 1959 to1962 and again from 1965 to 1966. She was elected Majority Caucus Secretary for the 1963 -1964 session. Markley also received numerous awards for her illustrious career as a politician. In 1968 she was named Woman of the Year by the Pennsylvania Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Club. Six years later in 1974 she was named Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania by the Lehigh Council of Republican Women which she was an active member.

Markley died on January 27, 1986 in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Markley is interred at Greenwood Cemetery, Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Known as ‘The Lady from Lehigh’, she “helped show the way for women willing to venture into politics.”[2]

[1] “State BPW Cites Lady From Lehigh “Evening Chronicle, June 16, 1969.

[2] “A Few More Women Hold Office.” The Morning Call, December 29, 1986, from www.newspapers.com.

Martha Gibbons Thomas

Martha Gibbons Thomas was born in Whitford, Chester County, Pennsylvania on February 13, 1869. Much of her childhood and early youth was spent on her family’s farm, Woodford, in Chester County, a farm which was in her family since the late 1690s. Woodford was purchased from William Penn, and much of the original property is still in the family.

Thomas, second from right. Image, Barbara McIlvaine Smith Papers House Archives

Thomas is well known for her work with farming and the agricultural industry, especially guernsey cows. Thomas graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1889 with her A.B. (now referred to as a Bachelor’s Degree) as a member of the first graduating class after the college’s founding. Thomas remained at Bryn Mawr, as a residence hall warden in the late 1890s.

Thomas, middle, with one of her prize winning Guernsey cows

Thomas was one of the first eight women elected to the PA House in 1922, following the adoption of the 19^th amendment. She represented Chester County’s 2^nd district. Much of her legislation dealt with appropriation funds for agriculture and public health- two of her passions. During her time in the House, Thomas was the State’s Official Hostess at the Sesquicentennial International Exposition in Philadelphia in 1926. This exposition celebrated the 150^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. She did not seek reelection at the conclusion of the 1926 term, but still remained active in politics.

From 1930 until her death in 1942, Thomas was the President of the Women’s Republican Club of Chester County. In 1934, she was appointed Associate Chairman for William Schnader, gubernatorial candidate. Her position assisted in the formation of women’s groups throughout the state, and to help appeal Schnader to women voters. She was a founder of the Chester County Health and Welfare Council in addition to serving as a trustee at the Teachers College of West Chester (now West Chester University). Thomas died on June 26, 1942 in West Chester and is buried in Downingtown Friends Meetinghouse Cemetery in Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Happy March: Women’s History Month

March is National Women’s History Month. The House Archives will be highlighting four women of the PA House each Wednesday. Check our Facebook and Instagram pages for our “Women Wednesday” feature.

This year is the 100^th anniversary of the federal government granting women the right to vote in the United States. On June 4, 1919 the 19^th amendment passed Congress, and on August 18, 1920 the amendment was ratified.

Women were trying to gain the vote as early as 1848 after a women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton emerging as leaders in the growing national movement. The National Women Suffrage Association was later created by Anthony and Stanton in 1869 to encourage the federal government to grant more rights to women. Stanton traveled the country lecturing to supporters who wanted women not only to be equal in voting rights, but in society as a whole tackling issues like marriage and property rights. There were multiple attempts in Congress to pass an amendment for women, but each one failed. Attempts were even made in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 1870s to no avail. [1]

The issue of female African American voting rights continued to be a struggle as African American women had everything going against them: race and gender. Even though early suffrage groups supported rights for African Americans, local chapters starting excluding African American women. As a result, African American women like Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Frances E.W. Harper formed the National Association of Colored Women in 1896 who held their own parades and marches in Washington D.C.

National Association of Colored Women. Image, NACW

Pickets and parades painted the Washington D.C. and New York City skylines as women continued to campaign for their cause into the twentieth century. The two main associations united their support and formed one group called the National American Women Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in 1890. They petitioned Congress and later President Woodrow Wilson for an amendment to the Constitution that would hopefully forever change history. [2] No political party supported the movement until 1912 when the Bull Moose Party, led by Theodore Roosevelt, supported women’s suffrage. [3]

Suffragists Alice Paul and Lucy Burns organized the National Women’s Party which adopted more militant tactics like their British counterparts. Women protestors were often arrested or placed in workhouses where many women went on hunger strikes to demonstrate their devotion to the cause. In many cases, women were beaten and/or tortured through force feeding for their refusal to adhere to prison guidelines. These tactics did not stop women, as more continued to protest, picket, and march for change.[4]

Members of the National Women Suffrage Association, Library of Congress

President Wilson eventually supported a federal amendment to allow women’s suffrage at the conclusion of World War I. This led to the 19^th amendment which, as mentioned above, passed Congress in 1919 and three quarters of the states ratified the amendment in 1920. A century of struggle, violence, and inequality eventually led to an amendment which forever changed history.

For more information on the women’s suffrage movement and to learn more about groups, opposition parties, and individuals involved in the movement click here.

[1] “Timeline of the Suffrage Movement,” National Women’s History Museum. http://www.crusadeforthevote.org/history. Accessed February 28, 2020.
“National Association of Colored Women, “ National Women’s History Museum. http://www.crusadeforthevote.org/nacw. Accessed February 28, 2020. [2] “The Woman Suffrage Movement: The Most Significant Achievement of Women in the Progressive Era,” National Women’s History Museum. Accessed February 28, 2020.
[3] “Timeline of the Suffrage Movement,” National Women’s History Museum. http://www.crusadeforthevote.org/history. Accessed February 28, 2020.
‘Suffragists Unite: National American Woman Suffrage Association,” National Women’s History Museum. http://www.crusadeforthevote.org/nawsa-united. Accessed February 28, 2020. [4] “Lucy Burns (1879-1966),” Turning Point Suffragist Memorial. https://suffragistmemorial.org/lucy-burns-1879-1966/. Accessed February 28, 2020.

Susie Monroe

Born on March 4, 1885, Susie Monroe was from Jacksonville, Florida. She attended St. Athanasius High School before moving to Pennsylvania, more specifically, Philadelphia, and later married James Talbott Monroe.

She became involved in community politics shortly after moving to Philadelphia as she was the chair of the 32nd Ward Democratic Executive Committee. She volunteered for the Salvation Army, March of Dimes, and other local organizations. During this time, she was also a dressmaker and proprietor of a salon.

First elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1948, Monroe was reelected for nine more consecutive terms to represent Philadelphia’s 28th Legislative District. During her time in the House, Monroe worked on issues relating to equal opportunity in employment, public health, and housing. She sponsored legislation that became Act 498 of 1965 which prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religious, ancestry, and age by employers. She also worked on public health legislation that led her to secure appropriations for Jefferson Medical College and Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania.

Susie Monroe, Ebony Magazine, September 1967

During her last term in office, Monroe made headlines for her “protested vote.” In 1967, a vote was on the floor to raise the state sales tax from 5% to 6%. Monroe was absent at the time due to a recent illness. However, someone pushed her button for the proposed tax increase, when she was actually against passing the bill. To this day, this “phantom” incident has never been solved. Unfortunately, Monroe never fully recovered from her illness and died in office on November 7, 1968 in Philadelphia. She is interred at Rolling Green Memorial Park in West Chester.

Sarah A. Anderson

Sarah Anderson was born on January 25, 1901 in Jacksonville, Florida, but later relocated to Pennsylvania. She graduated from Philadelphia High School for Girls and later from the Philadelphia Normal School. She was married to Dr. Adolphus W. Anderson with whom they had six children.

Following her studies, Anderson was an elementary school teacher in the Philadelphia public school system. However, behind the scenes, Anderson was heavily involved in Philadelphia politics. She was a member of the 30th Ward Democratic Committee, in addition to being a member of the 44th Ward Executive Committee, and a member of District 1, Democratic Executive Committee. Anderson was also an inspector for the Philadelphia Elections Board, a judge on the 24th Division Election Board, and a legislative consultant for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Anderson was elected as a Democrat to represent Philadelphia’s 25th District from 1955 to 1968 and after redistricting represented the 193rd Legislative District from 1969 to 1972. During her time in office, Anderson focused much of her legislation on sickle cell anemia treatment, anti-discrimination, and children vaccination. She was the sponsor of Act 17 of 1959 that called for children to be vaccinated prior to starting kindergarten. She also sponsored legislation that became Act 56 of 1969 which prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, ancestry, sex, or national origin in employment. In 1971, Act 121 was enacted which provided funds for the funerals of deceased veterans by providing gravestone markers, flags and other items associated with veteran funerals.

Sarah Anderson, Ebony Magazine September 1967

She was the first African American woman to chair a House committee in 1969 as the Chair of the Health and Welfare Committee. Anderson was believed to have been an original member of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus before it was made official in 1973. In addition to her numerous responsibilities in the House, Anderson still found time to serve on other committees and commissions. She was appointed as a member of the following: Commission on Philadelphia School Charter, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Governor’s Commission on Status of Women, Governor’s Council on Drugs, Governors Task Force on Human Services, and the State Advisory Committee on Mental Health/Mental Retardation. Anderson did not seek election for the 1973 session.

At the time of her retirement, Speaker Herbert Fineman explained that “Sarah is deeply admired and respected by both sides of the aisle for her gentleness, her finesse, for her thoughtfulness, for the cheer she always spread. I have always found it utterly amazing that in spite of the many misfortunes that have stricken her she was always of good courage, and we have come to love her for this courage, as well as for her fairness.”[1]

Following her time in office, Anderson continued her various committee memberships in Philadelphia. She also received numerous awards for her work done in her 17 years in the House. She died on December 9 ,1992 in Philadelphia and is buried in West Laurel Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County.

[1] Fineman, Herbert “Sarah Anderson” speech, n.d.

End of Women’s History Month 2019

Thank you for celebrating Women’s History Month with us at the House Archives! Even though it is April, we decided to feature one more female representative!

Marion L. Munley (née Langan) was born on August 9, 1906 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York. She graduated from St. John’s High School, Marywood College (now University) in Scranton, and the Powell School of Business in Scranton. She married Robert W. Munley and had two sons James M. and Robert W.

Following her studies, Munley became active in local politics. She was an organizer and president of the 20th Ward Democratic Women’s Club, as well as a member of the Young Democrats of Lackawanna County and the Women’s Democratic Club of Mayfield. She was also active in working on political campaigns including ones for Lackawanna Judge T. Linus Hoban and Congressman Patrick J. Boland.

Munley’s husband, Robert W. Munley, was a Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1939 until his death on January 25, 1947. Marion Munley was elected to his former seat in a Special Election on September 9, 1947, and sworn in on October 14, 1947. She was reelected for 8 subsequent session representing Lackawanna’s 4^th district. She was elected as the Democratic Caucus Secretary for the 1963-1964 session. While in office Munley championed legislation related to labor, welfare, and equality. Some of the noteworthy legislation she was involved with include Act 355 of 1955 which expanded employer liability for employee illnesses contracted in the course of employment, Act 452 of 1955 which required further safety provisions on conveyer belts in coal mines, and Act 694 of 1959 which prohibited pay discrepancies due to the gender of an employee.

Opting not to run for reelection in 1964, Munley was appointed Secretary of the House of Representatives for the 1965-1966 session. Marion L. Munley died September 14, 1983 in Archbald, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. She is interred at St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery, Archabld, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania.

Marion Munley, portrait, PA House of Representatives

Following her passing, Munley’s sons donated a portrait of her which was received by Speaker K. Leroy Irvis on March 11, 1987. The portrait has been on display in the House anterooms ever since its reception. Below is the poem Representative Peter C. Wambach read when the portrait was presented to the House. For her full biography please visit: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=1485&body=H

Rep. Peter C. Wambach Poem, House Archives

Historical Spotlight: Women’s History Month Edition!

Mary A. Varallo was the first women to serve in House leadership positions. She was elected Democratic Caucus Chair for the 1957-1958 session, as well as Majority Whip for the 1959-1960 session. Varallo was born on June 11, 1897 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. She attended the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Pennsylvania School of Criminology, and Leefson Conservatory.

Following her studies, Varallo was a professional pianist and organist. She and her husband also operated a jewelry business. Varallo was actively engaged in Philadelphia politics, and was part of numerous organizations and clubs prior to her election to the House. She was an organizer and president of the Women’s Democratic Club of Philadelphia, a founder and president of the Italian-American Women’s Democratic Club of Philadelphia, as well as a member of the 36th Ward Democratic Executive Committee.

Varallo was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1944, and again in 1948. She represented Philadelphia’s 5^th district, and was reelected for 5 consecutive sessions thereafter, serving until her resignation on January 4, 1960. In addition to her leadership positions, Varallo was appointed to the Joint State Government Commission, serving from 1957 to 1960. While in office she was the prime sponsor of numerous pieces of legislation that became law including Act 265 of 1945, also known as the Women’s Equal Rights bill, which eliminated restrictions on married women entering contracts and buying and selling property.

Following her time in the House, Varallo continued to be active in politics. She was elected to the City Council of Philadelphia, serving from 1959 to 1968. In addition to her political work, she continued to be active in the civic life of Philadelphia. Varallo was on the advisory board of Cabrini College (now Cabrini University) in Philadelphia, and was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the school in 1962 (see clippings below, courtesy of Cabrini University). The college praised her prolific public service and dedication to issues of equality and tolerance — noting her legislation that aimed to empower women and efforts such as her organization of interracial singing groups while working as choral director.

Varallo died November 27, 1979 in Somers Point, Atlantic County, New Jersey. She is interred at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Varallo’s Honorary Degree Event Program, image courtesy of Cabrini University Archives

The Loquitur Newspaper May 4, 1962, image courtesy of Cabrini University Archvies

Women’s History Month is here!

March is Women’s History Month!

Elinor Zimmerman Taylor, also known as “EZ,” is the longest serving female Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Representative Taylor was born in Norristown, Montgomery County, PA in 1921. Before her time in the House, she was a teacher and professor at numerous schools across Chester County. She also served as the Acting Dean of Student Affairs, Dean of Administration and Professor at her alma mater, West Chester University.

Representative Taylor was elected to the House as a Republican in 1977 and served 15 consecutive terms. She represented the 156^th legislative district which encompasses West Chester and the surrounding townships of Birmingham, East Goshen, Thornbury, West Goshen and Westtown.

During her 30 years of public service, she served as Majority Caucus Secretary, Majority Caucus Chair, and was appointed to the Joint State Government Committee. As seen through her career in education, Representative Taylor also dedicated much of her time to serving on education boards in Pennsylvania like the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), which has named a building in Taylor’s honor. She did not seek reelection in 2006 and eventually retired to Florida before passing in 2010. She is buried in Birmingham-Lafayette Cemetery in West Chester.

House Parking Sign, Commemorative Plate and Display, House Archives

Display and Commemorative Plate, House Archives

The House Archives has preserved her personal papers containing interesting memorabilia from her time in office. Above are pictures of her parking spot sign from her time as Majority Caucus Chair, a commemorative plate, and a small display of the Elinor Z. Taylor Building, part of the PHEAA .

To see her full biography please visit:https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=123&body=H.