2023 Senate Joint Resolution 17
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: proclaiming March 2023 as Women’s History Month.
Whereas, American women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historic
contributions to our nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways; and
Whereas, the Wisconsin Legislature granted property rights to married women in 1850; and
Whereas, in 1869, the first women graduated from the University of Wisconsin. This same
year, the Wisconsin Legislature passed a law allowing women to run for school boards and other
elective school offices, though they could not vote in school board elections until 1884; and
Whereas, in the campaign for Women’s Suffrage, Wisconsin produced notable suffragists
such as Olympia Brown of Racine, Clara Bewick Colby of Madison, Carrie Chapman Catt of Ripon,
Jessie Jack Hooper of Oshkosh, Ada James of Richland Center, and Belle Case La Follette of
Baraboo; and
Whereas, Wisconsin is part of the original 36 states to ratify the 19th Amendment to the United
States Constitution, which provides, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex,” and holds the distinction
of being the first state to ratify, on June 10, 1919, and formally certify its ratification papers in
Washington, D.C.; and
Whereas, in July 1921, after decades of campaigning by women for voting and other rights,
Wisconsin passed the nation’s first women’s equal rights law, declaring “Women shall have the same
rights and privileges under the law as men,” including “holding office”—affirming women’s right
to hold any public office; and
Whereas, a 1923 survey of Wisconsin cities and villages by the University of Wisconsin’s
Municipal Information Bureau identified more than 400 women in public office, of whom
approximately half sat on school and library boards and who also included Wisconsin’s first female
mayor, county supervisor, sheriff, nine alderwomen, 12 village trustees, and dozens of clerks and
treasurers; and
Whereas, in 1925, three women, Representatives Mildred Barber of Wausau, Hellen Brooks
of Caloma, and Helen Thompson of Park Falls, were the first female assembly representatives to be
elected to the Wisconsin Legislature; and
Whereas, Wisconsin amended its own constitution in 1934 to include women’s suffrage; and
Whereas, in 1983, the Wisconsin Women’s Council became a permanent state agency
governed by a bipartisan board appointed by the governor and legislative leaders; and
Whereas, in 2023, a total of 41 women took their seats in the state assembly and senate, the
most ever in Wisconsin history; and
Whereas, the role of American women continues to evolve, and their positive contributions
to our culture, society, and government continue to grow and inspire future generations; and 2023 Senate Joint Resolution 17
− 2−
Whereas, throughout the history of the United States, whether in their homes, in their
workplaces, in schools, in the community, in the courts, or during wartime, women have fought for
themselves, their families, and all people of the United States; and
Whereas, since the American Revolution, women have been vital to the mission of the Armed
Forces, with nearly 2,000 Wisconsin women serving on active duty and over 30,000 women veterans
from Wisconsin representing every branch of service; and
Whereas, American women have played and continue to play a critical economic, cultural, and
social role in every sphere of life and constitute a significant portion of the labor force working inside
and outside the home, with women now representing approximately half of the workforce of the
United States and owning more than 10,000,000 businesses; and
Whereas, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, women are at the helm of about 18 percent
of all employer firms located in Wisconsin; and
Whereas, the women of Wisconsin have been and continue to be leaders in the forefront of
international affairs, social change efforts, education, journalism, literature, art, film, technology,
math, science, athletics, and other fields including, but not limited to: Golda Meir, who grew up in
Milwaukee, was the Prime Minister of Israel from 1969−1974; Nobel Peace Prize winner and
Liberian president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who attended school in Madison, was the first female head
of state of any African country; Vel Phillips, a woman of many firsts, was the first Black woman to
graduate from the University of Wisconsin Law School, the first woman alder elected to the
Common Council of Milwaukee, the first woman judge in Milwaukee County, the first African
American to serve in Wisconsin’s judiciary, and the first woman elected as Wisconsin’s Secretary
of State; Dickey Chapelle was the first female American war correspondent to parachute with
American troops and the first killed covering combat; Electa “Wuhwehweeheemeew” Quinney was
Wisconsin’s first public schoolteacher; Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the “Little House” book
series, hails from Pepin; Lorraine Hansbury, playwright for A Raisin in the Sun was the first Black
woman to have a play produced on Broadway; Georgia O’Keeffe of Sun Prairie is a major American
artist of the 20th century who developed a unique approach to abstract painting that reflected the
landscapes around her; and Bonnie Blair is a world record−holding speed skater, a six−time Olympic
medalist, and the most decorated woman in Winter Olympic history; and
Whereas, despite the advancements of women in the United States, much remains to be done
to ensure that women realize their full potential as equal members of society in the United States;
and
Whereas, National Women’s History Month recognizes and spreads awareness of the
importance of women in the history of Wisconsin and the United States; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the month of March 2023 shall be
designated as Women’s History Month.
Representative Robin J. Vos
Speaker of the Assembly
Senator Chris Kapenga
President of the Senate
Date
Michael J. Queensland
Senate Chief Clerk