You've come a long way, baby!

You've come a long way, baby!

It was this month just 90 years ago when the nineteenth amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. That was the amendment that gave women the right to vote. Voting, however, is only part of the ongoing story of the rights of all Americans to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Back in 1878, Clara Shortridge Foltz (1849-1934) became the first woman to be admitted to the California Bar and the first female attorney on the West Coast. As with anything that is worth doing, though, it didn't come easily. Several years earlier, she had been denied admission to the Hastings College of Law in San Francisco solely because of her gender, so she sued, argued her own case, and won admission.

She passed the bar exam in 1878; however, California law only allowed white males to become members of the bar. Foltz authored a state bill which replaced "white male" with "person." It passed, and in September 1878, she was the first woman admitted to the California bar. She later also became licensed to practice law in New York.

In 1887 she moved to San Diego and opened a law practice specializing in criminal law. She also co-founded, edited, and published the San Diego Bee, a competitor to the more established, and more conservative, San Diego Union. Interestingly, labor unions supported the Bee instead of the Union; makes you wonder what "union" stood for.

Other interesting tidbits about Ms. Foltz:

1. The criminal courts building in downtown Los Angeles is the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
2. Descendant of Daniel Boone.
3. Authored the Women's Vote Amendment for California in 1911.
4. Introduced the idea of a "public defender" at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893.
5. Founded and published New American Woman Magazine.
6. First female clerk for the State Judiciary Committee.
7. First woman appointed to the State Board of Corrections.
8. First female licensed Notary Public.
9. First woman named director of a major bank.
10. First woman to run for Governor of California.
11. First female deputy district attorney in the United States.

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If you're looking for a great real estate agent in San Diego, well,
let me Google one for you.

I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.

Jim Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award Mission Valley
California DRE License #01458572
619-729-5701
jimfrimmer@century21award.com
Mission Valley Condos Information

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Try RusselRayPhotos.com for inexpensive, royalty-free photos.

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