[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 41 (Friday, March 22, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E416-E417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______


                         HON. MARTIN OLAV SABO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 21, 1996

  Mr. SABO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for Women's 
History Month. Women make contributions to our society every day--all 
year long. But this month offers a special opportunity to acknowledge 
and to raise awareness about women's contributions in all aspects of 
our culture--including health, education, public service, and the arts. 
Minnesota has produced strong female civic leaders who have worked to 
enhance the lives of

[[Page E417]]

others through their endowments to the community. Today, I rise to 
recognize some Minnesota women in particular, who have enriched our 
community and advanced the women's movement on a national level.
  In its earlier years, Minnesota was fortunate to have many women from 
diverse backgrounds who were committed to improving the lives of 
average Minnesotans. For instance, Nellie Griswold Francis (1874-1969) 
and Mattie Porter Jackson (1854-1946), two African-Americans, were 
instrumental in the early civil rights movement. Eleanore Harriet 
Bresky (1882-1952), a Russian-American, was a member of the National 
Woman's Party, as was Minneapolis-born, Agnes Myrtle-Cain (1894-1980), 
who also was a legislator and a union activist. Ruth Tokuka Nomura 
Tanbara (1907-), a Japanese-American, was an economist and an early 
YWCA social worker. I commend organizations like the Minnesota Women's 
History Month Project who increase awareness and bring attention to 
these women. Led by Judy Yaeger Jones, this group is one of only four 
State-based organizations in the country researching and promoting the 
history of women's lives within their communities.
  Few people have fought as tirelessly and for a social cause as did 
Clara Ueland (1860-1927), working for the congressional passage and 
Minnesota legislature ratification of the nineteenth amendment in 1919. 
As a leader in the suffrage movement, she served as the last president 
of the Minnesota Women Suffrage Association and later, as the first 
president of the Minnesota League of Women Voters. An historic leader 
in Minnesota history, Clara Ueland truly embodied the character and 
ability needed to advance women's suffrage.
  Too numerous to mention here, hundreds of other women in Minnesota 
have held prominent roles in the State's political, judicial, social 
and cultural history. I am proud to recognize my mother's second 
cousin, Congresswoman Coya Knutson, who was the first and, as yet, the 
only Minnesota woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. She 
served in the State House of Representatives from 1951-54 and was 
elected from 1955-59 as a Democratic Member of Congress. Another 
pioneer, Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice Rosalie Wahl, was 
the first woman to sit on the State's highest court and a person who 
fought to erase racial and gender bias from the courts. Two other women 
have made a difference in Minnesota politics: Gladys Brooks, who served 
three terms on the Minneapolis City Council and was a candidate for 
mayor, and Judge Diana Murphy, who has served as a State judge, U.S. 
District Judge for the District of Minnesota, and is currently on the 
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and is a director of the 
Bush Foundation and the United Way of the Minneapolis Area.

  Countless other Minnesota women have been outspoken social activists, 
particularly within the feminist movement. Among them, Gloria Jean 
Griffin was the coordinator and co-founder of the Minnesota Women's 
Consortium in 1980. She and Grace Harkness, the legislative director of 
the Women's Consortium (1980-present) worked at this association of 170 
organizations dedicated to full equality for women and as a resource 
and referral center for women seeking help and support. Additionally, 
Arvonne Fraser served as President Clinton's U.S. Representative to the 
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in 1993-94. She was 
also the National President of the Women's Equity Action League in the 
early 1970's and was named the International Citizen of the Year 1995 
by the city of Minneapolis.
  Representing education, children, health, and the arts, I would like 
to recognize four women who have excelled in these areas. Jean Keffeler 
is the immediate past Chair of the Board of Regents of the University 
of Minnesota and was recently reappointed to a second 6-year term on 
the board. Luanne Larsen Nyberg was the founder and executive director 
of the Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota (1985-95), an organization 
dedicated to increased state government and community commitment to 
meeting children's basic needs. Dr. Jane Hodgson defied the medical 
establishment in the 1930's, deciding to go to medical school when men 
were predominantly physicians. In 1992, she was recognized with the 
Elizabeth Blackwell Award from the American Medical Women's Association 
for her work in keeping abortion legal. Finally, in the last 20 years, 
Libby Larsen has become one of the most important and successful 
composers in the United States, winning a Grammy Award in 1994 and 
continuing the fine tradition of a strong cultural and arts community 
in the Twin Cities.
  As I stated last month regarding Black History Month, I would like to 
recognize again Ethel Ray Nance (1899-1992), the first black woman 
hired by the Minnesota Legislature and the first black policewoman in 
Minnesota. Further, Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton, elected in 1993, is the 
first African-American and the first female mayor of Minneapolis and of 
course, Nellie Stone Johnson, has been one of the most outspoken and 
thoughtful leaders in Minnesota's African-American community.
  I am proud to recognize and acknowledge the influence and 
contributions these and all women have made in Minnesotan's lives. I 
thank them for their service to the State, the women's movement, and 
the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, as we observe Women's 
History Month, I commend each of these women for their contributions to 
our society.

                          ____________________