Embedded Files
The 1960s opened with continued and more urgent calls to eradicate Jim Crow era segregation and discrimination against Black Americans and to support racial justice and equity. The decade witnessed widespread sit-ins and other demonstrations as well as the rise to national prominence of important and inspirational civil rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was signed into law. The Act "prohibited discrimination in the workplace, public accommodations, public facilities, and agencies receiving federal funds, and strengthened prohibitions on school segregation and discrimination in voter registration."[1] A year later, the Voting Rights Act was passed with further prohibitions on discrimination.
The 1960s opened with continued and more urgent calls to eradicate Jim Crow era segregation and discrimination against Black Americans and to support racial justice and equity. The decade witnessed widespread sit-ins and other demonstrations as well as the rise to national prominence of important and inspirational civil rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was signed into law. The Act "prohibited discrimination in the workplace, public accommodations, public facilities, and agencies receiving federal funds, and strengthened prohibitions on school segregation and discrimination in voter registration."[1] A year later, the Voting Rights Act was passed with further prohibitions on discrimination.
In Montgomery County, the area's identity as a growing and thriving suburb was firmly established. In 1960, the population was more than 340,000, and it continued to grow substantially, although at a slower pace. By the end of the decade, the county had over half-a-million residents. [2] In 1968, Montgomery County's current form of government with an elected County Executive and a seven (up from five) person County Council was established. The 1960s was also a decade that witnessed historic political success for county women.
In Montgomery County, the area's identity as a growing and thriving suburb was firmly established. In 1960, the population was more than 340,000, and it continued to grow substantially, although at a slower pace. By the end of the decade, the county had over half-a-million residents. [2] In 1968, Montgomery County's current form of government with an elected County Executive and a seven (up from five) person County Council was established. The 1960s was also a decade that witnessed historic political success for county women.
"County Ladies Hold Important High Posts"
"County Ladies Hold Important High Posts"
Throughout the decade, local newspapers covered the rise of women in county and state politics, but to today's standards (or not), the tone of the coverage was often patronizing, harkening back to the coverage Lavinia Engle received in 1914 when newspaper editors appeared more interested in her attire than her message. Despite the growing feminist movement, which gained momentum with Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique, much of the political coverage of women in the 1960s touted their roles as mothers, grandmothers, and homemakers.
Throughout the decade, local newspapers covered the rise of women in county and state politics, but to today's standards (or not), the tone of the coverage was often patronizing, harkening back to the coverage Lavinia Engle received in 1914 when newspaper editors appeared more interested in her attire than her message. Despite the growing feminist movement, which gained momentum with Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique, much of the political coverage of women in the 1960s touted their roles as mothers, grandmothers, and homemakers.
For example, in 1964, the Sentinel newspaper highlighted the success of women in recent elections and appointments with the headline above and following lead-in:
For example, in 1964, the Sentinel newspaper highlighted the success of women in recent elections and appointments with the headline above and following lead-in:
“That Montgomery County holds no prejudice against women—in spite of that misnomer, ‘the weaker sex’— is evidenced in more than a dozen outstanding elective and appointive positions now held by women.”
“That Montgomery County holds no prejudice against women—in spite of that misnomer, ‘the weaker sex’— is evidenced in more than a dozen outstanding elective and appointive positions now held by women.”
~ Montgomery County Sentinel, August 27, 1964. Montgomery History Vertical Files.
Lucy Keker, Montgomery History Photographs Collection.
The Sentinel article highlighted several women, including:
The Sentinel article highlighted several women, including:
Louise Terzian - A “wife, mother, grandmother—and judge of the Orphan’s Court”
Louise Terzian - A “wife, mother, grandmother—and judge of the Orphan’s Court”
Cecil M. Roeder - An Orphan’s Court Judge
Cecil M. Roeder - An Orphan’s Court Judge
Kathryn Lawlor Shook - A Circuit Court Judge who “doesn’t appreciate the term ‘woman judge.’ ... 'Women should be accepted on their own merit and not because of their sex.'”
Kathryn Lawlor Shook - A Circuit Court Judge who “doesn’t appreciate the term ‘woman judge.’ ... 'Women should be accepted on their own merit and not because of their sex.'”
Mary A. Hepburn - Republican member (and later President) of the County Council
Mary A. Hepburn - Republican member (and later President) of the County Council
Kathryn Diggs - Republican member (and later President) of the County Council
Kathryn Diggs - Republican member (and later President) of the County Council
Edna Cook - Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates for 6 years
Edna Cook - Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates for 6 years
Lucille Maurer - Board of Education member
Lucille Maurer - Board of Education member
Lucy Keker - Board of Education member
Lucy Keker - Board of Education member
“For me, a better democracy is a democracy where women do not only have the right to vote and to elect but to be elected.”
“For me, a better democracy is a democracy where women do not only have the right to vote and to elect but to be elected.”
~ Michelle Bachelet, head of UN Women, former president and defense minister of Chile, quoted in The New York Times.
Idamae Garrott
Idamae Garrott
In 1966, at the age of 50, Garrott, a former teacher, was elected to the County Council. Prior to her campaign, she was an active member of the Montgomery County League of Women Voters and served as its President from 1963 to 1966. Garrott, a Democrat, held two terms on the County Council, where she worked on land-use, civil rights, and housing issues. [3]
In 1966, at the age of 50, Garrott, a former teacher, was elected to the County Council. Prior to her campaign, she was an active member of the Montgomery County League of Women Voters and served as its President from 1963 to 1966. Garrott, a Democrat, held two terms on the County Council, where she worked on land-use, civil rights, and housing issues. [3]
Following her time on the Council, Garrott served on numerous committees and commissions and unsuccessfully ran for County Executive and the U.S. Congress. In 1979, however, her tenacity paid off, when she was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates. In 1987, she was elected to the Maryland Senate, where she remained until her retirement in 1994. [4]
Following her time on the Council, Garrott served on numerous committees and commissions and unsuccessfully ran for County Executive and the U.S. Congress. In 1979, however, her tenacity paid off, when she was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates. In 1987, she was elected to the Maryland Senate, where she remained until her retirement in 1994. [4]
Idamae Garrott, Montgomery History Photographs Collection.
“Powers Behind the Throne? Women in Public Life with Husband’s Applause”
“Powers Behind the Throne? Women in Public Life with Husband’s Applause”
In 1967, Sentinel reporter, Jane Day, interviewed the husbands of recently elected women. Their responses offer a glimpse into how women in politics were perceived at the time.
In 1967, Sentinel reporter, Jane Day, interviewed the husbands of recently elected women. Their responses offer a glimpse into how women in politics were perceived at the time.
“’She has my complete approval,’ says William N. Garrott of his wife, Idamae, new Democratic Member of the County Council.”
“’She has my complete approval,’ says William N. Garrott of his wife, Idamae, new Democratic Member of the County Council.”
~~~~
“Harold H. Kramer, whose wife Rose, also is a Democrat on the new council, frankly states, “I couldn’t think of a better person for the job.”
“Harold H. Kramer, whose wife Rose, also is a Democrat on the new council, frankly states, “I couldn’t think of a better person for the job.”
~~~
“Lawyer Thomas B. Scott claims his wife’s successful campaign for Register of Wills put him on a fairly steady diet of TV dinners. ‘I’ll bet I sampled every one in the book,’ he said with a hearty laugh.” He added: “I’m very proud of her, I think she’s going to do a tremendous job.” Also said - “She’s a very unusual person, in that she’s able not only to organize her own job but in able to give proper attention to home life.”
“Lawyer Thomas B. Scott claims his wife’s successful campaign for Register of Wills put him on a fairly steady diet of TV dinners. ‘I’ll bet I sampled every one in the book,’ he said with a hearty laugh.” He added: “I’m very proud of her, I think she’s going to do a tremendous job.” Also said - “She’s a very unusual person, in that she’s able not only to organize her own job but in able to give proper attention to home life.”
~~~
Day summarized her story by referencing Harold Kramer:
Day summarized her story by referencing Harold Kramer:
“He echoes what most husbands seem to feel about women in public life: ‘If you can’t find a good man for the job, get a woman. That’s the best answer all around.’”
“He echoes what most husbands seem to feel about women in public life: ‘If you can’t find a good man for the job, get a woman. That’s the best answer all around.’”
"Progress is not automatic—that's what movements are for. It depends on what we do every day."
"Progress is not automatic—that's what movements are for. It depends on what we do every day."
~ Gloria Steinem, writer and political activist, from "What Will It Take" website.
“Feminine Coup—Ladies Complete Their Sweep of Top Montgomery Offices”
“Feminine Coup—Ladies Complete Their Sweep of Top Montgomery Offices”
At the close of the decade, Washington Star reporter Marvin Coble wrote about several women who held leadership positions in the county:
At the close of the decade, Washington Star reporter Marvin Coble wrote about several women who held leadership positions in the county:
“Susan B. Anthony would be proud. Her male contemporaries no doubt would shudder at the thought. But there’s no getting around it fellows. Forty-nine years and 106 days after women received the right to vote, the Montgomery County government—on paper at least—is firmly in control of the fairer sex.”
~ Washington Star, December 28, 1969. Montgomery History Vertical Files.“Susan B. Anthony would be proud. Her male contemporaries no doubt would shudder at the thought. But there’s no getting around it fellows. Forty-nine years and 106 days after women received the right to vote, the Montgomery County government—on paper at least—is firmly in control of the fairer sex.”
Avis Birely, Montgomery History Photographs Collection.
In his article, Coble recognized four women:
In his article, Coble recognized four women:
Avis Birely - Republican President of the County Council
Avis Birely - Republican President of the County Council
Rosemary Hilberg - President of the Board of Education
Rosemary Hilberg - President of the Board of Education
Caroline Freeland - Chair of the County Planning Board
Caroline Freeland - Chair of the County Planning Board
Kathryn Shook - Chief Judge 6th Judicial Circuit Court
Kathryn Shook - Chief Judge 6th Judicial Circuit Court
"'When a job gets to be bigger than a man-sized job, it's a woman-sized job,' she said. 'It's meant to make the fellows tear their hair.' ... In Montgomery, at least, the men already need toupees."
"'When a job gets to be bigger than a man-sized job, it's a woman-sized job,' she said. 'It's meant to make the fellows tear their hair.' ... In Montgomery, at least, the men already need toupees."
~ Coble quoting and responding to Gladys N. Spellman, Prince Georges County Commissioners, Washington Star, December 28, 1969,
Footnotes:
[1] Library of Congress. (n.d.). "The Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Long Struggle for Freedom." [Online Exhibititon.][2] Center for Suburban Studies. (2020). "The 1950s Housing Boom in Montgomery County." [Online Exhibition.] Montgomery History.[3] Levy, Claudia. (1999). "Montgomery Politician Idamae Garrott Dies." Washington Post, June 14, 1999 (accessed via Maryland State Archives).[4] Lee, Karen. (1999). "Friends, colleagues remember Garrott as woman of conviction." Montgomery Journal, June 15, 1999 (accessed via Maryland State Archives).Header image: Trikosko, M. S., photographer. (1963) Marchers arriving at Union Station for the March on Washington. Washington D.C, 1963. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2013649706/.
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