Emma Gillett
Encyclopedia
Emma Gillett was an American lawyer
and women's rights
activist who played a pivotal role in the advancement of legal studies for women.
Gillett was born in Princeton, Wisconsin
to Wisconsin homesteaders
. She was educated in Girard, Pennsylvania
, when her family moved following the death of her father. In 1870, she graduated from Lake Erie College
and taught for the following ten years in the Pennsylvania
public school system. During her time as a teacher, she became frustrated and the meager wages that were paid to single women teachers.
After the death of Gillett's mother, Gillett's role in the settlement of her estate sparked Gillett's interest in law, as well as for a better paying profession. Encouraged by the news of Belva Lockwood, who had become the first female law student at National University in Washington, DC, Gillett moved to Washington in hopes of following in Lockwood's footsteps. Unfortunately, however, she found that National University had closed its doors to women. Never discouraged, Gillette found admission at Howard University
, and graduated in 1883. She passed the bar in the District of Columbia the same year. Additionally, she became first woman to be appointed notary public
by the President of the United States.
After admission to the Bar she formed a partnership with Watson J. Newton which continued until the death of Mr. Newton in 1913. At one time she was connected with the District Title Insurance Company and was later Vice President of the Realty Appraisal & Title Company.
During this time, her colleague and friend, Ellen Spencer Mussey
sought her assistance in the education of women in the field of law. Mussey had been approached in 1895 by Delia Sheldon Jackson, an aspiring attorney, to apprentice her as a student of law. Realizing both the scope of the task and the significance of the opportunity, Mussey sought out the assistance of Gillett. The two opened the first session of the Woman's Law Class on February 1, 1896. The class had an enrollment of three: Jackson and two other women, Nanette Paul and Helen Malcolm.
Within a few years, the program had expanded and several prominent Washington, DC attorneys were brought in for assistance. Although Mussey and Gillett had not initially aspired to establish an independent law school, when Columbian College (now the George Washington University
refused their request to taken on the women they had educated for their final year of education—on grounds that "women did not have the mentality for law" -- the two decided to establish a co-educational law school specifically open to women.
Thus, in April 1898, the Washington College of Law
(now merged with American University
) was incorporated in Washington, DC as the first law school in the world founded by women.
One of Gillett's dearest activities was the establishment of a woman’s club (the Wimondaughsis) in Washington.
Gillett held many additional roles, including Vice President for the District of Columbia of the American Bar Association
in 1922; President of the State Suffrage Association of the District; President of the Women’s Bar Association in 1921, and at the time of her death was Dean Emeritus of the Washington College of Law and Chairman of the Legal Branch of the National Woman's Party
.
Gillett died on January 23, 1927, after contracting pneumonia
while confined to her bed due to breaking her hip the previous October.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
activist who played a pivotal role in the advancement of legal studies for women.
Gillett was born in Princeton, Wisconsin
Princeton, Wisconsin
Princeton is a city in Green Lake County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,504 at the 2000 census. The city is located within the Town of Princeton, though it is politically independent.-Transportion:...
to Wisconsin homesteaders
Homesteading
Broadly defined, homesteading is a lifestyle of simple self-sufficiency.-Current practice:The term may apply to anyone who follows the back-to-the-land movement by adopting a sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle. While land is no longer freely available in most areas of the world, homesteading...
. She was educated in Girard, Pennsylvania
Girard, Pennsylvania
Girard is a borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,164 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Girard is located at ....
, when her family moved following the death of her father. In 1870, she graduated from Lake Erie College
Lake Erie College
Lake Erie College is a private liberal arts college that is located in Painesville, Ohio, approximately east of Cleveland. As of the 2010-2011 academic year, the enrollment was approximately 1200 undergraduates and graduate students....
and taught for the following ten years in the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
public school system. During her time as a teacher, she became frustrated and the meager wages that were paid to single women teachers.
After the death of Gillett's mother, Gillett's role in the settlement of her estate sparked Gillett's interest in law, as well as for a better paying profession. Encouraged by the news of Belva Lockwood, who had become the first female law student at National University in Washington, DC, Gillett moved to Washington in hopes of following in Lockwood's footsteps. Unfortunately, however, she found that National University had closed its doors to women. Never discouraged, Gillette found admission at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, and graduated in 1883. She passed the bar in the District of Columbia the same year. Additionally, she became first woman to be appointed notary public
Notary public
A notary public in the common law world is a public officer constituted by law to serve the public in non-contentious matters usually concerned with estates, deeds, powers-of-attorney, and foreign and international business...
by the President of the United States.
After admission to the Bar she formed a partnership with Watson J. Newton which continued until the death of Mr. Newton in 1913. At one time she was connected with the District Title Insurance Company and was later Vice President of the Realty Appraisal & Title Company.
During this time, her colleague and friend, Ellen Spencer Mussey
Ellen Spencer Mussey
Ellen Spencer Mussey was born on May 13, 1850 in Geneva, Ohio, United States. Mussey was a lawyer, educator, and pioneer in the field of women's rights to legal education...
sought her assistance in the education of women in the field of law. Mussey had been approached in 1895 by Delia Sheldon Jackson, an aspiring attorney, to apprentice her as a student of law. Realizing both the scope of the task and the significance of the opportunity, Mussey sought out the assistance of Gillett. The two opened the first session of the Woman's Law Class on February 1, 1896. The class had an enrollment of three: Jackson and two other women, Nanette Paul and Helen Malcolm.
Within a few years, the program had expanded and several prominent Washington, DC attorneys were brought in for assistance. Although Mussey and Gillett had not initially aspired to establish an independent law school, when Columbian College (now the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
refused their request to taken on the women they had educated for their final year of education—on grounds that "women did not have the mentality for law" -- the two decided to establish a co-educational law school specifically open to women.
Thus, in April 1898, the Washington College of Law
Washington College of Law
American University Washington College of Law is the law school of American University. It is located on Massachusetts Avenue in the Spring Valley neighborhood of northwest Washington. WCL is ranked 50th among law schools by US News and World Report...
(now merged with American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
) was incorporated in Washington, DC as the first law school in the world founded by women.
One of Gillett's dearest activities was the establishment of a woman’s club (the Wimondaughsis) in Washington.
Gillett held many additional roles, including Vice President for the District of Columbia of the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
in 1922; President of the State Suffrage Association of the District; President of the Women’s Bar Association in 1921, and at the time of her death was Dean Emeritus of the Washington College of Law and Chairman of the Legal Branch of the National Woman's Party
National Woman's Party
The National Woman's Party , was a women's organization founded by Alice Paul in 1915 that fought for women's rights during the early 20th century in the United States, particularly for the right to vote on the same terms as men...
.
Gillett died on January 23, 1927, after contracting pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
while confined to her bed due to breaking her hip the previous October.