Frances Tilton Weaver
Encyclopedia
Frances Tilton Weaver was a notable woman attorney from Illinois.
. During her formative years, her family relocated to the midwestern town of Valparaiso, Indiana
. While in Valparaiso, Tilton attended the Valparaiso University School of Law
; in 1925, she became the first female graduate in the law school's history.
Tilton was admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of Indiana
in 1925, the Supreme Court of Illinois
in 1927, and the United States District Court of Illinois in 1929. She was reported to be the youngest woman attorney to have licenses to practice law in the state supreme courts, and she was the first woman ever to practice law in Porter County, Indiana
. Tilton practiced law in Chicago
until 1933, at which time she joined her father in practice in Valparaiso.
. Also in 1993, Tilton received an award from the Indiana State Bar Association as a woman honoree in the celebration of 100 years of women in the legal profession. Subsequently, the School of Law established the Frances Tilton Weaver Scholarship in her honor.
Tilton's societal contributions were many: She was a member of the Valparaiso Public Library Board, the YMCA Board, the City Planners Commission, the League of Women Voters
, and she was listed in the 1958 Marquis edition of "Who's Who of American Women." During the 1930s, Tilton helped organize the Porter Memorial Hospital Guild, and was an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Kappa
and the Valparaiso Women's Club.
Tilton died in 2003, but her legacy lives on: in 2004, as part of the 125th anniversary celebration of the Valparaiso University School of Law
, students carried the hand-carved walking cane that belonged to Tilton as part of the 'cane march,' a tradition where graduating law students, holding canes and wearing straw hats, march from the Valparaiso University
campus to the Porter County courthouse in Valparaiso's town square.
History
Frances Tilton Weaver was born in 1904 in Hays, KansasHays, Kansas
Hays is a city in and the county seat of Ellis County, Kansas, United States. The largest city in northwestern Kansas, it is the economic and cultural center of the region. It is also a college town, home to Fort Hays State University...
. During her formative years, her family relocated to the midwestern town of Valparaiso, Indiana
Valparaiso, Indiana
Valparaiso is a city in and the county seat of Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 31,730 at the 2010 census, making it the 2nd largest city in Porter County.-History:...
. While in Valparaiso, Tilton attended the Valparaiso University School of Law
Valparaiso University School of Law
The Valparaiso University School of Law is located on the campus of Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, a community located less than an hour from Chicago...
; in 1925, she became the first female graduate in the law school's history.
Tilton was admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of Indiana
Supreme Court of Indiana
The Supreme Court of Indiana is the state supreme court of Indiana. The court was established by Article Seven of the Indiana Constitution and is the highest judicial authority within Indiana...
in 1925, the Supreme Court of Illinois
Supreme Court of Illinois
The Supreme Court of Illinois is the state supreme court of Illinois. The court's authority is granted in Article VI of the current Illinois Constitution, which provides for seven justices elected from the five appellate judicial districts of the state: Three justices from the First District and...
in 1927, and the United States District Court of Illinois in 1929. She was reported to be the youngest woman attorney to have licenses to practice law in the state supreme courts, and she was the first woman ever to practice law in Porter County, Indiana
Porter County, Indiana
Porter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 164,343. Much of the population growth has to do with the expansion of the Chicago Metropolitan Area eastward into Indiana. The county seat is Valparaiso...
. Tilton practiced law in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
until 1933, at which time she joined her father in practice in Valparaiso.
Honors and recognition
In 1993, Tilton received the Leach Centennial First Woman Award from the Valparaiso University School of LawValparaiso University School of Law
The Valparaiso University School of Law is located on the campus of Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, a community located less than an hour from Chicago...
. Also in 1993, Tilton received an award from the Indiana State Bar Association as a woman honoree in the celebration of 100 years of women in the legal profession. Subsequently, the School of Law established the Frances Tilton Weaver Scholarship in her honor.
Tilton's societal contributions were many: She was a member of the Valparaiso Public Library Board, the YMCA Board, the City Planners Commission, the League of Women Voters
League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters is an American political organization founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt during the last meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association approximately six months before the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote...
, and she was listed in the 1958 Marquis edition of "Who's Who of American Women." During the 1930s, Tilton helped organize the Porter Memorial Hospital Guild, and was an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Kappa
Kappa Kappa Kappa
Kappa Kappa Kappa is a local men's fraternity at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. The fraternity founded in 1842 is the second-oldest fraternity at Dartmouth College and the oldest local fraternity in the nation...
and the Valparaiso Women's Club.
Tilton died in 2003, but her legacy lives on: in 2004, as part of the 125th anniversary celebration of the Valparaiso University School of Law
Valparaiso University School of Law
The Valparaiso University School of Law is located on the campus of Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, a community located less than an hour from Chicago...
, students carried the hand-carved walking cane that belonged to Tilton as part of the 'cane march,' a tradition where graduating law students, holding canes and wearing straw hats, march from the Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school...
campus to the Porter County courthouse in Valparaiso's town square.