Vel Phillips
Encyclopedia
Velvalea Rodgers "Vel" Phillips (born February 18, 1924) is a Wisconsin
attorney
who served as a local official and judge in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
and as Secretary of State of Wisconsin
, often as the first woman and/or African-American in her position.
, where she got her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1946. (She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta
.) She returned to Wisconsin to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison Law School, becoming the first black woman to graduate from that school (L.L.B, 1951). She and her husband (fellow UW Law graduate Dale Phillips) became the first husband-and-wife couple to be admitted to the Wisconsin bar.
, and was the first black candidate to make it past the non-partisan city-wide primary election
, though she lost the runoff. Both she and her husband became active locally in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP) in support of a city redistricting referendum (there were at that time no black members of Milwaukee's Common Council
). In 1956, Phillips became the first woman and the first African-American member of the Common Council in Milwaukee; since Common Council members were called "Alderman
," she was given the title "Madam Alderman" by local officials. She would remain the only woman and only black member of that body for many years to come. Phillips frequently participated in nonviolent civil rights
protests against discrimination in housing, education, and employment during the 1960s. Phillips first proposed an ordinance in 1962 to outlaw housing discrimination. In 1968 the Milwaukee Common Council approved a desegregation law after a federal housing law
was passed.
She was arrested at a rally following the firebombing of an NAACP office, the only city official to be arrested during the "long hot summer" of 1967, bringing further national media attention to the city.
Phillips resigned from the Common Council in 1971 and was appointed to the Milwaukee County judiciary, the first woman judge in Milwaukee and the first African American judge in Wisconsin. She lost her bid for reelection to the bench to a white candidate who made an issue of her involvement in protests and civil rights activities. She subsequently served as a lecturer at UW–Milwaukee and a visiting professor at Carroll College and UW–Madison Law School.
In 1978, Phillips made history as the first woman and first non-white elected Secretary of State
in Wisconsin (although Glenn M. Wise
had been appointed Secretary of State of Wisconsin
23 years earlier). During the absence of both the governor and lieutenant governor, under Wisconsin law she briefly served as Acting Governor (she later joked that "the men hurried back" when they realized they had left a woman in charge). Although Phillips lost the next election (to a white candidate), she was the highest-ranking woman to win state office in Wisconsin in the 20th century. A lifelong Democrat
, she was also the first black to be elected as a member of the National Committee
of either of the major U.S. political parties.
and America's Black Holocaust Museum
. In 2002, Phillips was appointed "Distinguished Professor of Law" at the Marquette University
School of Law, where she is also reported to be producing a first-person memoir of Milwaukee's civil rights movement http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20011212/ai_n10752451. She chaired the successful congressional campaign of Gwen Moore
, Wisconsin's first African-American and Milwaukee's first female member of the United States House of Representatives
. She also serves on the board of the Vel Phillips Foundation, a charitable foundation created in 2006, whose mission is "to help establish equality and opportunity for minorities through social justice, education, equal housing opportunities, and jobs."
In August of 2011, the University of Wisconsin–Madison announced that it had renamed one of its residence halls for Phillips.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
attorney
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...
who served as a local official and judge in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
and as Secretary of State of Wisconsin
Secretary of State of Wisconsin
The Secretary of State of Wisconsin is an officer of the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin, and the second in the order of succession of the Governor of Wisconsin, behind the Lieutenant Governor....
, often as the first woman and/or African-American in her position.
Early life and education
Born on Milwaukee's South Side, Phillips won a national scholarship to attend Howard UniversityHoward University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, where she got her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1946. (She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
.) She returned to Wisconsin to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison Law School, becoming the first black woman to graduate from that school (L.L.B, 1951). She and her husband (fellow UW Law graduate Dale Phillips) became the first husband-and-wife couple to be admitted to the Wisconsin bar.
Career
In 1953, Phillips ran for a seat on the school board of the Milwaukee Public SchoolsMilwaukee Public Schools
Milwaukee Public Schools is the largest school district in Wisconsin. As of 2007, it had an enrollment of 87,360 students, and as of 2006 employed 6,100 full-time and substitute teachers in 223 schools. The Milwaukee Public Schools system is the 33rd largest in the United States by enrollment...
, and was the first black candidate to make it past the non-partisan city-wide primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
, though she lost the runoff. Both she and her husband became active locally in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
(NAACP) in support of a city redistricting referendum (there were at that time no black members of Milwaukee's Common Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
). In 1956, Phillips became the first woman and the first African-American member of the Common Council in Milwaukee; since Common Council members were called "Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
," she was given the title "Madam Alderman" by local officials. She would remain the only woman and only black member of that body for many years to come. Phillips frequently participated in nonviolent civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
protests against discrimination in housing, education, and employment during the 1960s. Phillips first proposed an ordinance in 1962 to outlaw housing discrimination. In 1968 the Milwaukee Common Council approved a desegregation law after a federal housing law
Fair housing
In the United States, the fair housing policies date largely from the 1960s. Originally, the terms fair housing and open housing came from a political movement of the time to outlaw discrimination in the rental or purchase of homes and a broad range of other housing-related transactions, such as...
was passed.
She was arrested at a rally following the firebombing of an NAACP office, the only city official to be arrested during the "long hot summer" of 1967, bringing further national media attention to the city.
Phillips resigned from the Common Council in 1971 and was appointed to the Milwaukee County judiciary, the first woman judge in Milwaukee and the first African American judge in Wisconsin. She lost her bid for reelection to the bench to a white candidate who made an issue of her involvement in protests and civil rights activities. She subsequently served as a lecturer at UW–Milwaukee and a visiting professor at Carroll College and UW–Madison Law School.
In 1978, Phillips made history as the first woman and first non-white elected Secretary of State
Secretary of State (U.S. state government)
Secretary of State is an official in the state governments of 47 of the 50 states of the United States, as well as Puerto Rico and other U.S. possessions. In Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, this official is called the Secretary of the Commonwealth...
in Wisconsin (although Glenn M. Wise
Glenn M. Wise
Glenn Miller Wise was a secretary, statistician, and Republican politician, who served as Wisconsin's first female Secretary of State from 1955-57.- Background :...
had been appointed Secretary of State of Wisconsin
Secretary of State of Wisconsin
The Secretary of State of Wisconsin is an officer of the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin, and the second in the order of succession of the Governor of Wisconsin, behind the Lieutenant Governor....
23 years earlier). During the absence of both the governor and lieutenant governor, under Wisconsin law she briefly served as Acting Governor (she later joked that "the men hurried back" when they realized they had left a woman in charge). Although Phillips lost the next election (to a white candidate), she was the highest-ranking woman to win state office in Wisconsin in the 20th century. A lifelong Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, she was also the first black to be elected as a member of the National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
of either of the major U.S. political parties.
Active retirement
Since leaving office, Phillips has remained active in the community, serving on the boards of the Wisconsin Conservatory of MusicWisconsin Conservatory of Music
The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music is an independent music school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The conservatory teaches many types of music, including classical, jazz, rock, folk, and blues...
and America's Black Holocaust Museum
America's Black Holocaust Museum
America's Black Holocaust Museum located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was the only memorial dedicated specifically to the victims of the enslavement of Africans in the United States...
. In 2002, Phillips was appointed "Distinguished Professor of Law" at the Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
School of Law, where she is also reported to be producing a first-person memoir of Milwaukee's civil rights movement http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20011212/ai_n10752451. She chaired the successful congressional campaign of Gwen Moore
Gwen Moore
Gwendolynne Sophia Moore is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. She is a member of the Democratic Party.The district is based in Milwaukee and also includes South Milwaukee, Cudahy and St. Francis, and part of West Allis. She is the first woman to represent the district...
, Wisconsin's first African-American and Milwaukee's first female member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. She also serves on the board of the Vel Phillips Foundation, a charitable foundation created in 2006, whose mission is "to help establish equality and opportunity for minorities through social justice, education, equal housing opportunities, and jobs."
In August of 2011, the University of Wisconsin–Madison announced that it had renamed one of its residence halls for Phillips.
External links
- Wisconsin Historical Society bio of Phillips
- Bio of Phillips on foundation website
- Proclamation of Vel Phillips Day
- Appreciation from Milwaukee Community Journal
- CV from the 1979 Wisconsin Blue Book
- Political Graveyard bio
- Vel Phillips Foundation home page
- The March on Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project