Women Bar Members
Will Honor Pioneer

-----------
Miss Maddox First Woman
To Practice Law In State
----------
By Margaret Dempsey

At 4 P.M. Monday, the Women's Bar Association of Baltimore City will honor one of the most militant suffragettes, Miss Etta Haynie Maddox, Maryland's first accredited woman lawyer.

The women lawyers will present a picture of Miss Maddox and a copy of her biography, written by Hollis Atkinson, to the Baltimore Bar Library.

The story of Miss Maddox, who was responsible for having the Act

ETTA HAYNIE MADDOX

of 1902 passed, permitting women to practice law on equal terms with men, is a history of the struggle of women for equal rights.

From Newspaper Clippings

It is perhaps best told in yellowed, crumbling clippings from The Sun of the early 1900's.

Under a discreet headline reading "Miss Maddox is a Lawyer," the story began in The Sun of June 7, 1901. It started out simply enough:
"The first commencement of the Baltimore Law school at Ford's Opera house last night was made particularly interesting by the presence in the graduating class of a young woman, one of the few who have received the bachelor of laws in this State. Her name is Miss

Well-Known Vocalist

"Miss Maddox is the daughter of the late John V. Maddox and lives with her mother at 2641 North Charles street. She is a well-known vocalist, having sung in the choirs of the First Presbyterian, the Seventh Baptist, and the Brown Memorial churches. She took a vocal course at the Peabody Conservatory and studied under prominent teachers in New York . . . She received much applause when she received her degree."

The clippings indicate that several days after this that Miss Maddox first brushed shoulders with glory when she received a gold medal from the Women's Suffrage Association.

Her trials were yet to come.

Barred By Court

On November 22, 1901, a headline in The Sun said: "Bars Woman Lawyer-The Court Of Appeals Decides Against Miss Maddox." The story went on:

"The Court of Appeals decided yesterday that a woman cannot practice law in Maryland courts. The petition of Miss Etta H. Maddox to take the examination for the bar was rejected."

Miss Maddox apparently bided her time and in February of 1902, she went to Annapolis to make a strong plea before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Accompanied by women lawyers of other states, she asked that a bill be introduced in the Senate to make legal the admission of women to the bar. Miss Maddox must have been an orator of some power.

Bill Passed

The Sun observed: "Senator Spencer C. Jones, distinguished as one of the handsomest and most gallant men in the State, made no secret of his intention to vote in favor of the bill."

The bill was passed and the headlines which followed were small triumphs for the indomitable Miss Maddox.

"Miss Maddox Now A Lawyer."

"Miss Maddox Tries A Case."

"Miss Maddox Advocates Feminine Jury For Divorce Cases."

On February 20, 1933, a Sun headline announced: "Miss Maddox, Leading State Feminist, Dies."

Among her accomplishments were listed her authorship of the first suffrage bill introduced in the Maryland General Assembly in 1910, her organization of the Women's Democratic Club, and her past presidency of the Women's Twentieth Century Club.

Lady Of The Century

Although she was on the scene when the Twentieth Century was young, Miss Maddox was very much a lady of the century.

The women who have gained most from her pioneering are going to be sure that she will not be forgotten. They will see that her picture is hung in the Bar Library and that her biography will be on file.

In addition to Miss Atkinson, members of the committee include: Margaret S. Wright, chairman; Helen Elizabeth Brown, Rose S. Zetzer and Emma S. Robertson, president of the Women's Bar Association.