Governors Papers Related to Women's Issues 1904-1984
Washington State Archives

This collection documents contacts between the Governor's Office, women, and women’s organizations, regarding women’s issues, women’s suffrage, women's rights, and comparable worth. It includes correspondence, legislation, proclamations, reports, newspaper clippings, booklets, information on comparable worth, and information from the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women, the Interagency Committee on State Employed Women, and the Women's Council.

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Governor Albert E. Mead, 1905-1908

Albert E. Mead's papers contain very little material pertaining to women's issues, but there is a small file on women’s suffrage. Included in this file is correspondence with Emma Smith DeVoe and a document concerning the refusal to grant a woman Notary Public status.

File Number: AR2-E-2-030

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Governor Marion E. Hay, 1909-1913

In 1909 the Washington State Legislature passed an act which put the issue of women's suffrage on the 1910 General Election ballot as an amendment to the State Constitution. It was Governor Hay's good fortune to be able to sign the act and approve the amendment, which passed, which made Washington the fifth state of the Union to grant women the vote.

Included in Governor Hay’s papers is correspondence on women’s issues with Emma Smith DeVoe, Cora Smith-Eaton, Harriet Stanton Blatch, Virginia Mason, and other leaders of the women's suffrage movement. Also included in the files is material on the Women's Suffrage Bill, Declaration of Principles by the National Council of Women Voters, a proclamation entitled: Women Now Can Vote, and documents pertaining to the establishment of a Women's Reformatory.

File Number: AR2-G-2-031

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Governor Ernest Lister, 1913-1919

Governor Lister’s correspondence includes a lot of correspondence with newspapers and others interested in the effect of the implementation of women's suffrage in Washington. Major correspondents include Emma Smith DeVoe, Wilmer Atkinson of the Pennsylvania Men's League for Women's Suffrage, Mary O'Meara, Carrie Chapman Catt, Sarah Kendall, George F. Cotterill, Chrystal Macmillan, Lucy Burns, Virginia Mason, Rose Young, May Arkwright Hutton, and others.

Subjects include the Minimum Wage Law (for women), women's clubs, International Woman Suffrage Alliance and other women's issues. Includes the Aloha Club pamphlet and the Western Woman's Outlook booklet

File Number: AR2-H-2-094
File Number: AR2-H-2-134

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Governor Louis F. Hart, 1919-1923

Governor Hart’s papers include files on the establishment of the Women’s Industrial Home and Clinic (for the rehabilitation of "fallen" women), documents pertaining to women’s suffrage, Washington State Federation of Women’s Clubs, Seattle Federation of Women’s Clubs, Women’s Legislative Council of Washington, and correspondence with Carrie Chapman Catt.

File Number: AR2-J-1-061

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Governor Albert D. Rosellini, 1957-65

Governor Rosellini was a major advocate of women's rights. His files include documents, letters and reports on a large variety of issues related to women, including files on the Cold War-era Washington Women's Civil Defense Conference, the National Governor's Conference Status of Women Resolution, the very important Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women, and other related subjects. It was during Rosellini's administration that the issue of comparable worth began to emerge as a major issue.

Governor Rosellini gave many speeches to women's organizations, including the Commission on the Status of Women, Women's Civil Defense Conference, Women in the Work Force, Spokane Federation of Women's Clubs, Women's Home Preparedness Conference, State Federation of Women's Clubs and other groups.

File Number: AR2-R-1-279
File Number: AR2-R-1-314
File Number: AR2-R-1-355
File Number: AR2-R-3-071
File Number: AR2-R-3-082

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Governor Daniel J. Evans, 1965-1977

Governor Evans was a firm advocate of women's rights, continuing to support the Commission on the Status of Women and the various issues that the group brought to light. Evans' files include correspondence with Maxine Daly, Vesta Cutting, Esther Seering, Maryan Reynolds, Waneta McClung, Lea Nishiura, Janet Ward, Gisela Taber, Maxine Daly, Inga K. Kelly, Mary Helen Roberts, Betty J. Dressel, Henry Kissinger, Florence Merrick, Alice Parker, and others.

His papers include reports, studies, correspondence, conference materials, and other materials. Subjects include the National Conference of the National Organization for Women (NOW), Women’s Council (established 1971), Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), Work Incentive Program (WIN), House Joint Resolution 61, Upward Mobility Survey, Salary Survey of Women Employed by Churches and Church-Related Organizations, Comparable Worth Study, International Women's Year, 1975 (IWY), Title IX, Interagency Committee on Status of Women, Women in State Service, Office of Women's Rights, Marital Property Law, Rights of Married Women, and other related subjects.

File Number: AR2-S-02-184
File Number: AR2-S-02-279
File Number: AR2-S-02-373
File Number: AR2-S-02-554
File Number: AR2-S-02-627
File Number: AR2-S-02-738
File Number: AR2-S-02-836
File Number: AR2-S-02-962
File Number: AR2-S-02-1067
File Number: AR2-S-02-1079
File Number: AR2-S-02-1205
File Number: AR2-S-02-1215
File Number: AR2-S-03-028; AR2-S-03-046

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Governor Dixy Lee Ray, 1977 - 1981

Governor Ray was Washington's first woman governor, and advocates of women's issues had high hopes for progress during her administration. In the event, Governor Ray was not a strong supporter, abolishing the Women's Council in 1977.

Governor Ray's files include correspondence with Alice Parker, Marjorie (Olson) Mohoric, Marianne Craft Norton, Susan Roylance, Phyllis Schlafly, Laurie Sanders, Florence Merrick, Julia Hiley Brueggeman, Mary Jo Lavin, Gretchen L. Thorsen, Elaine D. LaTourelle, and others.

Major subjects include Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE), Commission on the Status of Women, Women’s Council, Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), National Organization for Women (NOW), Women of Washington (booklet), International Women's Year (IWY), Handbook of Legal Rights of Washington Women, Battered Women, Yes for Referendum 40 Committee, Work Incentive Program (WIN), Future Homemakers of America, Displaced Homemakers in a Rural Area, Women's Council Termination and Final Report, Women's Legislative Bills, Survey of the Needs and Concerns of the Women of Washington State, Comparable Worth Study (1974 & 1976), Project on Equal Education Rights (PEER), Equal Opportunities for Women in Washington State, Women Employed in State Agencies (1974 & 1978 Surveys), Minority and Women's Business Enterprises, and other related subjects.

File Number: AR2-T-01-058
File Number: AR2-T-02-039
File Number: AR2-T-02-043
File Number: AR2-T-02-044
File Number: AR2-T-02-109
File Number: AR2-T-02-115
File Number: AR2-T-02-116
File Number: AR2-T-02-117
File Number: AR2-T-02-118
File Number: AR2-T-04-013
File Number: AR2-T-08-002
File Number: AR2-T-08-003
File Number: AR2-U-02-043

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Governor John D. Spellman, 1981-1984

Governor Spellman was interested in furthering women’s rights and issues. He had surveys done and was concerned with the issue of comparable worth. Unfortunately his one-term administration was somewhat overwhelmed with other major issues, such as the effects of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, a major state budget shortfall, the default of the Washington Public Power Supply System, the State Ferry strike, and other issues which took up most of his attention.

Governor Spellman’s papers include correspondence with Maxine Krull, Kathryn Hinsch, Cathy Carr, Mary Jo Lavin, Eleanor Smeal, and others.

Major subject relating to women’s issues include Comparable Worth Study (1980 & 1982), Concerns of Women in Washington State (1982 Survey), Interagency Committee on the Status of Women (1982 Survey), Commission on the Status of Women, “Women on the Move” (1984), Women’s Legislative History Day, Elected Washington Women (history), Women’s Group Meetings, Women’s Rights, National Organization for Women (NOW), “A Women’s Rights Agenda for the States,” Women’s Legislative Bills, and other subjects.

File Number: AR2-U-02-078
File Number: AR2-U-02-114
File Number: AR2-U-02-152
File Number: AR2-U-02-153
File Number: AR2-U-09-132
File Number: AR2-U-10-165

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