07-R-389
2007 -- H 6139
Enacted 03/08/07
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
RECOGNIZING MARCH 8,
2007 AS "WOMEN'S HISTORY DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By:
Representatives Giannini, Lima, E Coderre, Walsh, and Williams
Date Introduced: March 08,
2007
WHEREAS,
The State of Rhode Island enthusiastically recognizes the early generation
of
women pioneers who opened the door for women to run for the General Assembly;
and
WHEREAS,
Isabelle Ahern O'Neill led the way when, in 1922, she became the first
woman
elected to the Rhode Island Legislature from Smith Hill, just two short years
after women
gained
the right to vote; and
WHEREAS,
Ms. O'Neill served three terms in the Rhode Island House of
Representatives
and two terms in the Rhode Island State Senate. She fought to expand pensions
for
widows and helped to create a Rhode Island Narcotic Board based on legislation
she drafted,
which
was a model for its time; and
WHEREAS,
Isabelle O'Neill was not a "shrinking violet". She asked for no
special
favors
as a woman. She was quoted as saying, "I will not wear a hat to session
nor do I want the
men
to stop smoking or stop doing anything they normally do… I want to be treated
the same…";
and
WHEREAS,
The State of Rhode Island has been honored by the service of other women
legislators
who led the way in leadership such as: Florence Murray who served in the state
legislature
from 1948-1956 and went on to be appointed a Supreme Court Justice; Eleanor
Slater
who
served in the House of Representatives from 1959-1966, State Senate from
1967-1968,
served
as a member of the Democratic Party's National Committee, and was the matriarch
of the
Rhode
Island Democratic Party for many years. Other pioneers include State
Representative
Anna
Hewitt (1933-1934), State Representative Susan Lamb (1937-1940), State
Representative
Arline
Ruth Kiven (1961-1966), and State Senator Gladys Brightman (1945-1962); and
WHEREAS,
Rhode Island recognizes the accomplishments of other women legislators
such
as State Senator and State Representative Victoria Lederberg (1975-1982), who
was later
appointed
a Justice on the Rhode Island Supreme Court; Representative Mabel Anderson
(1983-
2002),
who was appointed Deputy Speaker Pro Tempore; Suzanne Henseler (1983-2003), who
became
the 1st woman Majority Whip of the Rhode Island House of Representatives; State
Representative
Maria Lopes (1989-2001), the first Black Woman elected to the Rhode Island
State
Legislature; East Providence State Representative Rose Larisa a champion in the
crusade to
save
the Looff Carousel (1999); and State Representative Barbara Burlingame
(1987-2001) of
Woonsocket,
a champion of domestic violence issues; and
WHEREAS,
Today we have twenty-one women serving in the Rhode Island General
Assembly
and a total of one hundred twenty-two Rhode Island women who have served in
this
General
Assembly past and present; and
WHEREAS,
This is a day to pay tribute to all Rhode Island women legislators, they are:
Aisha
Abdullah-Odiase, elected a Representative from Providence on November 3, 1998;
Denise
C.
Aiken, elected a Representative from Warwick on November 5, 1996; Edith H.
Ajello, elected
a
Representative from Providence on November 3, 1992; Rita Anderson, elected a
Representative
from
Providence on November 4, 2003; Mabel M. Anderson, elected a Representative
from
Pawtucket
on November 2, 1982; Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, elected a Representative from
Woonsocket
on
November 6, 2006; Sandy Barone, elected a Representative from Barrington on
November 6,
1990;
Nancy L. Benoit, elected a Representative from Woonsocket on November 6, 1984;
Melvoid
J. Benson, elected a Representative from North Kingstown on November 6, 1990;
Nancy
H.
Borden, elected a Representative from North Scituate on November 2, 1982;
Stella Brien,
elected
a Representative from Woonsocket on November 6, 2001; Gladys M. Brightman,
elected
a
Representative from Bristol on November 7, 1944; Elaine T. Bucci, elected a
Representative
from
Providence on November 6, 1984; Marguerite J. Bumpus, elected a Representative
from
Richmond
on November 8, 1994; Barbara C. Burlingame, elected a Representative from
Woonsocket
on November 3, 1987; Christine H. Callahan, elected a Representative from
Middletown
on November 4, 1986; Bambilyn Breece Cambio, elected a Representative from
North
Providence on November 3, 1992; Sandra J. Campbell, elected a Representative
from
Foster
on November 6, 1990; Marsha E. Carpenter, elected a Representative from
Providence on
November
8, 1994; Mary Ann F. Carroll, elected a Representative from Glocester on
November
5,
1996; Mary Cerra, elected a Representative from Johnston on November 7, 2000;
Jennifer A.
Champagne,
elected a Representative from Johnston on November 3, 1992; Elaine A. Coderre,
elected
a Representative from Pawtucket on November 6, 1984; Harriet J. D’Attore,
elected a
Representative
from East Greenwich on January 13, 1960; Elizabeth M. Dennigan, elected a
Representative
from East Providence on November 5, 1996; Susan E. Deveney, elected a
Representative
from Cranston on November 3, 1992; Grace Diaz, elected a Representative from
Providence
on November 2, 2004; Helen B. Dinsmore, elected a Representative from Warwick
on
November 8, 1966; Marion Hartley Donnelly, elected a Representative from
Warwick on
November
7, 1978; Dorothy B. Edwards, elected a Representative from Portsmouth on
November
8,
1966; Veronica B. Fagan, elected a Representative from Pascoag on February 10,
1956;
Deborah
A. Fellela, elected a Representative from Johnston on November 7, 2006; Myrna
C.
George,
elected a Representative from Exeter on November 5, 1996; Joanne M. Giannini,
elected
a
Representative from Providence on November 8, 1994; Ann H. Hanson, elected a
Representative
from Barrington on November 4, 1980; Theresa M. Healey, elected a
Representative
from Pawtucket on November 2, 1976; Suzanne M. Henseler, elected a
Representative
from North Kingstown on November 2, 1982; Nancy C. Hetherington, elected a
Representative
from Cranston on November 8, 1994; Anna D. Hewitt, elected a Representative
from
North Providence on November 8, 1932; Susan B. Iannitelli, elected a
Representative from
Smithfield
on November 3, 1992; Loraine L. Kane, elected a Representative from Warwick on
November
2, 1978; Leona A. Kelley, elected a Representative from South Kingstown on
November
6, 1984; Ellen A. Kellner, elected a Representative from Glocester on November
3,
1992;
Mary Neidlinger Kilmarx, elected a Representative from Barrington on November
5, 1974;
Linda
J. Kushner, elected a Representative from Providence on November 2, 1982;
Arline R.
Kiven,
elected a Representative from Providence on November 8, 1960; Alice E. Lafond,
elected
a
Representative from North Smithfield on November 6, 1934; Susan V. Gallagher
Lamb, elected
a
Representative from West Warwick on November 3, 1936; Beatrice A. Lanzi,
elected a
Representative
from Cranston on November 3, 1992; Rose Larisa, elected a Representative from
East
Providence on November 3, 1998; Victoria Lederberg, elected a Representative
from
Providence
on November 5, 1974; Mary E. Levesque, elected a Representative from Jamestown
on
November 8, 1988; Charlene Lima, elected a Representative from Providence on
November 3,
1992;
Maria J. Lopes, elected a Representative from East Providence on November 8,
1988;
Lucille
A. Love, elected a Representative from Little Compton on November 6, 1962;
Gertrude
Davis
Lynch, elected a Representative from Providence on November 4, 1952; Maureen E.
Maigret,
elected a Representative from Warwick on November 5, 1974; Helena E. McDermott,
elected
a Representative from Warwick on November 2, 1976; Mary F. McMahon, elected a
Representative
from Pawtucket on November 4, 1980; Theresa J. Melvin, elected a
Representative
from Cumberland on November 2, 1982; Helen Migliaccio, elected a
Representative
from Cranston on November 5, 1974; Elizabeth Morancy, elected a
Representative
from Providence on November 7, 1978; Carol A. Mumford, elected a
Representative
from Scituate on November 3, 1998; Eileen S. Naughton, elected a Representative
from
Warwick on November 2, 1992; Helen I. Nichols, elected a Representative from
Woonsocket
on November 2, 1982; Barbara Nicholson, elected a Representative from Warwick
on
November 8, 1966; Isabelle F. Ahearn O’Neill, elected a Representative from
Providence on
November
7, 1922; Jeanne N. O’Rourke, elected a Representative from Newport on May 3,
1977;
Joan
B. Quick, elected a Representative from Little Compton on November 6, 1990; Amy
G.
Rice,
elected a Representative from Portsmouth on November 2, 2004; Mary C. Ross,
elected a
Representative
from Providence on November 3, 1992; Emily M. Saucier, elected a
Representative
from Providence on November 6, 1962; Lulu Mowry Schlesinger, elected a
Representative
from Charlestown on November 2, 1926; Patricia A. Serpa, elected a
Representative
from West Warwick on November 7, 2006; Maxine Bradford Shavers, elected a
Representative
from Newport on November 5, 1996; Katherine Theresa Shunney, elected a
Representative
from Woonsocket on November 3, 1936; Eleanor F. Slater, elected a
Representative
from Warwick on November 4, 1958; Clara A. Smith, elected a Representative
from
Newport on November 3, 1936; Louise E. Stoddard, elected a Representative from
Providence
on November 6, 1956; Susan A. Story, elected a Representative from Barrington
on
November
7, 2000; Lucy Rawlings Tootell, elected a Representative from Richmond on
November
7, 1972; Mary Lou Walter, elected a Representative from Westerly on November 6,
1984;
Donna M. Walsh, elected a Representative from Charlestown on November 7, 2006;
Anastasia
P. Williams, elected a Representative from Providence on November 3, 1992;
Norma
B.
Willis, elected a Representative from Jamestown on November 4, 1980; Marion F.
Yatman,
elected
a Representative from Providence on November 3, 1936; Gladys M. Brightman
elected
Senator
from Bristol on November 6, 1956; Elizabeth M. Cesario elected Senator from
North
Smithfield
on June 21, 1983; Kathleen S. Connell elected Senator from Middletown on June
21,
1983;
Jennie D. Day elected Senator from Coventry on November 6, 1984; Gloria Kennedy
Fleck
elected
Senator from Warwick on November 2, 1976; Millicent S. Foster elected Senator
from
North
Kingstown on November 30, 1967; Hannah M. Gallo elected Senator from Cranston
on
November
3, 1998; Jane Brad Gencarelli elected Senator from Westerly on June 21, 1983;
June
N.
Gibbs elected Senator from Middletown on November 6, 1984; Maryellen Goodwin
elected
Senator
from Providence on November 4, 1986; Catherine E. Graziano elected Senator from
Providence
on November 3, 1992; Ruth Grimes elected Senator from Providence on November 3,
1974;
Sandra K. Hanaway elected Senator from Cumberland on July 9, 1991; Ann H.
Hanson
elected
Senator from Barrington on June 21, 1983; Victoria Lederberg elected Senator
from
Providence
on November 6, 1984; Beatrice A. Lanzi elected Senator from Cranston on
November
5,
2002; Edith C. Logee elected Senator from Burrillville on November 8, 1938;
Helen M.
Mathieu
elected Senator from Portsmouth on November 4, 1986; Rita K. Misek elected
Senator
from
Cumberland on June 21, 1983; Florence Kerins Murray elected Senator from
Newport on
November
2, 1948; Karen J. Nygaard elected Senator from Bristol on November 5, 1996;
Isabelle
F.
Ahearn O’Neill elected Senator from Providence on November 4, 1930; Teresa M.
Paiva-
Weed
elected Senator from Newport on November 3, 1992; Mary A. Parella elected
Senator from
Bristol
on November 3, 1992; Rhoda E. Perry elected Senator from Providence on November
6,
1990;
Elizabeth H. Roberts elected Senator from Cranston on November 5, 1996; Lila M.
Sapinsley
elected Senator from Providence on November 7, 1972; Eleanor C. Sasso elected
Senator
from Providence on November 7, 1978; Marilyn Shannon elected Senator from
Pawtucket
on November 4, 1980; Eleanor F. Slater elected Senator from Warwick on November
8,
1966; Irene P. Smith elected Senator from Burrillville on November 2, 1976;
Susan V.
Sosnowski
elected Senator from South Kingstown on November 5, 1996; Bonnie L. Stewart
elected
Senator from West Warwick on June 21, 1983; Donna M. Walsh elected Senator from
Charlestown
on November 5, 1996; Joan R. Wiesner elected Senator from Burrillville on June
21,
1983;
Myrth York elected Senator from Providence on November 6, 1990; Vilma A. Zanni
elected
Senator from Johnston on June 21, 1983; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and
Providence
Plantations hereby proclaims March 8th, 2007 to be Rhode Island "Women's
History
Day"
in accordance with the nationally observed celebration. We pay tribute to all
of Rhode
Island's
women legislators, past and present, and salute them for their public service;
and be it
further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit
duly certified copies of this resolution to every current female member of the
Rhode
Island
General Assembly.
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LC02429
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