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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