WLH: Women's Legal History

Today is the half-way mark in Women's History Month, and a great time to explore the Women's Legal History (WLH) website, created by Law Professor Barbara Babcock and the staff of the Robert Crown Law Library at Stanford University. The site focuses on describing and documenting the accomplishments and challenges of America's pioneering women lawyers. It features primary source material for those interested in the history of women in the law, with links to biographies, articles, speeches, case law and related websites containing materials on the more than 2,000 women lawyers featured. Holding a special place among these pioneers is Clara Foltz, California's first woman lawyer and a trial attorney as well as legal reformer and the first to suggest the creation of public defenders as a counterweight to prosecutors.  In 2011, Professor Babcock published a book, Woman Lawyer: The Trials of Clara Foltz. You can find it in the Law Library at call number KF368.F585 B33 2011.  

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Women in the Law

March is National Women's History Month, a good time to check out some fast facts and inspiring stories about American women in the legal profession--past and present.  Catalyst, a leading nonprofit organization focused on expanding opportunities for women and business and supporting research in this area, has posted Quick Take: Women in Law in the U.S., with graphs, charts, and a great list of studies, reports, and statistical sources, with direct links.  For a look back at trailblazing women lawyers and the early history of women law students and attorneys in American society, browse through the biographies and articles found at Stanford University Law Professor Barbara Babcock's Women's Legal History (WLH) web site.  This is also a great resource for legal history research papers.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Public Interest Law Story

March is the month of Hofstra's Annual Public Justice Foundation Auction. It's also Women's History Month. "Our History is Our Strength," the 2011 theme, is superbly represented by the life and career of Clara Foltz, California's first woman lawyer and the inventor of the role of public defender in the United States. You can learn more about Foltz and other pioneering women lawyers, and explore online resources in the history of women in the legal profession, at the Women's Legal History (WHL) web site, maintained by Stanford Law Professor Barbara Babcock. Professor Babcock's new book, Woman Lawyer: The Trials of Clara Foltz, is now in the Law Library (call number: KF368.F585 B33 2011), on the New Book Table.
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Women's History Month at the Library of Congress

Learn more about Women's History Month at the Library of Congress. This year's theme is "Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet" and it honors the contributions of women in the "going green" movement. You can read about the 2009 Honorees here.



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Women's History CyberMuseum

Women's History Month is a great time to become familiar with the CyberMuseum of the National Women's History Museum (NWHM). The Museum, a nonprofit and nonpartisan institution "dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and celebrating the diverse historic contributions" of American women, created the CyberMuseum as a platform for its collection of online exhibits while awaiting a permanent home in Washington, D.C., a milestone that will require Congressional legislation. The CyberExhibits here feature history and resources for key topics in women's history and rights, including voting, reform movements and pioneering women legislators.


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Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month! Celebrate by learning more about women's contributions to our society at the Library of Congress Women's History Month webpage. The 2008 theme is "Women's Art:Women's Vision" and the Library of Congress is offering several online exhibits showcasing women artists, musicians and writers.


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