The University of Wisconsin Law Library is proud to host a traveling display celebrating Lavinia Goodell, Wisconsin’s first woman lawyer and a pioneer in the fight for gender equality in the legal profession.
Goodell was an active member of the 1870s “Woman’s Rights” movement, working as an editor for Harper’s Bazar and publishing numerous articles on women’s rights in the national press. Her legal career began in 1874, when she achieved a significant milestone by being admitted to the Rock County Circuit Court, becoming Wisconsin’s first woman lawyer. However, her attempt to appear before the Wisconsin Supreme Court the following year was denied solely because of her gender.
Rather than accept this barrier, Goodell took action. She drafted legislation explicitly stating that “no person shall be denied a license under the act on account of sex” in Wisconsin. Through her focused lobbying efforts, she succeeded in getting the bill passed by an all-male legislature and signed by the governor on March 8, 1877.
Visitors to the exhibit can explore Goodell’s story through various materials, including buttons and stickers featuring some memorable quotes. For those interested in learning more about this remarkable figure in Wisconsin legal history, the exhibit’s creators, Colleen Ball and Nancy Kopp, have developed an informative website at laviniagoodell.com. The site offers detailed insights into Goodell’s life and work, with particularly interesting coverage of her Supreme Court battle.
The display will remain at the UW Law Library through the end of February. We encourage you to stop by and learn more about this significant figure in Wisconsin’s legal history.
