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Rankin, Jeannette, 1880-1973
Variant namesJeannette Pickering Rankin (June 11, 1880 – May 18, 1973) was an American politician and women's rights advocate, and the first woman to hold federal office in the United States. She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican from Montana in 1916, and again in 1940.
Rankin graduated from the University of Montana in 1902. She subsequently attended the New York School of Philanthropy (later the New York, then the Columbia, School of Social Work) before embarking on a career of social work in Seattle, Washington, in 1909. Caught up in the rising tide of sentiment for woman suffrage, she campaigned effectively for the next five years in Washington, California, and Montana on behalf of the cause. In 1914 she became legislative secretary of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, and in that same year she led a successful campaign for woman suffrage in her native Montana.
In 1916 she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, thus becoming the first woman to hold a seat in either chamber. In office she introduced the first bill that would have allowed women citizenship independent of their husbands and also supported government-sponsored hygiene instruction in maternity and infancy. Reflecting a deep-seated pacifism, she became an outspoken isolationist and was one of 49 members of Congress to vote against declaring war on Germany in 1917. This unpopular stand cost her the Republican Senate nomination in 1918; she ran as an independent and lost. After the war she became a lobbyist and later returned to social work.
Running on an antiwar platform in 1940, Rankin once again won election to the House. She created a furor as the only legislator to vote against the declaration of war on Japan after the raid on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941), effectively terminating her political career with this vote. She did not seek reelection but continued to lecture on various aspects of social reform. She was active in the National Consumers League, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and other reform organizations. Her militant feminism remained unabated as late as the 1960s, when she founded a self-sufficient women’s “cooperative homestead” in Georgia. She also became active again in the peace movement, urging women to demand a halt to the U.S. intervention in Vietnam. On January 15, 1968, at the age of 87, she led 5,000 women, calling themselves the “Jeannette Rankin Brigade,” to the foot of Capitol Hill to demonstrate opposition to the hostilities in Indochina.
Archival Resources
| Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
|---|---|---|---|
| referencedIn | McCulloch, Catharine Waugh, 1862-1945. Papers in the Mary Earhart Dillon Collection, 1869-1945 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Papers of Edna Lamprey Stantial, 1836-1985 (inclusive), 1900-1955 (bulk) | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| creatorOf | Rankin, Jennette. Memorandum of settlement, 1842. | Connecticut Historical Society | |
| referencedIn | Missoula Women for Peace oral history project interviews, 2000 | University of Montana--Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections | |
| creatorOf | Anne Henrietta Martin papers, 1892-1951. | UC Berkeley Libraries | |
| creatorOf | Emergency Peace Campaign (U.S.). Records, 1935-1941 bulk, 1936-1937. | Swarthmore College, Peace Collection, SCPC | |
| creatorOf | Gwendolen Haste papers, 1900-1964. | New York State Historical Documents Inventory | |
| referencedIn | Harry L. and Gretchen Billings Papers, 1940-1984 | MSU-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections | |
| referencedIn | Dennett, Mary Ware, 1872-1947. Papers: Series IV, 1910-1944 (inclusive) [microform]. | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Catalogue I of the Regional Oral History Office, 1954-1979 | Bancroft Library | |
| referencedIn | Levy, Edward G.,. Edward G. and Hortense R. Levy Collection, 1829-1972 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Bancroft Library. Regional Oral History Office Oral History Interviews, 1959-1979, (bulk 1969-1975) | Library of Congress. Manuscript Division | |
| referencedIn | Records of the National Park Service, 1785 - 2006. National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013 - 2017 | National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration | |
| referencedIn | Papers, 1893-1978 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Foley, Margaret, 1875-1957. Papers, 1847-1968 (inclusive), 1909-1929 (bulk). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Pendergrast, Nan, 1920-. Nan Pendergrast papers, 1935-1993. | Emory University. Special Collections and Archives | |
| referencedIn | McCulloch, Catharine Waugh, 1862-1945. Papers in the Mary Earhart Dillon collection, 1869-1945 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Ludlow mss., 1898-1948 | Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington) | |
| referencedIn | McKinnon, Edna Rankin, b. 1893. Papers, 1893-1978 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| creatorOf | Rankin, Jeannette. Activist for world peace, women's rights, and democratic government : oral history transcript / Jeanette Rankin; tape recorded interview conducted by Malca Chall and Hannah Josephson in 1974. Regional Oral History Office, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, California, 1974 : and related material, 1972-1974. | UC Berkeley Libraries | |
| referencedIn | National Consumers' League Records, 1882-1986, (bulk 1920-1950) | Library of Congress. Manuscript Division | |
| creatorOf | Rankin, Jeannette, 1880-1973. Papers, 1941-1945 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Lutz, Alma, 1890-1973. Collection of documents by and about abolitionists and women's rights activists, 1775-1943 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Gore Vidal papers, 1850-2020 (inclusive), 1936-2008 (bulk) | Houghton Library | |
| creatorOf | Rankin, Jeannette, 1880-1973. Papers, 1915-1965 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Rankin Family Papers, 1888-1946 | Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections | |
| referencedIn | Billings, Harry L., 1913-1990. Harry L. and Gretchen Billings papers, 1940-1984. | Montana State University (Bozeman, Mont.). Library | |
| referencedIn | Lindseth, Jon A.,. Lindseth collection of American woman suffrage, [ca. 1820-1920]. | Cornell University Library | |
| creatorOf | Jeannette Rankin Brigade. Jeannette Rankin Brigade records, 1967-1968. | New York Public Library System, NYPL | |
| referencedIn | Candidates for public office campaign materials, 1966-1976 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Newman, Pauline. Papers, 1903-1982 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Yarrow, Harriet. Papers, 1943-1974 (inclusive), 1943-1961 (bulk). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Papers, 1917, 1935-1973 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | National American Woman Suffrage Association. National American Woman Suffrage Association records, 1839-1961 (inclusive), 1890-1930 (bulk), [microform]. | Yale University Library | |
| creatorOf | Manahan, James, 1866-1932. James Manahan and family papers, 1880-1937. | Minnesota Historical Society Library | |
| referencedIn | National American Woman Suffrage Association Records, 1839-1961, (bulk 1890-1930) | Library of Congress. Manuscript Division | |
| referencedIn | Laidlaw, H. B. (Harriet Burton), b. 1874. Papers: Series I-IV, 1851-1958 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Jeannette Rankin Brigade records, 1967-1968 | New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division | |
| referencedIn | Papers of Mary Ware Dennett | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Suffragists Oral History Project (Bancroft Library). Transcripts of oral history project, 1959-1974 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Newman, Pauline, ca. 1890-1986. Papers, 1900-1980 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Board, John C. The lady from Montana : Jeannette Rankin. | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| creatorOf | Rankin, Jeannette, 1880-1973. Jeannette Rankin collection, 1914-2001. | ||
| referencedIn | Jeannette Rankin - scrapbook re, 1917-1966. | ||
| referencedIn | National American Woman Suffrage Association. National American Woman Suffrage Association records, 1839-1961 (inclusive), 1890-1930 (bulk), [microform]. | University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hamilton Library | |
| referencedIn | Geer, Peter Zack, 1927-. Peter Zack Geer, Jr. papers, 1923-1967. | Georgia Southern University | |
| creatorOf | Rankin, Jeannette. Papers, 1915-1965 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| creatorOf | Rankin, Jeannette, 1880-1973. Papers, 1973. | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Papers | New Jersey Historical Society Library | |
| referencedIn | Lindseth collection of American woman suffrage, [ca. 1820-1920]. | Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library. | |
| creatorOf | Papers of Jeannette Rankin, 1879-1976 (inclusive), 1916-1973 (bulk) | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Women's History, 1977-1980 | Indiana University, Bloomington. Center for the Study of History and Memory | |
| creatorOf | Papers, 1915 - 1961 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | San Francisco Women for Peace records, 1943-[on-going] | Bancroft Library | |
| referencedIn | James Manahan and family papers., 1880-1937. | Minnesota Historical Society | |
| referencedIn | Josephson, Hannah. Papers, 1969-1974 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Missoula Women for Peace Records on the Jeanette Rankin Statue, 1983-1988 | University of Montana--Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections | |
| referencedIn | Hayler, Guy Wilfrid. Guy Wilfrid Hayler papers, [ca. 1897-1962]. | UC Berkeley Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Surles, Flora Belle, 1887-1971?. Papers, 1917-1973 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Foley, Margaret, 1875-1957. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1911-1924 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Norma Smith Papers, 1895-2000 | MSU-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections | |
| referencedIn | Anne McGrew Bennett Collection, 1959-84 | Graduate Theological Union | |
| referencedIn | Mary Church Terrell Papers, 1851-1962, (bulk 1886-1954) | Library of Congress. Manuscript Division | |
| creatorOf | Committee on Militarism in Education (U.S.). Records, 1925-1940. | Swarthmore College, Peace Collection, SCPC | |
| referencedIn | Franklin, Robert A. Women in Congress radio broadcast, 1997. | Montana Historical Society Library | |
| referencedIn | Georgia Peace Society. Collection, 1931-1937. | Swarthmore College, Peace Collection, SCPC | |
| referencedIn | Jeanette Rankin collection, 1917-2009 | University of Montana--Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections | |
| creatorOf | National Council for Prevention of War (U.S.). Records, 1921-1975. | Swarthmore College, Peace Collection, SCPC | |
| creatorOf | Papers of Jeannette Rankin, 1879-1976 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Winestine, Belle Fligelman. Papers, 1972, n.d. | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Records of the U.S. Senate, 1789 - 2015. Petitions and Related Documents That Were Presented, Read, or Tabled, 1789 - 1966 | National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration | |
| referencedIn | McKinnon, Edna Rankin, b. 1893. Audiotape collection of Edna Rankin McKinnon, ca. 1970 [sound recording]. | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| creatorOf | Rankin, Jeannette, 1880-1973. Jeannette Rankin recording, 1938-1941. | Montana Historical Society Library | |
| referencedIn | Cheek, Katrina Rebecca, 1946-. The rhetoric and revolt of Jeannette Rankin. | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| creatorOf | Rankin, Jeannette. Jeannette Rankin interview / with Dick Cavett : typescript, 1972 Apr. 17. | UC Berkeley Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Gwendolen Haste papers, 1900-1964 | New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division | |
| referencedIn | Lutz, Alma, 1890-1973. Collection of documents by and about abolitionists and women's rights activists, 1775-1943 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Records of the Office of Presidential Correspondence, 1/20/2001 - 1/20/2009. Blue Line Proclamations, 1/20/2001 - 1/20/2009 | George W. Bush Library | |
| referencedIn | Hochstein, Irma E., 1887-1974. Irma E. Hochstein papers, 1916-1965. | Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project | |
| creatorOf | Rankin, Jeannette, 1880-1973. Papers, 1961-1971 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| creatorOf | Rankin, Jeannette. Collection, 1917-1968, 1917-1929. | Swarthmore College, Peace Collection, SCPC | |
| referencedIn | Rainey, Glenn W. (Glenn Weddington), 1907-1988,. Glen Rainey oral history interview, 1977 Nov. 8. | Georgia State University | |
| referencedIn | Suffragists Oral History Collection MS 421., 1959-1977 | Sophia Smith Collection | |
| referencedIn | Women in the Making of America: Women in Politics and Government | National Archives at College Park | |
| referencedIn | Hicks, Mildred, 1880-1961. Mildred and Mary Hicks papers, 1917-1945. | Emory University. Special Collections and Archives | |
| creatorOf | Clapp, Moses E. (Moses Edwin), 1851-1929. Moses E. Clapp papers, 1873-1929. | Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts | |
| referencedIn | Monterey Public Library. California History Room. Biography clippings : "R" [surname] folder 1899-2001. | Monterey Public Library | |
| creatorOf | Bancroft Library. Regional Oral History Office Oral History Interviews, 1959-1979, (bulk 1969-1975) | Library of Congress. Manuscript Division | |
| referencedIn | Levy, Edward G. and Hortense R. Collection, 1829-1972 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| creatorOf | Cady, Alonzo D., ca. 1823-1917. Cady and Randolph family papers, 1844-1943. | Minnesota Historical Society Library | |
| referencedIn | Papers, 1928-1996 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| creatorOf | Jeanette Rankin Papers, 1916-1919 | Montana Historical Society Archives | |
| referencedIn | Election Records from the 65th Congress | Center for Legislative Archives | |
| referencedIn | Davies, Diana, 1938-. Papers 1960-1996 (ongoing). | Smith College, Neilson Library | |
| referencedIn | Maud Wood Park papers, 1844-1979 (bulk 1886-1951) | Library of Congress. Manuscript Division | |
| creatorOf | Hannah Clothier Hull Papers | Swarthmore College, Peace Collection, SCPC | |
| referencedIn | Laidlaw, Harriet Burton, 1873-1949. Papers, 1851-1958 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| creatorOf | Rankin, Jeannette, 1880-1973. Letters, 1917. | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Jeannette Rankin Document Exhibit - September 21, 1994 | National Archives at College Park | |
| referencedIn | Terrell, Mary Church, 1863-1954. Mary Church Terrell papers, 1851-1962 (inclusive), 1886-1954 (bulk) [microform]. | Yale University Library | |
| referencedIn | Papers, ca.1905-1989 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Foley, Margaret, 1875-1957. Papers, 1847-1968 (bulk: 1909-1929) | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| creatorOf | Dickerman, Judson C., 1873-1967. Papers of Judson C. Dickerman [manuscript], 1924-1945. | University of Virginia. Library | |
| referencedIn | Diana Davies Papers MS 309., 1960s-1996 (ongoing) | Sophia Smith Collection | |
| referencedIn | Smith, Norma, 1913-2001. Norma Smith papers, 1895-2000. | Montana State University (Bozeman, Mont.). Library | |
| creatorOf | Rankin, Jeannette, 1880-1973. Letter, 1917 Sept. 6, Washington D.C., to Perry Walton, Boston. | Boston Athenaeum |
Bibliographic and Digital Archival Resources
| Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
|---|---|---|---|
| referencedIn | [STOCK NEWSREEL EXCERPTS] | National Archives at College Park | |
| referencedIn | Resolution Adopted by Suffragetts of Fifth Congressional District of Michigan, Favoring Rankin Bill for Investigation Concerning Treatment of Suffragetts at Occoquan | Center for Legislative Archives | |
| referencedIn | [STOCK NEWSREEL EXCERPTS] | National Archives at College Park |
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Person
Birth 1880-06-11
Death 1973-05-18
Female
Americans
English
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