Fitzgerald, Martha Thomas, 1895-1981

Martha Elizabeth Thomas Fitzgerald was an educator and legislator, of South Carolina; native of Cherokee County, S.C.; B.A., Winthrop College; M.A., University of South Carolina; M.A., Columbia University; additional graduate studies at University of Chicago; worked with South Carolina Department of Education as School Community Organizer, Rural School Supervisor, and Director of Elementary Education; first woman elected to a full term in the South Carolina legislature, representing Richland County in the S.C. House of Representatives, 1950-1962; unsuccessful Congressional candidate, 1962 and 1965; married, 1941, to James Madison Harris Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald was awarded her BA from Winthrop College, her MA from University of South Carolina, another MA from Columbia University, and completed further graduate work at University of Chicago; wife of Columbia businessman J.M H. Fitzgerald; served in S.C. House, 1950-1962, representing Richland County; introduced a resolution in 1956 empowering women to serve on juries, which was annually refered to Judiciary Committee where it died, and only passed after Fitzgerald left office; named woman of the year in 1960 by The Progressive Farmer; editor of magazine, Colonial Courier, a periodical published by the Daughters of the American Colonists; daughter of James Henry Thomas and Ina Thackston Thomas.