Background information about Etta H. Maddox

As I was researching at the Enoch Pratt library in the Maryland Room, I found the book Notable Maryland Women.  This book gives background information about Etta Maddox and it explains why she is significant to Maryland's history.  Etta Maddox was born to 1860 to Susannah and John Maddox in Baltimore.  She graduated from Eastern High School in 1873, graduated from the Peabody Conservatory of Music and graduated from the old Baltimore Law School on June 8, 1901.  However, when Maddox graduated from law school, women were not permitted to take the bar examination.  Miss Maddox was determined to take the bar examination, thus she, through her attorney, Howard Bryant, filed a brief with the Court of Appeals of Maryland to determine if she has a right to take the bar examination.  The Court of Appeals of Maryland denied Miss Maddox, determining that they did not have the power to change a law as legislature intended it;  only legislature has that power.  Therefore, Miss Maddox, along with other women attorneys from other states, went to Maryland's General Assembly .  In 1902 Senator Jacob M. Moses introduced a bill intending to change the law to including women to be permitted to practice law in Maryland; which was passed.  Etta Maddox took the bar examination on June 1902 and was sworn in as a member of the bar in September 1902.  In light of these events, Etta H. Maddox is known as Maryland's first woman lawyer, however Miss Maddox is really Maryland's second woman lawyer.  The first woman lawyer in Maryland was Margaret Brent.

(See bibliography 1)

Research Process

I plan on conducting my research at the school library, The Maryland Room at the Enoch Pratt Library, The Maryland Historical Society Library and the Maryland Law Library.  Etta H. Maddox had a sister, Emma Maddox Funck, who was president of the Baltimore Suffrage Club and president of the Maryland Woman Suffrage Association who I will also like to focus on in this research project.   The questions I'm posing with this research project are the following:  

1)  How did Etta H. Maddox and Emma Maddox Funck advocate for women rights in Baltimore?

2)  Although Etta H. Maddox is known as Maryland's first woman lawyer, that is not necessarily true, Margaret Brent was and I would like to explore more about her also.  

Women Rights/Suffrage Movement in Baltimore

I would like to focus on Women Rights movements in Baltimore for my research topic.  I will focus on Maryland's first woman lawyer, Etta Maddox and how she advocated for Maryland to admit women to the bar.  I also will like to focus on other movements and as my research progresses I will know exactly what they are.