Margaret Brent, the real first woman attorney in Maryland

According to majority of sources I've come in contact regarding Etta Maddox, Margaret Brent is referred to as Maryland's first woman lawyer, however, the sources always point out that the actual first woman attorney in Maryland was Margaret Brent. According to the book, Notable Maryland Women,

In Maryland and in other North American settlements most litigants depended upon their own legal ability or on that of experienced but unprofessional attorneys until well into the eighteenth century. Nor was it unusual for women to appear in the colonial courts.[1]

Margaret Brent is not only known as Maryland's first woman lawyer, she could also be known as a suffragist. According to the Maryland State Archives website, "on January 21, 1648, Margaret Brent appeared before the assembly and requested two votes. She asked one for herself as a landowner and one as Lord Baltimore's attorney."[2]

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[1]Masson, Margaret W. "Margaret Brent, 1601-1671: Lawyer, Landholder-Entrepreneur." In Notable Maryland Women, edited by Winifred G. Helmes, 44. Cambridge: Tidewater Publishers, 1977.

[2] The Maryland State Archives. "Margaret Brent (ca.1601-ca. 1671)." http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/002100/002177/html/brochure.html (accessed November 29, 2009).

New River Notes. Picture of Margaret Brent, http://www.newrivernotes.com/dc/rcdc.htm (accessed November 29, 2009).

In re Maddox

I added a link on the left of the page labeled as In re Maddox.  This link will lead you to the case before the Maryland Court of Appeals regarding Etta Maddox's application for admission to the Maryland State Bar and the Court of Appeals decision.  I found this case on Westlaw.[1]

This case is important because it is regarding Etta Maddox's application to be admitted to the Maryland Bar.  During this time, women were not permitted to practice law in Maryland.  The Maryland Court of Appeals decided that " we are not to be understood as disparaging the laudable ambition of females to become lawyers.  It is for the general assembly to declare what class of person shall be admitted to the bar.  We have no power to enact legislation.  The courts can only interpret what the legislature adopts. "  

This article is from the Baltimore Sun.  It announces the Maryland Court of Appeals decision to not admit Etta Maddox to the Bar.  Also, it announces Ms. Maddox's plans to take the issue to legislature. [2]

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[2]      "Bars Woman Lawyer," The Baltimore Sun, November 22, 1901, http://proquest.umi.com.proxy-ub.researchport.umd.edu/pqdweb?index=0&did=1651692112&SrchMode=2&sid=2&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1261021785&clientId=41152 (accessed October 17, 2009).

 

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[1] In re Maddox,  55 L.R.A. 298, 93 Md. 727, 50 A.487 (1901).

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.