Myra Bradwell American publisher and political activist Date of Birth: 12.02.1831 Country: USA

Biography of Myra Bradwell

Myra Colby was born on February 12, 1831, in Manchester, Vermont. She spent her childhood in Vermont and western New York before her family moved to Schaumburg, Illinois when she was 12 years old. Myra attended school in Kenosha, Wisconsin and later enrolled in Elgin Female Seminary in Illinois. She completed her education by the age of 24 and became a teacher.

In 1852, Myra married James B. Bradwell and they moved to Memphis, Tennessee two years later. James became the head of a private school, where Myra also taught. In 1855, the couple relocated to Chicago, where James was admitted to the Chicago Bar Association. He became a successful lawyer and was eventually elected as a judge and a member of the General Assembly.

After a few years of marriage, Myra began studying law and worked as a lawyer in her husband's firm, although she faced many challenges. She had four children, but two of them died in early childhood. During the Civil War, Myra was involved in fundraising for wounded soldiers and became a member of the Northwestern Sanitary Commission.

In 1868, she founded the newspaper "Chicago Legal News" and became its editor and manager with the legal support of her husband. "Chicago Legal News" became the most widely circulated legal newspaper in America. Myra Bradwell's goal was to change the status of women in society. She published information about legal practice, laws, and court decisions, supported suffrage reform to give women the right to vote, organized employment opportunities for women, campaigned for improvements in the judicial system, and participated in the development of legislation related to women's issues, such as property rights.

In August 1869, Myra Bradwell's qualifications were deemed sufficient to receive a law license, but her application was rejected due to her status as a married woman who couldn't enter into legal contracts even as a lawyer. In February 1870, the Illinois Supreme Court rejected her claim again based on her gender. Eventually, Myra appealed to the United States Supreme Court, arguing that her denial of a law license due to her gender violated her rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. Unfortunately, in 1873, the Supreme Court also ruled against her, stating that the 14th Amendment did not provide the right to practice a profession. Myra continued to publish "Chicago Legal News" as its publisher, commercial director, and editor. She also became an active member of the women's suffrage movement and was elected as the secretary of the Illinois Women Suffrage Association.

Interestingly, although Bradwell no longer attempted to obtain her license, the Illinois Supreme Court, acting on its own initiative, approved her initial application in 1890. In 1892, she finally received a license to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

Myra Bradwell passed away from cancer on February 14, 1894, two years after receiving her law license. Her daughter, Bessie Bradwell Helmer, followed in her mother's footsteps and became a lawyer, as did her son, Thomas Bradwell. After her death, the Myra Bradwell Award was established in her honor. This award is presented to members of the Minnesota Women Lawyers organization who have shown professional excellence and demonstrated courage, persistence, and leadership qualities.