Women’s History Month 2020

In troubled times, Women’s History Month provides courageous examples. These informational slides have been posted throughout March 2020 on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

Edna Smith Primus - Born in Yemassee, South Carolina, 1944. First Black woman to graduate from UofSC School of Law, 1972. One year after graduation, she faced a public reprimand for telling women who were being involuntarily sterilized about their legal rights, and that free legal representation was available. She fought the reprimand, and won in the United States Supreme Court. In re Primus, 436 U.S. 412 (1978).

Ellen Hines Smith - Graduated salutatorian and the only woman in her class at UofSC School of Law, 1964. First woman judge in Spartanburg County, 1970. First woman on Spartanburg City Council, 1983. Piedmont Legal Services director, 1977-1995. The South Carolina Women Lawyers Association gives an annual award named for her.

Harriet McBryde Johnson - Graduated from UofSC School of Law, 1985. Best known for her 2003 New York Times Magazine article "Unspeakable Conversations" in which she argued for the value of the lives of people with disabilities.

Ida Salley Reamer - 1920 founding chair of the newly formed League of Women Voters of Columbia and Richland County 1922 UofSC School of Law valedictorian and recipient of the McIver Medal for academic achievement Chair of the Richland ​County War Price and Rationing Board in World War II Her diploma and law license are in the law library's legal history room.