Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 02.pdf/34

 Women Lawyers in the United States.


 * 9

reason my letter of inquiry addressed to her diately after graduation, and entered at once has not been answered. on the active practice of her profession in In 1887 four ladies graduated from the Ann Arbor, where she is still located. Law Department of Michigan. Mrs. Mar In 1888 there graduated from the Law garet L. Wilcox and her husband entered School at Ann Arbor a young lady for the school and pursued the course of study whom opportunities are not lacking, and together, and graduated in the same class. she is happily just the one to make the He began practice at once in Chicago, and best use of them. This is Miss Almeda E. she assists him materially in his work; but Hitchcock, of Hilo, Hawaii Islands, whose

they are waiting until father is one of the he shall have an office circuit judges of that alone, for her to for far-away land. The time within which this mally enter the profes sion as his partner. article had to be pre Another couple, hus pared did not permit band and wife, be me to write and re ceive a reply from longed to this class of '87, — Hamilton Miss Hitchcock, but Miss Pearce agrees Douglass, Esq., of At with me in thinking lanta, Ga.,and Corinne Williams Douglass. she would allow me to Mr. Douglass replies take a few ideas from to my letter that his her letters to the wife was admitted to Equity Club. About the bar in Michigan 1882, after she had after graduation, finished the usual ed though not with the ucation of a young view to practising. lady and tried teach He writes that " she ing, which proved un finds her hands full in congenial, she began the ' Domestic Rela to be with her father tions,' so to speak, in in his law office and taking care of her boy on his circuits; and LETTIE L. BURLINGAME. and other duties. She her highest ambition studied law for the was to know enough purpose of helping me and not for the prac to help him. Soon, however, she met Miss tice generally. In fact, women are not ad Cora A. Benneson (of the class of '80, mitted to the bar in the State of Georgia." already referred to), who was then mak Miss Rebecca May was the third woman of ing a journey around the world; and the '87's quartette; and after graduation she idea flashed upon this little island girl that was admitted to the bar and began practice she might be a lawyer herself. Her father at once in Topeka, Kan., where she remained encouraged her, and she entered the next a year, doing remarkably well during this class at Michigan University Law School. time, but was called home by illness in her She was admitted to the bar in Ann Arbor family; and I understand that she has not in December, 1887, and graduated with her yet resumed her active legal work. Mrs. degree the following June. Her letter to Mary C. Whiting also graduated in 1887, this year's " Equity Annual " (not yet is was admitted to the bar in Michigan imme- sued) is intensely interesting. Almost im