Lottie Holman O'Neill
| Lottie Holman O’Neill | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 41st district | |
|
In office 1923–1931 | |
|
In office 1933–1951 | |
| Member of the Illinois Senate from the 42st district | |
|
In office 1951–1964 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 7, 1878 Barry, Illinois, United States |
| Died |
February 17, 1967 (aged 88) Downers Grove, Illinois, United States |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | William O’Neill |
Lottie (Holman) O'Neill (November 7, 1878 - February 17, 1967) was a politician elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1922, the first woman elected to the Illinois General Assembly. O'Neill served 40 years in the Assembly, the longest-serving female elected official in the United States at the time.[1]
Biography
O'Neill was born November 7, 1878 in Barry, Illinois.[2]
She earned a business degree, and then moved to Chicago.[2]
In 1904 she married William O’Neill, with whom she had two sons.[2] The family moved to Downers Grove in 1908.
O'Neill became an activist for equal voting rights, working with the League of Women Voters.[1]
Political career
O'Neill was inspired by the political success of Jeannette Rankin, who in 1916 was the first woman elected to the US Congress.[2]
In 1920, women in Illinois gained the right to vote, and O'Neill was encouraged by her husband to run for the legislature.[2]
She ran as a Republican, and won a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives in 1922. O'Neill was a strong supporter of civil rights, public schools, parks, and disabled children.[1][2] O'Neill successfully sponsored legislation which limited women's workdays to eight hours.[2]
In 1930 she ran unsuccessfully for the Illinois Senate.[1]
O'Neill served 13 terms in the House of Representatives, and was then elected to the Illinois Senate in 1950, where she served six terms. O'Neill served a total of 40 years in both the House and the Senate.[2]
O'Neill became more conservative over her career.[2] She opposed federal income tax, the United Nations, growing state budgets, and excessive regulations.[1][2]
O'Neill was a delegate to the 1956 Republican National Convention, which re-nominated Dwight Eisenhower. In 1964 she supported Barry Goldwater.[2]
She was described as strong willed and independent, and was referred to by her colleagues as the "conscience of the Senate".[2]
Later life
O'Neill retired from politics in 1963.[2]
She died in Downers Grove, Illinois at age 88.[2]
Legacy
O'Neill Middle School in Downers Grove, Illinois is named in her honor.[2]
A statue in the rotunda of the Illinois State Capitol was erected in 1976 to commemorate her.[2]
Sources
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Lottie Holman O'Neill: First Woman Illinois Legislator (R-Downers Grove)". Illinois House Republican Caucus. Retrieved December 2015. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Lottie Holman O'Neill (1878-1967)". National Women's History Museum. Retrieved December 2015. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help)