Today, I found a series of letters from Lady Willie Forbus, one of my mother's mentor's and role model. My mom lived with Lady Wille for awhile when she was young.
Lady Willie Forbus was born in Zieglerville, Mississippi. She received her B.A. Degree from the University of Mississippi in 1915 and her Degree in Law from the University of Michigan in 1918.
She had the reputation of being the first woman to establish her own law office (instead of working for wages for some other lawyer or law firm) in the nation.
She was a member of the Democratic Party and a former member of the Washington State Senate. (1942-1946). She served as a PCO and delegate to the 36th Legislative District King County Convention. Her nickname was the "Steel Magnolia".
During her distinguished career, Lady Willie served on the Board of Directors for the Washington State Branch of American Lawyers Alliance against First Strike Nuclear Weapons. (ALANA).
Lady Willie ran for Prosecuting Attorney of King County in the 1930's and was twice a candidate for Superior Court Judge in King County during the 1930's.
She was also an avid hiker and mountain climber in her youth.
Lady Willie lectured on a number of topics, including Equal Rights for Women and Discrimination against Minorities. For more information: Please see the following articles.
Washington State Bar Association - Three Lady Lawyer Legislators Who Showed Us The Way by George W. Scott. 2007.
http://www.wsba.org/media/publications/barnews/octscott.htm
Or the Seattle PI archives: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/archives/1986/8601010818.asp
University of Washington Library Archives: http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcoll/findaids/docs/papersrecords/ForbusLadyWillie0259.xml
Unviersity of Washington Blogs
http://gallagherlawlibrary.blogspot.com/2008/11/washingtons-first-women-lawyers-and.html
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