Throughout history, there have been many women who were content to play a supporting role in marriage. Myra Bradwell wasn’t one of those women.

In 1852, 21-year-old Myra Colby married a man named James Bradwell. A few years into their marriage, James was admitted to the Chicago Bar Association and subsequently became a successful lawyer and judge. Myra became an apprentice in his office. Assisting, however, was not enough for her.

In 1868, Myra took her apprenticeship a step further and founded the Chicago Legal News, the most widely circulated legal newspaper in the United States, publishing both legal information and support for women. During this time, Myra also assisted in writing two bills that gave married women control over their earnings and property.

In 1869, although Myra passed the Illinois Bar Exam with honors, she was denied admission to the Illinois Bar Association for being a married woman. She filed a suit with the Illinois Supreme Court claiming this was a violation of her 14th Amendment rights, but it was denied by the Court.

Finally, in 1872, Illinois legislature passed a law that no person can be excluded from any occupation on account of gender. However, this progress did not persuade Myra to reapply for the Bar. She was busy with her newspaper, and, besides, the change to the law was enough for her to know she had won.

In 1890, the Supreme Court of Illinois, on its own motion, licensed Myra to practice law, and in 1892, the Supreme Court of the United States did the same.

The first female lawyer in Illinois, Myra kept pace with her husband and paved the way for women to not only become involved in the judicial system, but also to experience greater rights than had previously been available to them.

In 1894, Myra died of cancer, a mere two years after receiving her license. Myra was a pioneer in women’s rights and yet she is rarely thought of among the ranks of Rosa Parks or Susan B. Anthony. As the Chicago Legal News stated right after her death, “The future historian will accord her the breaking of the chain that bound woman [sic] to a life of household drudgery. She opened the door of the professions to her sex, and compelled lawmakers and judges as well to proclaim that it was not a crime to be born a woman.”