TRAILBLAZING WOMEN IN OHIO POLITICS

Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics unpacks the remarkable achievements of women who broke electoral barriers on both sides of the political aisle.

Hear their stories, understand the challenges they faced and listen to the successful strategies they employed.

I said, ‘I'm Jo Ann Davidson and I'm running for county recorder.’

He… said, ‘Well, I guess you could dust the books.’

Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics digs deep into the personal experiences and challenges of women who took the risk to run for office when women’s candidacies were exceedingly rare.

Our purpose is to bring their lived experiences to life for a broad public audience to inform, inspire and, perhaps, prompt others to run.

In their own words, our Democratic and Republican trailblazers share stories of struggle and triumph. They blazed a trail for the women officeholders of today and tomorrow.

The Team Behind Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics

Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics is a collaboration between WBGU-PBS and Dr. Melissa K. Miller, Professor of Political Science at Bowling Green State University.

Trailblazers

Nickie J. Antonio

First member of the LGBTQ+ community in the Ohio House and Ohio Senate; elected to leadership positions in both chambers

Jo Ann Davidson

First woman on the Reynoldsburg City Council and first woman Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives

Nancy P. Hollister

First woman Mayor of Marietta, first woman Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, and only woman to serve as Governor of Ohio

Marcy Kaptur

Longest-serving woman in the United States Congress

Joan W. Lawrence

First woman to represent Morrow and Delaware Counties in the Ohio House of Representatives

Rhine L. McLin

First African American woman in the Ohio Senate and first woman Mayor of Dayton

Betty D. Montgomery

First woman County Prosecutor in all 88 Ohio counties, first woman Attorney General of Ohio, and first woman Auditor of State

Helen Rankin

First African American woman in the Ohio legislature

Melody J. Stewart

First African American woman elected to the Ohio Supreme Court

Mary Ellen Withrow

First woman on the Elgin Local School Board of Education; rose to become Treasurer of the United States

A production of: wbgu pbs

Documentary for Public Television

The documentary portion of Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics is a collaboration between WBGU-PBS and Dr. Melissa K. Miller, Professor of Political Science at Bowling Green State University.

This historically important film, featuring seven trailblazers, will be shared with PBS affiliate stations across the United States.

While the stories are Ohio-based, we think they will resonate across state lines, encouraging others to identify notable “trailblazing women” in their own areas.

Both the documentary and its companion Oral History Collection, which features complete interviews with all of our trailblazers, serve as time capsules of an important era when women began running for office in greater numbers.

Oral History Collection

Oral history interviews were conducted by Dr. Melissa K. Miller with each of our trailblazers, including the seven featured in the WBGU-PBS documentary. The oral history format allowed interviewees to reflect on their experiences and highlight what they believe is important.

Fully accessible online, the oral history interviews are housed in the Center for Archival Collections in the Jerome Library at Bowling Green State University.

Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics Oral History Collection

Resources for Educators

Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics is an extraordinary resource to engage students with the unique challenges women face in the political sphere.

The documentary, oral history collection and website each provide thought-provoking content that can be used to promote critical thinking about the obstacles encountered by women in politics, both past and present.

A Master Teacher at Bowling Green State University, Dr. Melissa K. Miller has designed instructor guides for both high school and college educators, as well as journaling prompts at the bottom of each trailblazer profile page.

Instructor Guide for:

High School Educators

College Educators

Generous Supporters

Dr. Maribeth S. and Martin E. Rahe
Office of the President, Bowling Green State University
Ohio History Fund, a grant program of the Ohio History Connection
Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities
Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, Bowling Green State University
Department of Political Science, Bowling Green State University

Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics is funded in part by the Ohio History Fund, a grant program of the Ohio History Connection. Your donations to the Ohio History Fund make this program possible.

Ohio Humanities

This project is made possible in part by Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This project is dedicated to Dr. Neil Andrew Englehart (1964-2020), one of this project’s biggest supporters and Chair of the Department of Political Science from 2011 to 2020.

PHOTO CREDITS: The Blade; Office of U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur; OGT / The Ohio Channel; Ohio History Connection (SA7493 B01, SA7493 B02); The Ohio Statehouse; The Ohio Supreme Court; USA TODAY NETWORK.

Updated: 07/06/2023 03:44PM

TRAILBLAZING WOMEN IN OHIO POLITICS