Born: 12 February 1831, United States
Died: 14 February 1894
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Myra Colby
The following is excerpted from A Woman of the Century, edited by Frances E. Willard and Mary A Livermore, published in 1893 by Charles Wells Moulton.
BRADWELL, Mrs. Myra, lawyer and editor, born in Manchester, Yt., 12th February. 1831. She is a daughter of Eben and Abigail Willey Colby, Her parents removed to New York State in her infancy. When she was twelve years old, Chicago became her home. Her family were well represented in the War of the Revolution, two of her ancestors having been in the battle of Bunker Hill. Myra was educated in Kenosha. Wis., and at the seminary in Elgin, Ill., and afterwards taught school in Memphis, Tenn. In 1852 she was married to James B. Bradwell, whose father was one of the leading pioneers of Illinois. She studied law under the instruction of her husband, and passed a creditable examination. She was the first woman in America to ask for admission to the bar, and it was refused because she was a married woman. She immediately set to work, with the aid of her husband, to have this legal disability removed, and the success of their undertaking is a matter of congratulation for all women. Mrs. Bradwell declared that she should never again apply for admission to the bar, but, to her surprise, she one day received a certificate upon the original application from the court that had refused her years before. Mrs. Bradwell was the first woman who was made a member of the Illinois Bar Association, and also of the Illinois Press Association. The first weekly legal paper published in the Western States was the Chicago “Legal News.” established twenty-three years ago by Myra Bradwell, who has always been its manager and editor. The legislature gave her a special charter for the paper, and passed several acts making it evidence in the courts and a valid medium for the publication of legal notices. The law giving to married women their own earnings was drawn by Myra Bradwell, and its passage was secured through her efforts in 1869. Judge Bradwell retired from the bench in order to assist his wife in the large business to which the Legal News Company had grown. The Bradwells made place in their busy lives for much charitable and philanthropic work. During the Civil War they were active helpers among the sick and wounded soldiers, and did good service in the Sanitary Commission. Mrs. Bradwell has been for nearly thirty years a member of the Soldiers’ Home Board. She was untiring in her efforts to secure the World’s Fair for Chicago, and is one of the Board of Lady Managers and chairman of the committee on law reform of the World’s Congress Auxiliary. She is a member of the Chicago Women’s Club and of the Illinois Women’s Press Association, and is treasurer of the South Evanston Industrial School, of which she was one of the organizers. Four children form her family. Of these, two died in infancy. Thomas and Bessie remain. They are both lawyers. Bessie’s husband, Frank A. Helmer, is also an attorney. Notwithstanding her profession and her numerous activities, Mrs. Bradley is a favorite in the society of Chicago.
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
Daughter of Eben and Abigail Willey Colby. When she was twelve years old, Chicago became her home. She was educated in local schools and later taught in Memphis, Tenn. In 1852 she was married to James B. Bradwell, whose father was one of the leading pioneers of Illinois. She studied law under the instruction of her husband, and passed creditable examination. She was the first woman in America to ask for admission to the bar, and it was refused because she was a married woman. She immediately set to work, with the aid of her husband, to have this legal disability removed, and the success of their undertaking is a matter of congratulation for all women. Mrs. Bradwell declared that she would never again apply for admission to the bar, but, to her surprise, she, one day, received a certificate upon the original application from the very court that had refused her years before. She was the first woman to be made a member of the Illinois Bar Association and, also, of the Illinois Press Association. In 1874 she established, and was manager and editor of, the Legal News, the first weekly legal paper in the Western States. The legislature gave her a special charter for the paper, and passed several acts making it evidence in the courts and a valid medium for the publication of legal notices. This paper exists today. The law giving to married women their own earnings was drawn by Mrs. Bradwell, and its passage was secured through her efforts in 1869.
In spite of their busy lives she and her husband found time for many charitable and philanthropic enterprises. She was a member of the Soldiers’ Home Board. She was untiring in her efforts to secure the World’s Fair for Chicago and she was called the Legal Light of the Board of Lady Managers. She was also chairman of the committee on law reform of the World’s Congress Auxiliary.
From The Woman’s Tribune, December 28, 1895:
“MYRA BRADWELL, was the first woman in America to ask for admission to the bar having studied law with her husband. On being refused she went to work, with the aid of her husband, to secure the passage of a law making it possible for women to practice in the courts of Illinois. She was years later, without solicitation, admitted on her original application. She was the first woman made a member of the Illinois Bar and Press Associations. She established the Legal News, a recognized legal authority over a quarter of a century ago, and although Mrs. Bradwell passed away about two years ago her husband and daughter still keep her name at the head. Mrs. Bradwell was lovely in her home relations and helpful in all reforms.”