Category: Women/Gender

LADIES TRACT SOCIETY

The LADIES TRACT SOCIETY (est. 30 Oct. 1830) was the local branch of the American Tract Society, organized in New York in 1825 to distribute Christian leaflets and pamphlets, or "tracts." REBECCA ROUSE, an agent of the national organization, created the Cleveland society.

LAUREL SCHOOL

LAUREL SCHOOL is an independent day school for girls, kindergarten through grade twelve, with a coeducational early childhood center. A private school for girls, Laurel School was established by Jennie Warren Prentiss with an enrollment of seven students in 1896. Originally known as Miss Prentiss' School, it was located in her home at 95 Streator Avenue (East 100th Street).

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS (LWV) OF CLEVELAND

The LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS (LWV) OF CLEVELAND was formed in April 1920 by a group of suffragists, after the disbanding of the Woman's Suffrage Party of Greater Cleveland. Founders followed the example of the National American Woman's Suffrage Association, which had organized the National League of Women Voters in February 1920.

LEBANESE-SYRIAN JUNIOR WOMEN'S LEAGUE

The LEBANESE-SYRIAN JUNIOR WOMEN'S LEAGUE, organized in 1929, is a social and charitable organization that sponsors fundraising events to support children's institutions overseas, scholarships for local students of Syrian-Lebanese descent, and donations to local welfare agencies. The league was founded with 23 charter members at a party for Syrian girls sponsored by the Intl.

LECHOWICK, MARGARET (TROUGHTON)

LECHOWICK, MARGARET (TROUGHTON) (1907-10 Apr. 1992), basketball champion, child welfare advocate, lawyer, and mother of 10, presided over the Cleveland Women Lawyers Association (1971-73). Born in Cleveland, Lechowick's parents, Edward J. and Katherine Troughton, owned a candy store. She attended Ursuline Academy where in 1925 she was the nation's top scorer in women's basketball, with 400 points in 20 games.

LEDBETTER, ELEANOR EDWARDS

LEDBETTER, ELEANOR EDWARDS (6 May 1870-19 July 1954), librarian known for her pioneering work with immigrant groups and ethnic literature, was born in Holley, N.Y., daughter of Ira Edwards. She was educated at Brockport State Normal College, Syracuse University, and New York State Library School in Albany. Ledbetter began her career as a cataloguer at Worcester, Mass.

LESBIAN/GAY COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER OF GREATER CLEVELAND

The LESBIAN/GAY COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER OF GREATER CLEVELAND was incorporated by Arthur G. MacDonald, Michael Madigan, and Ethan A.

LEWIS, FANNIE

LEWIS, FANNIE (6 June 1926 - 11 August 2008) was the Ward 7 representative for the CLEVELAND CITY COUNCIL, an area that included the city's Hough neighborhood, for almost thirty years.

LGBTQ LIAISON TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND THE DIVISION OF POLICE

The LGBTQ LIAISON TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND THE DIVISION OF POLICE is a municipal position in Cleveland that was established in July 2018 in order to improve relations between the police and Cleveland’s LGBTQ community. Director of Public Safety Michael McGrath named Commander Deirdre Jones as the first LGBTQ Liaison.

LGBTQ RIGHTS IN CLEVELAND

LGBTQ RIGHTS IN CLEVELAND have been shaped by legal decisions at the local, state, and national levels. This article provides an overview of the laws and legal changes that have shaped LGBTQ rights in Cleveland, including policies concerning sodomy, domestic partnerships, marriage, discrimination, identity documentation, and access to gendered bathrooms.

LONG, JULIANA (JULIA) WALWORTH

LONG, JULIANA (JULIA) WALWORTH (19 Sept. 1794-2 July 1866), an advocate of TEMPERANCE, helped organize both FIRST PRESBYTERIAN (OLD STONE) CHURCH and Second Presbyterian Church and devoted much time to social service in Cleveland.

LUCAS, RUTH TOWNSEND

LUCAS, RUTH TOWNSEND (3 Jan. 1903 - 3 Sept. 1996) was a founder and director of the Central Volunteer Bureau of the Welfare Federation of Cleveland and a nationally recognized developer of volunteer programs. Born in Cleveland and raised in Lakewood, the daughter of Pitt Townsend and Evalina "Mattie" Curtiss attended Hathaway Brown.

MALONE, EMMA BROWN

MALONE, EMMA BROWN (30 Jan. 1859-12 May 1924), with her husband J. WALTER MALONE, organized the Christian Workers' Training School for Bible Study and Practical Methods of Work (opened 17 March 1892) in Cleveland, the precursor of Malone College, Canton, OH.

MARTIN, MARY BROWN

MARTIN, MARY BROWN (31 May, 1877 – 19 Nov. 1939), the first Black woman elected to the Cleveland Board of Education, was born in Raleigh, N.C. to Winfield Scott and Jane (Curtis) Brown, both former slaves.

MARYANN FINEGAN PROJECT

The MARYANN FINEGAN PROJECT was an assistance program and hotline for victims of anti-gay violence established by the LESBIAN/GAY COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER OF GREATER C

MAYORAL ADMINISTRATION OF JANE L. CAMPBELL

The MAYORAL ADMINISTRATION OF MAYOR JANE L. CAMPBELL (2002-2005) was set against a backdrop of persistent economic recession locally that complicated and narrowed the city's options on most issues during her four years in office and that led eventually to layoffs in several key departments. It was a challenging time for political leaders.

MCCAFFERY, MARGARET

McCAFFERY, MARGARET (19 July 1906 - 20 Dec. 1997) served on Cleveland City Council through six mayoral administrations over twenty-eight years.

MCCARTHY, SARA VARLEY

MCCARTHY, SARA VARLEY (2 Dec. 1891-19 Mar. 1987), reporter and social welfare volunteer who helped organize the Cleveland Diocesan Council of the NATIONAL COUNCIL of CATHOLIC WOMEN (NCCW) in 1923, received a papal medal for distinguished service by a layperson to the Catholic Church in 1936.

MCCORD, GRACE BERNARDINA DOERING

MCCORD, GRACE BERNARDINA DOERING (16 June 1890-31 Jan. 1983) became one of the first Cleveland women to achieve prominence in the legal profession. The daughter of Anton and Frances Langer Doering, she was born in downtown Cleveland and graduated from CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL.

MCCORMICK, ANNE (O'HARE)

MCCORMICK, ANNE (O'HARE) (16 May 1880-29 May 1954), the first woman on the editorial board of the New York Times (NYT) (1936-54) and the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for foreign correspondence (1937), began her writing career in Cleveland.

MCKELVEY, DOROTHY MARKS

MCKELVEY, DOROTHY MARKS (24 Oct. 1902-14 July 1993) was the founder, president and trustee of the Berea Area Historical Society (BAHS). She was the caretaker of Berea history and historian of BALDWIN-WALLACE COLLEGE.

MCKENNEY, RUTH

MCKENNEY, RUTH (18 Nov. 1911-15 July 1972) immortalized the nostalgia felt for her Cleveland upbringing in the stories she wrote under the collective title My Sister Eileen. Born in Mishawaka, Ind., she was brought by her family as a child to EAST CLEVELAND, where she became valedictorian at Shaw High School.

MCKINNEY, WADE HAMPTON AND RUTH BERRY

MCKINNEY, WADE HAMPTON (19 July 1892-18 Jan. 1963) and RUTH BERRY (24 Sept. 1900-4 Dec. 1966), were religious and civic leaders in Cleveland. As pastor of ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH, McKinney was a powerful figure among the city's black population. Ruth McKinney, an activist in church circles, was also an important speaker and leader. Wade was born in Cleveland, Ga., to Wade and Mary Brown McKinney.

MERRICK, MYRA KING

MERRICK, MYRA KING (15 Aug. 1825 - 10 Nov. 1899), was a pioneering woman physician. She was born in Hinkley, Leicestershire, England, the daughter of Richard (1795-1887) and Elizabeth (Ball) (1803-1885).

MILLER, MILDRED

MILLER, MILDRED (16 Dec. 1924–29 Nov. 2023) was a prominent mezzo-soprano with New York’s Metropolitan Opera Co.