Jeannette Rankin Collected Papers

Jeannette Rankin (1880-1973), of Montana was the first woman to serve in Congress (1917-1919). She was one of more than fifty members of Congress to vote against U.S. entry into World War I. This vote probably cost her any hopes of re-election or of her intention to run for the Senate. Rankin later worked in peace organizations such as the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and served as the legislative secretary for the National Council for Prevention of War. In 1940 Rankin was again elected to Congress from Montana. She was the only member of Congress to vote against U.S. entry into World War II, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Once again her vote was unpopular with the Montana electorate and she was not re-elected. In the 1940s Rankin traveled to India following her interest in Gandhian pacifism. On her return and move to Georgia, founded the Georgia Peace Society. When activists from Women Strike for Peace began organizing the first all-women's protest march against the war, they contacted Rankin asked for her support. This march and Congressional lobbying effort was named the Jeannette Rankin Brigade, and Rankin lead the demonstration to the Capitol in January of 1968. Rankin died in 1973 of natural causes.