An Introduction
Since 1917, when Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman to serve in Congress, a total of 260 women have served as U.S. Representatives or Senators. This Web site, based on the book Women in Congress, 1917–2006, contains biographical profiles of former women Members of Congress, links to information about current women Members, essays on the institutional and national events that shaped successive generations of Congresswomen, and images of each woman Member, including rare photos. Read the Introduction…
Edith Nourse Rogers of Massachusetts presides over the House Chamber in this image from 1926.
Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
Featured Member
Marilyn Lloyd
Learn about a featured woman Member of Congress in this week’s highlighted profile.Historical Essays
Read essays that provide historical context about four distinct generations of women in Congress. Among the topics discussed in each essay are institutional developments, legislative agendas, social changes, and national historical events that have shaped each generation of Congresswomen.
Member Profiles
Read biographical profiles of individual former women Representatives, Delegates, and Senators that focus on their congressional careers. These profiles also contain information for further reading and references to individual Members’ manuscript collections.
Educational Resources
This page features materials designed to help teachers and students use the information presented in Women in Congress in their classrooms. It includes lesson plans as well as activities on photographs, objects, and memorable quotations. An interactive map and a list of online educational resources also are included.
Artifacts
View an array of historical artifacts from the House Collection related to the history of women in Congress. Items include political campaign buttons, historic images, gallery passes, collectable cards, and magazine covers.
Historical Data
In this section, users can find tables and appendices of historical data about women in Congress, including: women in Congress by Congress; committee leaders; party leadership positions; women of color in Congress; and women who have marriage and familial connections in Congress.