111th Congress, 2nd Session
The first woman to speak in the House Chamber
January 12, 1806
Dorothy Ripley became the first woman to speak in the House Chamber when she delivered a sermon on this date. Ripley preached in the chamber at a time when it was used frequently by itinerant missionaries and clergy from local congregations. Until the mid-19th century, Washington, D.C., had few buildings large enough for public gatherings and the House Chamber was often utilized as a place of worship. In 1806, the House itself was hard-pressed for meeting space. Since the Capitol’s House (or South) wing was still under construction, the House was temporarily crammed into the Library of Congress’s reading room, located in the Senate (North) wing.
Related Highlight Subjects
Cite this Highlight
Office of History and Preservation, Office of the Clerk, http://clerk.house.gov/art_history/highlights.html?action=view&intID=264, (December 24, 2010).For Additional Information
Office of History and Preservation(202) 226-1300
history@mail.house.gov
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A painting of the North (Senate) Wing of the Capitol circa 1800, by William Russell Birch
Library of Congress
Teaching Tip
House Jargon
Provide students with a list of terms commonly associated with the House of Representatives, such as: Speaker; Clerk; mace; rostrum; chamber; Joint Session or Joint Meeting; Capitol; gavel; Statuary Hall. Ask students to locate a highlight date for each of these terms and to create an interactive timeline that includes each of the dates.
