Ellen Hoar and Lena Giudici
February 23, 2000

First, I want to thank the Courthouse Project for sponsoring this talk. I would like, in particular, to thank Nancy Boone, the Courthouse Project Coordinator, for her assistance in digging up information about these two interesting women. And I also wish to thank Patricia Baril – a freelance writer who has done extensive work on the story of Ellen Hoar.

How many of you have daughters or- perhaps interns or young female lawyers in your offices that really don’t understand what all of the fuss is about women’s rights? We see how they take for granted the hard won equality women now have. Of course, it makes sense that it would be hard to appreciate . . . Just think – I entered law school in 1983 – at that time 49% of the class were women!

But lets think back for a moment to those that paved the way for us. Two Washington County women were trailblazers. Both from Barre: Ellen Hoar was the second woman to be admitted to practice in Vermont (in 1914), and Lena Giudici (Judeesee) was the third (admitted in 1921).

Lets begin by setting the stage.

In 1915, World War I was raging in Europe (we joined in 1917). Remember also that in 1912 Woodrow Wilson was elected, in part, on the pledge of keeping us out of the war and of institutionalizing segregation. In 1914 the progressive movement was underway in Vermont (meaning the progressive wing of the Republican party – it was only Republican here). This involved a move toward a direct primary, the first direct election of senators, the first workers rights bills such as child labor laws and workers compensation. A feeling of great possibility abounded. There was more economic fluidity in our society during that time than had been during the previous 50 or so years. Some of Vermont’s famous strikes occurred around this time. In contrast with the reform movement there was a marked hostility to foreigners and immigrants. And on the left fringe the anarchists and socialists were very active in Barre. This was also the height of the temperance movement – this movement effected popular views on women’s suffrage rights.

The suffrage movement also was in its height. Indeed, the 19^th amendment was passed in 1920 – but before this, in Vermont in 1880 property owning women (widows) were given the right to vote in municipal elections (no taxation without representation) and in 1917 the right to vote in municipal elections was extended to all women (although very few participated.) In 1919 Governor Clement refused to sign a bill granting women the right to vote in presidential elections and blocked efforts to hold a convention to ratify the 19^th amendment. The first woman elected to the legislature was Edna Beard in 1920.

(The first woman to be admitted to the Vermont Bar was Jessie Bigwood 1902 – Winooski)

Now a little bit about Ellen Hoar. Ellen was born in 1887, the child of a prominent Barre attorney, Richard Hoar. Her family encouraged Ellen to pursue a career in law – in fact, her father, Richard Hoar recognized her intellectual talents when she was a young child, and began to encourage her to pursue his profession in her early childhood years. So, after graduating from Spaulding in 1909 she entered the University of Maine Law School. (Incidentally she was also a great athlete – while at Spaulding she led its women’s basketball team in its championship victory. (Basketball first being initiated as a sport in 1292 and she was also a great musician and amateur Thespian – She was an accomplished pianist and performed in amateur theater through her lifetime.)

At Law School Ellen excelled – she was only woman member of the Editorial Board. She also began to develop a strong commitment to the pursuit of women’s rights – beginning with the right to vote. At law school, Ellen formed a deep friendship with Carrie Chapman Catt – one of history’s most remarkable women, whose dedication to women’s suffrage was second only to Susan B. Anthony. During her time in Maine, Ellen helped Carrie in her efforts to promote women’s rights – passing out leaflets in the halls of the Maine legislature. The title of Ellen’s Thesis (submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of bachelor of laws) was "The Securing to Women Her Rights as an Individual and as a Citizen."

There is not as much information about Lena Giudici – the third woman admitted to practice. Lena was born in 1989. Like Ellen, she was born and raised in Barre. She graduated from Spaulding High School in 1917 and in 1920, she earned a law degree from the Boston University School of Law. She was the first woman to be admitted to the Bar in Massachusetts. In 1921 she returned to Barre and was admitted to practice in Vermont. Ms. Giudici practiced law infrequently – mostly she did accounting for area granite firms, including her family’s firm, the Giudici Brothers. Although no one has found evidence that Lena actively practiced law, she remained a member of the bar, and was listed in the lawyer column of the Barre City directory until 1975. She died just a few years ago – in 1995, having lived out the end of her life in a Barre nursing home.

Like Ms. Hoar, Lena Guidici was an active supporter of other women – in 1926 when the Vermont Chapter of the Business and Professional Women’s Club was started, she was elected its first recording secretary, and later became the state first vice-president.

The lives of both of these remarkable women illustrate the challenge of being women lawyers at a time when women were still tied to hearth and home. As women before their times, both Lena and Hoar relied heavily on the support of their families. Both of them were kept out of active practice of law, perhaps because the community was not ready to use female lawyers. Neither woman ever married or had children. Yet these women, each in their own way, made a mark on their communities and paved the way for those of us who have followed their path.