Kathryn F. Clarenbach
Encyclopedia
Kathryn F. Clarenbach was an early leader of the modern feminist movement in the United States and the first Chairperson of the National Organization for Women
(NOW).
on October 7, 1920 to Nina and Alexander Frederick. Just 42 days before her birth, women in the United States won the right to vote
. Kathryn did not overlook her birthright; she later became recognized as the mother of modern feminism.
Her mother, Nina, was very active in the community and was elected to the Sparta school board in the early 1920’s. Both of her parents were committed to help their children receive the best education possible. Kay started school at age 2,1/2 taking 1st and 2nd grade in the same year. It was expected for the Frederick children to attend college. Their parents agreed to finance all of their children’s education through a master’s degree.
Attending Sparta High School
, Clarenbach took part in numerous clubs including German club, a capella choir, orchestra, debate, yearbook, volleyball, basketball, and had the lead part in the senior play. She thought of school not as a place to learn but a place to showcase what she knew.
, so that experience was entirely new for her. Another new experience for her was the need to study. She had a mixture of study partners from a Supreme Court justice, a local lawyer, and a progressive left-winger. Due to the fact women were not allowed in the Rathskeller
(a fact that annoyed her), she and her study partner would meet in the Paul Bunyan Room in the union.
Initially, Clarenbach was undecided as to what her major would be. Her father believed she should prepare for a practical career, such as teaching. However, in 1941 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in political science
.
Clarenbach worked at a gift shop and sold tickets to make spending money during her college years. She spent her free time working on extracurricular activities. She joined the Alpha Chi Omega
sorority and later became the house president in 1941.
After her marriage, Clarenbach was offered teaching jobs at both Purdue University
and Bryn Mawr College
. She accepted Purdue’s offer to teach Political Science. She enjoyed her experience there but left because she was tired of having a commuting marriage. In 1948 Clarenbach and her husband joined others to work on Henry Wallace
’s unsuccessful presidential campaign. During that time, Henry continued to work toward his Ph.D.
Clarenbach then left the work force to raise her three children: Sara (1949); David
(1953), who was to become a state legislator
; and Janet (1957). During her time as a new mother she was also busy with volunteer work including holding a position on the state board of the Missouri League of Women Voters.
In 1961, when Clarenbach and her family moved back to Madison, Clarenbach took a teaching position at Edgewood College
. She also got elected on to the Board of Trustees at Alverno College
. She was very energized by the idea of an all-women college and believed strongly in its mission.
Clarenbach's father encouraged his children to appreciate and be curious about the world outside of Sparta. Throughout her life, Clarenbach's career took her all over the United States, including Hawaii
(4 times), the Virgin Islands
(1977), Cuba
(1978), Europe
and Canada
(3 or 4 times).
During a statewide conference she organized, Clarenbach’s life was changed when idea of a state-wide Governor's Commission on the Status of Women was unanimously recommended. Governor Reynolds was supportive of the idea and worked to get the commission created. In July 1963, Governor Reynolds asked Clarenbach to lead the planning commission and the first conference. The conference took place in January 1964. After the conference the governor asked Clarenbach to chair the commission and she accepted. During her time as chair she helped change and redefine several laws which were unfair to women, such as sexual assault, divorce, and marital property. Clarenbach was chair of the commission for 15 years.
and Clarenbach set forth to put some pressure on the federal government. The National Organization for Women (NOW), was founded to fit that need. Clarenbach became the first chair of NOW. NOW’s first action was to confront the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
about their sexual discrimination. When they made their point, they received much support. NOW kept growing.
Clarenbach was requested to be the conference coordinator for the first (and only) National Women's Conference
in Houston, Texas
, which took place during International Women's Year
. Clarenbach learned a lot during her tenure as executive director on the International Women’s Year Commission, even though many poor decisions were made during that time due to fear and anxiety from conservative harassment. The conference took place in 1977 and was a success.
, and was committed to seeing that women got elected to public office. In 1988 she retired from UW–Madison. Clarenbach and some other co-workers have created a film that has been on demand over the nation, Never Underestimate the Power of Women. She has also edited and published a book, Green Stubborn Bud : Women's Culture at Century's Close.
Clarenbach believed the women’s movement hasn’t done all it should, especially in educating the younger generation and in getting women elected to public office. But overall, she was proud of its work and progress.
On March 4, 1994, she died due to complications with smoking-related emphysema
.
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
(NOW).
Early life
Kathryn “Kay” Dorothy Frederick was born in Sparta, WisconsinSparta, Wisconsin
Sparta is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States, along the La Crosse River. The population was 9,522 at the 2010 census.-Notable people:*William Hawley Atwell, U.S. District Court Judge in Texas*Larry Baumel, NASCAR...
on October 7, 1920 to Nina and Alexander Frederick. Just 42 days before her birth, women in the United States won the right to vote
History of women's suffrage in the United States
Woman suffrage in the United States was achieved gradually, at state and local levels, during the 19th Century and early 20th Century, culminating in 1920 with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which provided: "The right of citizens of the United States to...
. Kathryn did not overlook her birthright; she later became recognized as the mother of modern feminism.
Her mother, Nina, was very active in the community and was elected to the Sparta school board in the early 1920’s. Both of her parents were committed to help their children receive the best education possible. Kay started school at age 2,1/2 taking 1st and 2nd grade in the same year. It was expected for the Frederick children to attend college. Their parents agreed to finance all of their children’s education through a master’s degree.
Attending Sparta High School
Sparta High School (Wisconsin)
Sparta High School is the primary high school in Sparta, Wisconsin. Its colors are red and gold and its sports team's name is the Spartans....
, Clarenbach took part in numerous clubs including German club, a capella choir, orchestra, debate, yearbook, volleyball, basketball, and had the lead part in the senior play. She thought of school not as a place to learn but a place to showcase what she knew.
College
Clarenbach never took a final exam until 1937 when she got to the University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, so that experience was entirely new for her. Another new experience for her was the need to study. She had a mixture of study partners from a Supreme Court justice, a local lawyer, and a progressive left-winger. Due to the fact women were not allowed in the Rathskeller
Rathskeller
Ratskeller is a name in German-speaking countries for a bar or restaurant located in the basement of a city hall or nearby...
(a fact that annoyed her), she and her study partner would meet in the Paul Bunyan Room in the union.
Initially, Clarenbach was undecided as to what her major would be. Her father believed she should prepare for a practical career, such as teaching. However, in 1941 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
.
Clarenbach worked at a gift shop and sold tickets to make spending money during her college years. She spent her free time working on extracurricular activities. She joined the Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Chi Omega is a women's fraternity founded on October 15, 1885. Currently, there are 135 chapters of Alpha Chi Omega at colleges and universities across the United States and more than 200,000 lifetime members...
sorority and later became the house president in 1941.
Early career
In 1942, Clarenbach received her masters degree. In order to support the war effort, she took the federal Civil Service Exam and passed. She then moved to Washington D.C. to work as an administrative analyst with the War Production Board for 2 years. When she moved back to Madison in 1944, she went back to school to get her Ph.D, which she received 2 years later in 1946. During her graduate studies, she spent her time as a teacher’s assistant. One of her professors introduced her to a fellow student, Henry Clarenbach. On September 5, 1946, Kathryn and Henry Clarenbach were married in Sparta.After her marriage, Clarenbach was offered teaching jobs at both Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
and Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
. She accepted Purdue’s offer to teach Political Science. She enjoyed her experience there but left because she was tired of having a commuting marriage. In 1948 Clarenbach and her husband joined others to work on Henry Wallace
Henry A. Wallace
Henry Agard Wallace was the 33rd Vice President of the United States , the Secretary of Agriculture , and the Secretary of Commerce . In the 1948 presidential election, Wallace was the nominee of the Progressive Party.-Early life:Henry A...
’s unsuccessful presidential campaign. During that time, Henry continued to work toward his Ph.D.
Clarenbach then left the work force to raise her three children: Sara (1949); David
David Clarenbach
David E. Clarenbach is a Wisconsin Democratic politician who served nine terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly. He represented the 78th Assembly District in Madison from 1975 to 1993....
(1953), who was to become a state legislator
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
; and Janet (1957). During her time as a new mother she was also busy with volunteer work including holding a position on the state board of the Missouri League of Women Voters.
In 1961, when Clarenbach and her family moved back to Madison, Clarenbach took a teaching position at Edgewood College
Edgewood College
Edgewood College is a Dominican Catholic liberal arts college in Madison, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Madison. Overlooking the shores of Lake Wingra, it occupies on Madison's near west side....
. She also got elected on to the Board of Trustees at Alverno College
Alverno College
Alverno College is a Roman Catholic, four-year, independent, liberal arts college, historically and still primarily a women's college located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin....
. She was very energized by the idea of an all-women college and believed strongly in its mission.
Clarenbach's father encouraged his children to appreciate and be curious about the world outside of Sparta. Throughout her life, Clarenbach's career took her all over the United States, including Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
(4 times), the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
(1977), Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
(1978), Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(3 or 4 times).
Feminism
In 1962, the focus of Clarenbach’s work became women’s issues when she was asked to devise a program for continuing education for women through the University of Wisconsin–Extension. Clarenbach was worried about finding childcare when she took this job but her husband rescheduled his real estate work so he could be at home when the children got home from school. She believed strongly in her work and was impressed by the changes she saw in co-workers and those in the program.During a statewide conference she organized, Clarenbach’s life was changed when idea of a state-wide Governor's Commission on the Status of Women was unanimously recommended. Governor Reynolds was supportive of the idea and worked to get the commission created. In July 1963, Governor Reynolds asked Clarenbach to lead the planning commission and the first conference. The conference took place in January 1964. After the conference the governor asked Clarenbach to chair the commission and she accepted. During her time as chair she helped change and redefine several laws which were unfair to women, such as sexual assault, divorce, and marital property. Clarenbach was chair of the commission for 15 years.
Establishment of NOW
In 1966 Betty FriedanBetty Friedan
Betty Friedan was an American writer, activist, and feminist.A leading figure in the Women's Movement in the United States, her 1963 book The Feminine Mystique is often credited with sparking the "second wave" of American feminism in the twentieth century...
and Clarenbach set forth to put some pressure on the federal government. The National Organization for Women (NOW), was founded to fit that need. Clarenbach became the first chair of NOW. NOW’s first action was to confront the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is an independent federal law enforcement agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, perceived intelligence,...
about their sexual discrimination. When they made their point, they received much support. NOW kept growing.
Clarenbach was requested to be the conference coordinator for the first (and only) National Women's Conference
National Women's Conference
In the spirit of the United Nations' proclamation that 1975 was the International Women's Year, on January 9, 1974, U.S. President Gerald Ford issued Executive Order 11832 creating a National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year "to promote equality between men and women"...
in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, which took place during International Women's Year
International Women's Year
International Women's Year was the name given to 1975 by the United Nations. Since that year March 8 has been celebrated as International Women's Day, and the United Nations Decade for Women, from 1976–1985, was also established.-International:...
. Clarenbach learned a lot during her tenure as executive director on the International Women’s Year Commission, even though many poor decisions were made during that time due to fear and anxiety from conservative harassment. The conference took place in 1977 and was a success.
Later life
Clarenbach was proud of all that she has done, but was most proud of starting NOW and the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women. She was also proud of her work in the field of continuing education for women. Clarenbach was on the steering committee on the National Association of Commissions on the Status of Women and was its first president in 1970. She chaired the National Women's Political CaucusNational Women's Political Caucus
The National Women's Political Caucus is a national bipartisan grassroots organization in the United States dedicated to recruiting, training, and supporting women who seek elected and appointed offices....
, and was committed to seeing that women got elected to public office. In 1988 she retired from UW–Madison. Clarenbach and some other co-workers have created a film that has been on demand over the nation, Never Underestimate the Power of Women. She has also edited and published a book, Green Stubborn Bud : Women's Culture at Century's Close.
Clarenbach believed the women’s movement hasn’t done all it should, especially in educating the younger generation and in getting women elected to public office. But overall, she was proud of its work and progress.
On March 4, 1994, she died due to complications with smoking-related emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
.