Marguerite Rawalt
Encyclopedia
Dr. Marguerite Rawalt was an American writer and lawyer who lobbied in Congress
on behalf of women's rights. She worked for the Internal Revenue Service
for 30 years, and served on the board of directors for numerous interest groups relating to women's rights issues. Rawalt was a member of the National Presbyterian Church
.
, Illinois
. Her family eventually moved to Texas
and settled there. She received her bachelor's law degree in 1933 and her master's law degree in 1936 from George Washington Law School. In 1933, she started working as an attorney in the office of chief counsel for the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
, the first woman to hold the position. During 1943 she also served as president of the National Association of Women Lawyers. In 1966, Rawawlt became a member of the National Organization for Women
, and acted as their first legal counsel.
Rawalt became involved with President Kennedy
's Commission on the Status of Women
under the invitation of Esther Peterson
. In 1964, Marguerite Rawalt wrote to members of Business and Professional Women
and Zonta International
, asking them to lobby for the passage of provision VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
, which prohibited discrimination by employers on the basis of sex. In 1972, Rawalt founded the Marguerite Rawalt Legal Defense Fund, a group focused funding legal cases involving women's equity, particularly relating to financial equity.
She retired from the IRS in 1965, having been employed by them for 30 years.
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
on behalf of women's rights. She worked for the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
for 30 years, and served on the board of directors for numerous interest groups relating to women's rights issues. Rawalt was a member of the National Presbyterian Church
National Presbyterian Church
The National Presbyterian Church is a church located in Washington, D.C. affiliated with the Presbyterian Church .-Location:NPC is located in the Tenleytown neighborhood in Washington on Nebraska Avenue next to NBC and across from the Japanese Embassy...
.
Early life
Rawalt was the oldest of three children, and was born in Prairie CityPrairie City, Illinois
Prairie City is a village in McDonough County, Illinois, United States. The population was 461 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Prairie City is located at ....
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Her family eventually moved to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and settled there. She received her bachelor's law degree in 1933 and her master's law degree in 1936 from George Washington Law School. In 1933, she started working as an attorney in the office of chief counsel for the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Women's issues and law
In 1943, Rawalt was elected as president of the Federal Bar AssociationFederal Bar Association
The Federal Bar Association is the primary voluntary professional organization for private and government lawyers and judges practicing and sitting in federal courts in the United States.-Background:...
, the first woman to hold the position. During 1943 she also served as president of the National Association of Women Lawyers. In 1966, Rawawlt became a member of the National Organization for Women
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...
, and acted as their first legal counsel.
Rawalt became involved with President Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
's Commission on the Status of Women
Presidential Commission on the Status of Women
The Presidential Commission on the Status of Women was established to advise the President of the United States on issues concerning the status of women. It was created by John F. Kennedy's executive order 10980 signed December 14, 1961.-Background:...
under the invitation of Esther Peterson
Esther Peterson
Esther Eggertsen Peterson was a lifelong consumer and women's advocate.-Background:The daughter of Danish immigrants, Esther Eggertsen grew up in a Mormon family in Provo, Utah. She graduated from Brigham Young University in 1927 with a degree in physical education. She moved to New York City...
. In 1964, Marguerite Rawalt wrote to members of Business and Professional Women
Business and Professional Women
Business and Professional Women's Foundation Business and Professional Women’s Foundation is an organization focused on creating successful workplaces by focusing on issues that impact women, families and employers. Successful Workplaces are those that embrace and practice diversity, equity and...
and Zonta International
Zonta International
Zonta International is an international service organization founded in Buffalo, New York in 1919 with the mission of advancing the status of women.Currently, Zonta International is headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois...
, asking them to lobby for the passage of provision VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation...
, which prohibited discrimination by employers on the basis of sex. In 1972, Rawalt founded the Marguerite Rawalt Legal Defense Fund, a group focused funding legal cases involving women's equity, particularly relating to financial equity.
She retired from the IRS in 1965, having been employed by them for 30 years.