Martha Griffiths

Date of Birth: January 29, 1912

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: April 22, 2003

Biography

Martha Wright Griffiths was an influential American lawyer and politician who made significant contributions to the advancement of women’s rights. Born in Pierce City, Missouri, she developed a strong interest in law and politics from an early age. Griffiths earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri in 1934 and her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1940. Her political career began when she was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1948, where she served until 1952. She then moved on to become a judge for the Recorder’s Court in Detroit, Michigan. In 1954, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she served until 1974. Griffiths was a key player in the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and was instrumental in adding gender as a protected category under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. After her tenure in Congress, Griffiths returned to Michigan politics, serving as the state’s first female lieutenant governor from 1983 to 1991. Her career was marked by her relentless advocacy for women’s rights and her efforts to bring about legislative change.

5 Interesting Facts about Martha Griffiths

1. Martha Griffiths was the first woman to serve on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

2. She played a crucial role in the passage of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited employment discrimination based on sex.

3. Griffiths was the driving force behind the reintroduction and eventual passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in the House of Representatives.

4. She was one of the few women to hold a judicial position in the 1950s, serving as a judge on the Recorder’s Court in Detroit.

5. Griffiths was the first woman to be elected as Lieutenant Governor of Michigan.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Martha Griffiths

1. “I don’t want to be remembered as the woman who kept women out of the kitchen. I want to be remembered as the woman who got women into the Senate.”

2. “The fact is that women are in chains, and their servitude is all the more debasing because they do not realize it.”

3. “Our struggle today is not to have a female Einstein get appointed as an assistant professor. It is for a woman schlemiel to get as quickly promoted as a male schlemiel.”

4. “I have always believed that women should not only be good wives but also good citizens.”

5. “Equality is not just a word. It should be our way of life and our guiding principle.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of her career, Martha Griffiths’ net worth was estimated to be around $1 million, derived primarily from her salary as a politician and her legal career.