Vote for Susie Monroe for State Legislature

Very good. Undated, but likely 1952. 8.5" x 11" campign poster printed in blue on thick cardstock. Mild toning; near fine. Born in 1885 in Jacksonville, Florida, Susie Monroe moved as a young adult to Philadelphia, where she worked as a dressmaker, owned a salon, volunteered for the Salvation Army and March of Dimes, and became involved in community politics. "First elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1948, Monroe was reelected for nine more consecutive terms to represent Philadelphia’s 28th Legislative District. During her time in the House, Monroe worked on issues relating to equal opportunity in employment, public health, and housing. She sponsored legislation that...prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religious, ancestry, and age by employers. She also worked on public health legislation that led her to secure appropriations for Jefferson Medical College and Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania during her last term in office" (Blog of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archive). In her dissertation on The Political Activities of African American Women in Philadelphia, 1912-1941, Jennifer Reed Frey describes Monroe as "example of the new generation of African American leaders in the post war era" who was "emblematic of a new generation of non-elite activists. Susie Monroe secured the support of constituents by emphasizing her organizational ties, accessibility, and responsiveness to community needs. With Philadelphia’s shift to the Democratic Party in the wake of Roosevelt, African American women such as Monroe were uniquely poised to benefit from the perception that the Democratic Party was 'the party for you – not just the few.'"

Item #22676

Price: $150.00