Joseph C. O'Mahoney

Joseph C. O’Mahoney (1884-1962) was a Democrat politician who spent 25 years representing Wyoming in the U.S. Senate between 1933 and 1960. He supported the Equal Rights Amendment and served on the Senate Judiciary Committee which held hearings on the ERA. He was a visible champion of the ERA in Congress. His papers include letters from women’s organizations, constituents, and the public at large. There are also statements from committee hearings and information bulletins related to the ERA.

Letter from the National Woman's Party to Senator Joseph O'Mahoney, March 12, 1936

The letter, addressed to O'Mahoney as a member of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, asks for him to vote in favor of moving the Equal Rights Amendment out of committee and onto the Senate floor.

Resource Identifier
NWPLetter
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 163, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter from the Women's Joint Legislative Committee for Equal Rights to Senator Joseph O'Mahoney, September 15, 1944

The letter, signed by leaders of a number of women's groups, asked for O'Mahoney's continued efforts to secure the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment before the U.S. Senate recess in 1944. Alice Paul was one of the letter's signees.

Resource Identifier
AppealForHelp
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 75, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Telegram from Emma Guffey Miller to Senator Joseph O'Mahoney, August 16, 1958

Miller asks O'Mahoney to push for a vote on the Equal Rights Amendment before the U.S. Senate adjourns in 1958.

Resource Identifier
MillerTelegram
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 295, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Information Bulletin from the National Woman's Party, March 15, 1958

The bulletin details which U.S. Senators have still not yet given their support to the Equal Rights Amendment as of March of 1958.

Resource Identifier
NWPBulletin
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 295, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Senate Judiciary Committee Report, August 27, 1957

The report recommends that the Equal Rights Amendment be brought to a vote on the U.S. Senate floor.

Resource Identifier
JudiciaryCommitteeReport
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 295, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Senate Joint Resolution 80, August 27, 1957

This joint resolution of the U.S. Congress proposes the Equal Rights Amendment in 1957.

Resource Identifier
SJRes80
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 295, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Telegram from Anita Pollitzer to Senator Joseph O'Mahoney, December 4, 1957

Pollitzer reminds O'Mahoney that the Equal Rights Amendment has 37 official Senate sponsors and 242 official House sponsors. She urges him to include the ERA as one of the Democratic congressional objectives for the upcoming legislative session.

Resource Identifier
PollitzerTelegram
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 295, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Correspondence between Lucyle Hook and Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, December 1957

Hook, who is the Dean of the American College for Girls in Istanbul, Turkey, writes that the failure to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in the U.S. is an international issue. O'Mahoney responds that he has been a staunch supporter of the ERA.

Resource Identifier
HookLetter
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 295, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Information Bulletin from the National Woman's Party, January 18, 1958

The bulletin addresses the upcoming 1958 vote on the Equal Rights Amendment in the U.S. Senate. It also outlines the Hayden rider, which adds language to the amendment that ERA proponents argue essentially nullifies the principle of equality of the sexes.

Resource Identifier
January1958Bulletin
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 295, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Report on the Equal Rights Amendment by the Association of the Bar of the City of New York Committee on Federal Legislation, March 25, 1939

This report outlines the different views of women's groups with respect to the Equal Rights Amendment and concludes that laws with respect to women's rights should be made by the states and not through an amendment to the U.S. constitution.

Resource Identifier
NYBarReport
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 193, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter from Lizabeth Wiley to Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, February 6, 1938

Wiley, of Greybull, Wyoming, writes to O'Mahoney urging him to vote in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment in the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

Resource Identifier
LWileyLetter
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 193, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter from Emily Sims Marconnier to Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, June 24, 1937

Marconnier, writing on behalf of the National Consumers' League, voices opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment as she fears it will jeopardize laws that have been passed that protect women workers. She asks that O'Mahoney, who serves on the  Senate Judiciary Committee, vote against it.

Resource Identifier
MarconnierLetter
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 193, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Statement of Dorothy Ashby Moncure to the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, February 9 and 10, 1938

Moncure, an attorney representing the National Association of Women Lawyers, voices her support of the Equal Rights Amendment. She provides counter arguments to those made by opponents of the ERA.

Resource Identifier
MoncureStatement
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 193, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter from Emil Rieve to Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, February 22, 1938

Rieve, writing as the President of the American Federation of Hosiery Workers, argues against the Equal Rights Amendment. He notes that members of the union, many of whom are women, have fought for protective legislation and fears that the ERA would void that legislation.

Resource Identifier
RieveLetter
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 193, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter from Alberta Gude Lynch to Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, January 21, 1938

Lynch, writing as President of the Business Women's Legislative Council of California, urges O'Mahoney to support the ERA in order to "right the injustice done women in 1787." The letter is representative of many O'Mahoney received from states far removed from Wyoming.

Resource Identifier
LynchLetter
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 193, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Senate Joint Resolution 65, February 5, 1937

This joint resolution of the U.S. Congress proposes the Equal Rights Amendment in 1937. The amendment reads "Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction."

Resource Identifier
SJRes65
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 193, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter from Anna Wiley to Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, November 11, 1941

Wiley, representing the National Woman's Party, writes O'Mahoney who is on the Senate Judiciary Committee. She urges him to report the Equal Rights Amendment out to the floor of the Senate as soon as possible.

Resource Identifier
WileyLetter
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 194, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter from Laura Knight to Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, October 15, 1942

Knight, representing the Laramie, Wyoming branch of the National Woman's Party, writes O'Mahoney to thank him for his work on the Senate Judiciary Committee and encourages him to bring the Equal Rights Amendment to a Senate vote.

Resource Identifier
KnightLetter
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 194, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter from Olivia Johnson to Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, March 27, 1942

Johnson, representing The National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, writes to O'Mahoney about the thirteen million American women now employed and urges him to vote favorably on the Equal Rights Amendment.

Resource Identifier
JohnsonLetter
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 194, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter from Women's Joint Legislative Committee for Equal Rights to Members of the Senate of the 78th Congress, December 5, 1944

The Women's Joint Legislative Committee for Equal Rights, which represents more than 3 million members, urges O'Mahoney to work to secure the Equal Rights Amendment's immediate passage.

Resource Identifier
78thCongress
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 194, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter from Dorothy McAllister to Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, December 11, 1944

McAllister, representing the National Committee to Defeat the Un-Equal Rights Amendment, writes that she represents twenty-five national organizations opposed to the Equal Rights Amendment.

Resource Identifier
McAllisterLetter
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 194, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter from Anita Pollitzer to Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, April 3, 1943

Pollitzer, writing on behalf of the National Woman's Party, tells O'Mahoney that they are equally willing to support the original language of the Equal Rights Amdenment or a substitute draft that reads "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."

Resource Identifier
PollitzerLetter
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 194, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter from Mrs. H.H. Horton to Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, May 8, 1943

Horton, representing the Laramie Branch of the American Association of University Women, writes in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment. This is particularly notable, as the national American Association of University Women has taken a position against the ERA.

Resource Identifier
HortonLetter
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 194, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter from Agnes L. Koehler to Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, February 28, 1946

Koehler, representing the Wyoming State Division of the American Association of University Women, urges O'Mahoney to vote against the Equal Rights Amendment.

Resource Identifier
KoehlerLetter
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 194, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter from Emma Guffey Miller to Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, March 19, 1946

Miller, writing on behalf of the National Woman's Party expresses her concern that O'Mahoney is "being deluged with appeals from members of the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women" asking him to vote against the ERA. Miller points out that millions more women are part of organizations that favor the ERA.

Resource Identifier
MillerLetter
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 194, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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"Senate Passes Equal Rights Amendment 63 to 19 - Last Minute Rider Not Acceptable" by Agnes E. Wells, Equal Rights, January-February, 1950

This article in a publication of the National Woman's Party discusses the recent passage of the Equal Rights Amendment and the Hayden rider, a controversial ammendment to the ERA which was added just two days before the U.S. Senate vote.

Resource Identifier
SenatePassesERA1950
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 194, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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"Memorandum In Support Of The Equal Rights Amendment" by the National Woman's Party, January 20, 1950

This memorandum outlines the many levels of governmental support, from the president to individual states, for the Equal Rights Amendment in 1950.

Resource Identifier
ERAMemo1950
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 194, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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"Memorandum In Support Of The Equal Rights Amendment" by the Women's Joint Legislative Committee For Equal Rights, January 20, 1950

This memorandum counters many of the arguments made against the Equal Rights Amendment in 1950.

Resource Identifier
ERAMemorandum1950
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 194, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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Letter from Julia Thompson to Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, June 27, 1956

Thompson writes to O'Mahoney on behalf of the American Nurses' Association, which opposes the Equal Rights Amendment. To her letter she attaches a statement from the Board of Directors of the American Nurses' Association as well as a list of lawyers and legal scholars who oppose the ERA.

Resource Identifier
ThompsonLetter
Citation
Joseph C. O'Mahoney papers, Collection No. 275, Box 194, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
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