Lester C. Hunt (1892-1954) was a Democrat politician who served as the 19th Governor of Wyoming from 1943 to 1949 and as a United States Senator from 1949 to 1954. Hunt was a co-sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment and worked towards getting the bill passed in the Senate during his term there. His papers include letters from women’s organizations and constituents and a speech he gave in support of the ERA on the floor of the U.S. Senate.
Letter from Senator Guy M. Gillette to Senator Lester C. Hunt, January 6, 1949
Gillette writes to Hunt seeking co-sponsorship for the Equal Rights Amendment which he plans to introduce in the 81st Congress.
Senate Joint Resolution 25, January 13, 1949
This joint resolution of the U.S. Congress proposes the Equal Rights Amendment in 1949. The amendment 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." Senator Lester C. Hunt is a co-sponsor of the amendment.
Letter from Arabelle P. Hanna to Senator Lester C. Hunt, April 4, 1949
Hanna, writing on behalf of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, thanks Hunt for sponsoring the Equal Rights Amendment (SJ Res. 25) in 1949 and promises to inform his "constituents of your splendid cooperation in this manner."
Letter from Anna Kelton Wiley to Senator Lester C. Hunt, August 3, 1949
Wiley writes to Hunt on behalf of the District of Columbia Federation of Women's Clubs. She urges him to support S.J. Res. 25 which is the 1949 version of the Equal Rights Amendment.
Letter from Mary Anderson to Senator Lester C. Hunt, January 14, 1950
Anderson writes to Hunt on behalf of the National Committee on the Statue of Women. The Committee opposes the Equal Rights Amendment and Anderson includes an anti-ERA article from The Washington Post and a list of organizations opposed to the ERA.
"Equal Rights Amendment", a speech by Senator Lester C. Hunt, January 25, 1950
Hunt's speech, delivered on the floor of the U.S. Senate, argues in favor of the Equal Rights Amendment. Hunt points to a long tradition of women's rights in Wyoming.
Table of Political and Civil Rights of Women Compared to Those of Men
This table, compiled by Dee Smith for The Business Women's Legislative Council and The National Woman's Party shows the rights of women by U.S. state. It is an illustration of the need for the Equal Rights Amendment and points out that no two states have the same rights for women.
Letter from Agnes E. Wells and Anita Pollitzer to Senator Lester C. Hunt, January 27, 1950
Wells and Pollitzer, writing on behalf of the National Woman's Party, thank Hunt for voting for the Equal Rights Amendment and against the Hayden rider.
"Hayden of Arizona", February 4, 1950
This newspaper article gives backgound on Senator Carl Hayden of Arizona. His proposed rider to the Equal Rights Amendment read "No court shall ever use this amendment to question the legality of any law passed for protection of persons of the female sex."
Letter from Senator Lester C. Hunt to Audrey T. Johnstone, February 5, 1952
Hunt writes Johnstone regarding the latest attempt to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. He notes that while during the 81st Congress the Senate passed the amendment, it was killed in the House of Representatives.
"A Memorandum on Senate Join Res. 111" by the National Woman's Party, January 1, 1954
This memorandum details the reasons why the National Woman's Party will not support S.J. Res. 111, which Senator Lester C. Hunt had introduced in the Senate August 3, 1953. Hunt's resolution was proposed as an alternative to the Equal Rights Amendment.
Correspondence between Julia Bartlett Freeborn and Senator Lester C. Hunt, February 1954
Freeborn, representing the Cheyenne Business and Professional Women's Club, writes to Hunt expressing concern about the Hayden rider to the Equal Rights Amendment. Hunt responds that he "can see no possibility of the Rider being defeated" and suggests his new proposed amendment, S.J. Res 113, which he attaches to his reply.