Harriette Bailey Conn facts for kids

Harriette Bailey Conn (born September 22, 1922 – died August 21, 1981) was an American lawyer and politician. She was a strong supporter of civil rights, working hard to help people from minority groups, women, and those accused of crimes in Indiana. In 1970, she made history by becoming the first woman and the first African American to be Indiana's state public defender. This important job means she helped people who could not afford a lawyer.

Before that, Harriette Conn was also an assistant city attorney in Indianapolis from 1968 to 1970. She was elected twice to the Indiana House of Representatives, representing Marion County, Indiana (Indianapolis) as a Republican. She later left her job in the legislature to become the state public defender.

Early Life and Education

Harriette Vesta Bailey was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on September 22, 1922. She was the second child of Nelle Vesta (Hayes) and Robert L. Bailey. Her father was also a lawyer who worked for civil rights. He was involved in the early efforts of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), an organization that fights for equal rights.

Harriette went to Indianapolis Public Schools. She graduated from Crispus Attucks High School in 1937 when she was just fourteen years old. At that time, Crispus Attucks was the only high school for African American students in Indianapolis.

After high school, she went to Talladega College in Alabama. There, she studied English and speech. Before she graduated in 1941, Harriette became a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She was also the first woman to be president of the school's Little Theater group.

Harriette returned to Indianapolis after college. She married Clifton F. Conn Sr. While raising seven children (two daughters and five sons), she decided to go to law school. She graduated from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1955. The Conns later divorced in 1961.

Career Highlights

Harriette Conn became a lawyer in Indiana in 1955. Early in her career, she worked for the state of Indiana as a deputy attorney general from 1955 to 1956. In this role, she helped different state groups, including the Indiana Civil Rights Commission. This commission works to protect people's rights and prevent unfair treatment.

In February 1965, Harriette Conn started her own law firm in Indianapolis with two other women, Marie T. Lauck and Jane Hunt Davis. Later that year, she became a deputy prosecuting attorney for Marion County, Indiana. This job involved working on legal cases for the state.

In 1966, Harriette Conn was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives. Because state laws did not allow someone to be both a state employee and a state legislator at the same time, she had to leave her job as a deputy prosecuting attorney.

Her most famous role began in 1970 when she became Indiana's state public defender. In this job, she made sure that people who could not afford a lawyer still had legal help. She was the first woman and the first African American to hold this important position in Indiana.

Later Life and Legacy

Harriette Conn passed away suddenly from a heart attack on August 21, 1981. She was fifty-eight years old. She is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. Her important papers and records are kept at the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis, so people can learn about her life and work.

Awards and Recognition

Harriette Bailey Conn received several honors for her work and achievements:

• She was added to the Crispus Attucks High School Hall of Fame in 1970.
• She received an honorary Doctor of Civil Law degree from Franklin College in 1971.
• She was named a Sagamore of the Wabash in both 1962 and 1979. This is a special award given by the Governor of Indiana to people who have made important contributions to the state.