Martha Griffiths facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martha Griffiths
59th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
In office January 1, 1983 – January 1, 1991
Governor	James Blanchard
Preceded by	James Brickley
Succeeded by	Connie Binsfeld
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 17th district
In office January 3, 1955 – December 31, 1974
Preceded by	Charles Oakman
Succeeded by	William Brodhead
Personal details
Born	Martha Edna Wright (1912-01-29)January 29, 1912 Pierce City, Missouri, U.S.
Died	April 22, 2003(2003-04-22) (aged 91) Armada, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Hicks Griffiths ​ ​ (m. 1933; died 1996)​
Education	University of Missouri, Columbia (BA) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (LLB)

Martha Wright Griffiths (born January 29, 1912 – died April 22, 2003) was an important American lawyer and judge. She became famous for being elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1954.

Martha Griffiths made history many times. She was the first woman to serve on the powerful United States House Committee on Ways and Means. She was also the first woman from Michigan to be elected to the United States Congress as a Democrat. She played a key role in adding protection against sex discrimination to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Later, in 1982, she became the first woman elected Lieutenant Governor of Michigan.

A Life of Firsts

Representative Martha Griffiths in 1970

Martha Edna Wright was born in Pierce City, Missouri. She went to public schools and then to the University of Missouri. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1934.

Becoming a Lawyer and Judge

Martha decided to study law. She graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1940. She married Hicks George Griffiths, who was also a lawyer and a judge. He led the Michigan Democratic Party for a time.

Martha worked as a lawyer in her own practice. She also worked for an insurance company in Detroit. From 1942 to 1946, she was a contract negotiator for the government.

In 1949, she was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives. She served there until 1953. Then, she became a judge in Detroit's Recorder's Court. She was the first woman to hold this position.

Serving in Congress

In 1954, Martha Griffiths was elected to the United States House of Representatives. She represented Michigan's 17th congressional district. She was re-elected nine more times, serving from 1955 to 1974.

During her time in Congress, she was a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in 1956 and 1968. She decided not to run for re-election in 1974.

Fighting for Equal Rights

One of Martha Griffiths' biggest achievements was supporting the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). This amendment aimed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. It was one of 33 proposed amendments that passed Congress. However, it was not ratified by enough states to become law.

The Guardian newspaper called her "the mother of the Equal Rights Amendment." They noted her strong will and deep understanding of legal rules. Martha believed that women were not treated fairly. She felt the same way about other groups, like Black, Latino, and Asian people. She said America should truly be "the land of the free and the brave," where everyone gets justice.

A Leader for Michigan

After leaving Congress, Martha Griffiths returned to practicing law. In 1983, she became the Lieutenant Governor of Michigan. She served two terms until 1991, alongside Governor James Blanchard.

Martha Griffiths was honored for her work many times. She was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 1983. Ten years later, in 1993, she joined the National Women's Hall of Fame. She lived in Armada, Michigan, until she passed away in 2003 at age 91.

She was a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). The AAUW of Michigan created the "Martha Griffiths Equity Award" in her honor.

See also

• List of female lieutenant governors in the United States
• Women in the United States House of Representatives