Lewis Parliamentary Law Association Programs and Newspaper Clippings

The Lewis Parliamentary Law Association was organized in 1895 by Mrs. Mary Burr Lewis. It was a women’s organization dedicated to parliamentary law. Recruits had to first complete a two-year course in parliamentary law to become members. The club was incorporated into the larger Minnesota Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1921. Their regular meetings on various legal issues were described as a post-parliamentary course. The association consisted of only sixty members at a time. New members would be recruited in the instance of death or resignation of a member. In the earlier years, the club met in different members’ homes, but later held meetings at YWCA locations. Some study topics included “Congressional Legislation,” “Panama Canal,” and “Divorce Laws.” They also took part in civic movements, such as women’s suffrage. Membership consisted of women from the Minneapolis area.