Visit the Peace Center—say you found us on Next Exit History and choose a free “Speak Your Mind” button.

In 1986, when peace and justice advocates from the Missoula area envisioned opening a center to serve as “ a central clearinghouse for peace information and resources, and a meeting place to gather human spirit for peacemaking,”  it came as little surprise that they chose to name it after the first female representative to the U.S. House, Jeannette Rankin.

Born in 1880 in Missoula and raised on a Grant Creek Ranch, Rankin graduated from the University of Montana in 1902. She spent the bulk of her early career working on a number of social issues ranging from children’s health to women’s suffrage. In 1916, she won her seat to represent Montana in the U.S. House—a time before the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which guaranteed women the right to vote. While serving in the House, Rankin took a principled stance on several key issues of the day, including introducing a bill to grant women suffrage and voting against the United States’ entry into World War I. As Rankin explained, “ I want to stand by my country, but I cannot vote for war.”

Rankin lost reelection after just one term, but returned to politics later in life by again winning election to the U.S. House in 1940. As she had during World War I, Rankin rejected political pressure and voted against the United States entry into World War II. Rankin was the only member of Congress to take such a stance. Rankin served only two terms in congress, but she dedicated her life to the issues of peace, justice, equality for women, the poor, and the nation’s children. Rankin remained a committed proponent of peace throughout her life. She died in 1973 at the age of 92.

Visit the Peace Center—say you found us on Next Exit History and choose a free “Speak Your Mind” button.

Learn more at https://jrpc.org/

 

Visit the Peace Center—say you found us on Next Exit History and choose a free “Speak Your Mind” button.

Credits and Sources:

Cohen, Stan. Missoula County Images, volume II. Missoula: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1993.

Jeanette Rankin Peace Center. http://jrpc.org/, accessed May 11, 2015.

Koelbel, Lenora. Missoula, The Way It Was: A Portrait of an Early Western Town. Missoula: Gateway Publishing and Printing, 1972.

Mathews, Allan James.  “ A Guide to Historic Missoula,” Montana Mainstreets, vol. 6. Helena: Montana Historical Society, 2003.

Photographs courtesy of Archives & Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana, Missoula, Montana.