The University of Iowa Libraries

In 1997 and 1998 Iowa State University professor of political science Dr. Mary Ann Tétreault supervised undergraduate students who conducted oral history interviews with Iowa women judges. Interviewees include Margaret Stevenson Briles, Linda Neuman, Donna Paulsen, Rosemary Sackett, Annette Scieszinski, and Gayle Nelson Vogel; these jurists began their careers on the bench in the late 1970s and early 1980s. All interviewees graciously released the transcripts of their interviews for use by researchers. These interviews with the "pioneer generation" of Iowa's female jurists form the basis of a paper co-authored paper by Mary Ann Tétreault and a former student, Karla Scheele.

The Iowa Women Judges Project oral histories date from 1997 to 2000 and measure 2 linear inches. The six oral history interview transcripts offer a wealth of information concerning women's experience as lawyers and judges in the late twentieth century. Interviewees discuss their law school experiences, their careers as attorneys, and their ascent to the bench. They also describe instances of sexual harassment or sexual discrimination that they experienced during their careers. To varying degrees, they discuss their personal lives, their education prior to law school, and their insights into the changes in Iowa's legal system during their tenure as jurists. Samples of the general interview question sheet and instructions to interviewers, as well as other pertinent materials concerning the conduct of interviews can be found in the appendix of Tétreault and Scheele's unpublished conference paper titled "Democracy and Representation on the Courts: Female State Judges in Iowa." This paper was presented at the Midwest Political Science Association, which was held April 27-30, 2000 in Chicago.

Access: The papers are open for research.

Use: Copyright held by the donor has not been transferred to The University of Iowa.

Acquisition: The papers (donor no. 715) were donated by Mary Ann Tétreault in 2000.

Preferred Citation: Iowa Women Judges Project, Iowa Women's Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City.

Repository:	Iowa Women's Archives
Address:	100 Main Library University of Iowa Libraries Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone:	319-335-5068
Curator:	Kären Mason
Email:	lib-women@uiowa.edu
Website:	http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/iwa

This collection is indexed under the following subject terms.

Personal Names:
Scheele, Karla
Tetreault, Mary Ann, 1942-
Briles, Margaret Stevenson
Neuman, Linda
Paulsen, Donna
Scieszinski, Annette
Vogel, Gayle Nelson
Sackett, Rosemary, 1940-

Dates:
1990-1999
2000-2009

Topics:
Women
Sexual harassment
Sex discrimination against women
Practice of law

Occupations:
Lawyers
Judges
Law students
College students

Geographic Names:
Iowa

Genre/Form of Materials:
Oral histories (Document genres)
Archives

Browse:
Autobiographical Resources: Diaries, Memoirs and Oral Histories