While there is no single hero of the Minnesota women's movement, Rosalie
Wahl, the first woman on the Minnesota Supreme Court, changed the way
her fellow judges saw the cases they decided. A champion of both women's
rights and civil rights, she brought new attention to the problems that
faced women impoverished by divorce, women abused by their partners, and
others who coped with poverty and discrimination. With sharp
intelligence and hard work, Wahl herself had overcome childhood tragedy
and a difficult marriage to become a defense attorney, a respected
judge, and a mentor to many.
As essential backdrop to Wahl's inspiring story, Lori Sturdevant charts
the progress of the women's rights movement in Minnesota and showcases
notable leaders on both sides of the aisle. Meet Arvonne Fraser and
Emily Anne Staples, founders of the Minnesota Women's Political Caucus;
Joan Growe, the first Minnesota woman elected to state office; and many
more who paved the way for women's rights in Minnesota. Her Honor is
both a powerful record of an era and a tribute to a humble leader.