In celebration of National Women’s History Month, a new documentary titled “Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics” will premiere during a special preview screening hosted by Western Reserve Historical Society and the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland.

The public is invited to watch the hour-long documentary, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Bowling Green State University Political Science Professor Melissa K. Miller, an expert on American politics. The non-partisan documentary tells the story of both Democratic and Republican women who broke electoral barriers beginning in the 1960s. WBGU-PBS, a service of BGSU in Bowling Green, Ohio, produced the documentary.

The goal of the documentary is to tell the stories of notable women in Ohio electoral politics. Each blazed a trail for women/women of color in elective office. This includes Jo Ann Davidson, the first woman speaker of the Ohio House; Helen Rankin, the first African American woman in the Ohio General Assembly; and Betty D.  Montgomery, Ohio’s first woman attorney general, along with other distinguished politicians. 

The documentary will be followed by a panel discussion with two local female political leaders.  Details announced soon!

Initial funding for the project was provided by Dr. Maribeth S. and Martin E. Rahe. Additional financial support was provided by the Ohio History Fund, a grant program of the Ohio History Connection; Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities; the Office of the President of Bowling Green State University (BGSU); and BGSU’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship.

Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics is funded in part by the Ohio History Fund, a grant program of the Ohio History Connection. Your donations to the Ohio History Fund make this program possible. www.ohiohistory.org/historyfund.

This program is made possible in part by Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

Admission and Parking are free but advanced registration is required.  Funding for admission is courtesy of the BGSU Office of Alumni Engagement.