First Woman to Chair a Committee
Rep. Frances Klock was one of the three who were the first women to serve in the Colorado legislature, making them the first women to serve in any state legislature in the country. Rep. Klock was the first woman to chair a committee when she took charge of the Indian and Veteran Affairs Committee. She was also the first woman to preside over a state legislature.
With women in the legislature, decorum did change a bit. Early in the session, Rep. Klock protested offensive language used on the floor of the House during debate about a provision for separate sleeping accommodations for jury members. The women legislators also insisted on enforcement of the rules against lobbyists on the floor and smoking in the chamber.
Rep. Klock introduced legislation establishing the County of Cripple Creek, a state home for “friendless and incorrigible” girls, a constitutional amendment for suffrage and elections, payment of certificates issued the National Guard, and a joint resolution asking Congress to cede Ft. Lyons to Colorado to be used as a Soldiers and Sailors Home.
Colorado General Assembly Biographical Information
Joint Resolution honoring first women in state legislature
Note: The information on this page is made available through the generosity of the Colorado Legislative Women’s Caucus, which has asked us to preserve, maintain and promote information they gathered.
