Contains profiles, contextual essays, historical images, and appendices that provide information about the 229 women who have served in Congress from 1917 through 2006.

Since 1917 when Jeannette Rankin became the first women to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, several hundred women have been elected or appointed to Congress. Their congressional service was a prominent legacy of the long campaign for woman's suffrage & for the acceptance of women in political institutions so long the exclusive domain of men. This book portrays four successive generations of Congresswomen whose legislative role evolved over time. Contents: Introduction; Part I: Former Women Members; Part II: Current Women Members; Appendices. A photo accompanies each biography.

Printed for the use of the Joint Committee on Arrangements for the Commemoration of the Bicentennial.

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Since 1917 when Jeannette Rankin became the first women to serve in the House of Representatives, 129 women have been elected or appointed to Congress. Their congressional service was a prominent legacy of the long campaign for woman's suffrage and for the acceptance of women in political institutions so long the exclusive domain of men. Included here are biographical essays on the lives of the 115 representatives and 16 senators, including two who were previously Members of the House, who have served from 40 states. A photo accompanies each biography.