F. Josephine Stevenson was an early 20th-century female attorney and State Chairman of Uniform Laws of the National League of Women Voters (1920–21)

Early life

F. Josephine Stevenson was born in

Oil City, Pennsylvania Oil City is a city in Venango County, Pennsylvania known for its prominence in the initial exploration and development of the petroleum industry. It is located at a bend in the Allegheny River at the mouth of Oil Creek. Initial settlement of Oi ...

, daughter of Walter R. Stevenson and Mary E. Hunt. She attended Oil City High School and then the

College of Law A law school (also known as a law centre or college of law) is an institution specializing in legal education, usually involved as part of a process for becoming a lawyer within a given jurisdiction. Law degrees Argentina In Argentina, ...

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in C ...

, graduating in June 1918. The Legal Lights, a women’s law organization at USC, was founded in 1911. It became

Phi Delta Delta Phi Delta Delta () was a women's professional law fraternity founded in 1911. It merged with Phi Alpha Delta in 1972.Phi Alpha Delta in 1972), the first women’s law sorority in the U.S. In 1918 two of USC’s five post-graduate law students were women, F. Josephine Stevenson one of the two.

Career

F. Josephine Stevenson was admitted to the Bar in 1918; she was an attorney-at-law and specialized in probate work. Stevenson served one year as president of the Women Lawyers' Club, and four years as corresponding secretary. Sshe was State Chairman of Uniform Laws of the National

League of Women Voters The League of Women Voters (LWV or the League) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan political organization in the United States. Founded in 1920, its ongoing major activities include registering voters, providing voter information, and advocating for vot ...

(1920–21). Stevenson was former president of Pasadena Business and Professional Women's Club; for one year, she was state organization chairman of the State Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs. Stevenson was a member of the State and County Bar Associations, the

Kappa Beta Phi Kappa Beta Phi () is a secret society, best known for its surviving Wall Street chapter that is made up of high-ranking financial executives. The purpose of the organization today is largely social and honorific. The current honor society meets o ...

(national legal sorority) and the Woman's Civic League of Pasadena. In 1922 Stevenson published ''Legal Status of Women'' (California Civic League of Women Voters): a study of the legal status of women in California and presenting to women a plain exposition of the laws effecting their rights. Sixteen pages written in simple English dealing with separate and community property rights; obligation of parents to children; marriage and divorce laws; family support; testimony and contracts; public education; office holding; jury service; legal disability and protective legislation.

Personal life

Stevenson moved to California in 1894. In 1922, she lived at 43 North El Molino Avenue and in 1928 at 3817 E. California St.,

Pasadena, California Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district. I ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevenson, F. Josephine American women lawyers People from Oil City, Pennsylvania Lawyers from Pasadena, California Members of the League of Women Voters