Marion L. Munley (August 19, 1905 – September 14, 1983) was one of the first women elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She established multiple precedents for women in Pennsylvania public life and was a prominent leader in her community.

Life

Marion L. Munley was born in Buffalo, New York, on August 19, 1905, to Martin and Julia Walsh Langan. A graduate of St. John's High School, Munley attended Marywood College (now Marywood University) and the Powell School of Business in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She married Democratic Pennsylvania Rep. Robert W. Munley. The couple had two sons, Robert W. and James M. Munley, who grew up to become a truck accident lawyer and a federal district court judge, respectively. Her father-in-law, William J. Munley, also served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[1]

Political career

Following her husband's death on January 25, 1947, Munley took his place in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, becoming the first woman to represent Lackawanna County in the state house. She went on to be re-elected an additional eight times.[2] During her tenure, she was the first woman elected to a leadership position in the Democratic caucus in the 300-year history of the legislature. From 1965-1966, she also became secretary of the House of Representatives, the first and only woman to hold that position. In 1987, she became the first woman to have her portrait hung in the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

Munley served on the Commission on Interstate Cooperation from 1961-1962. Munley also organized the 20th Ward Democratic Women's Club and served as its president for five years.[3]

Other political activities

Munley was a member of the Young Democrats of Lackawanna County, the Blakely Democratic Club, the Jermyn Democratic Club, and the Women's Democratic Club of Mayfield. She was instrumental in the development of industry in Lackawanna County, and in the process of developing the Archbald Glacial Pothole area into a state park. She was also a determined proponent of labor legislation and equal pay for women in Pennsylvania.[4]

Death

Munley died on September 14, 1983, in her home of 50 years in Archbald, Pennsylvania.[5] The Honorable Marion L. Munley Endowed Scholarship, established at Marywood University by Munley's family in her honor, is presented to a student interested in law and/or public service.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 'U.S. District Court Judge James Munley dies at age 83,' The Citizens Voice, David Singleton, March 24, 2020
  2. ↑ http://www.house.state.pa.us/BMC/Bios/PDF/1485.PDF Pennsylvania House of Representatives. "Marion L. Munley Biography" Pennsylvania House of Representatives. March 10, 2015
  3. ↑ Schmedlen, Jeanne H (2001). "History of Women in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives" 1923-2001, p. 155-157. Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Harrisburg, PA. ISBN 0966779428.
  4. ↑ “House Biographies” Pennsylvania Manual 1963-1964, Volume #96 p. 159
  5. ↑ "Former State Legislator Dies; Mother of Lawyer and Judge," The Scranton Times, Scranton, PA, September 15, 1983
  6. ↑ "Endowed Scholarships/Institutional Funds - Marywood University". www.marywood.edu. Archived from the original on 2008-12-19.
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