United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
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The First Female Capitol Police Officers/tiles/non-collection/o/oh_johnson_marie_outside_capitol.xml Image courtesy of Arva Marie Johnson, provided by the Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives The first female Capitol Police Officers.
“It was strange because, for one thing, the men weren’t used to females, and that was a big change for them. And they felt that we as women couldn’t do the job as well as they could. Some didn’t want to really work with you because they didn’t think you were qualified enough to back them up. So we had to prove ourselves that way—that we were there to help when they needed us to.”
—Arva Marie Johnson, March 1, 2007
   Officer, U.S. Capitol Police Force

Video

Congresswoman Helen Meyner of New Jersey

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Recollections of Congresswoman Helen Meyner of New Jersey and gender barriers in the Democratic Cloakroom.

Donnald K. Anderson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Interview recorded October 23, 2006 – Deed of Gift
Transcript (PDF)

Lera Thomas and Elizabeth Andrews

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Description of the deep connection between two congressional widows. 

George W. Andrews III, Page, U.S. House of Representatives, and Son of Representatives George and Elizabeth Andrews of Alabama
Interview recorded May 21, 2010 – Deed of Gift
Transcript (PDF)

First Woman Elected to Congress from Alabama

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George Andrews discusses his mother's role as the first female Member of Congress elected from Alabama.

George Andrews III, Page, U.S. House of Representatives, and Son of Representatives George and Elizabeth Andrews of Alabama
Interview recorded May 21, 2010 – Deed of Gift
Transcript (PDF)

Significance of Being the First Female Page for the House of Representatives

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Reflections on the lifetime impact of the Page experience.

Felda Looper, Page, U.S. House of Representatives
Interview recorded January 25, 2010 – Deed of Gift
Transcript (PDF)

Campaign to Become First Female Page

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Felda Looper reflects on her first meeting with then Majority Whip Carl Albert of Oklahoma.

Felda Looper, Page, U.S. House of Representatives
Interview recorded January 25, 2010 – Deed of Gift
Transcript (PDF)

Audio

Congresswoman Lindy Boggs of Louisiana

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Personal description of Louisiana Congresswoman Lindy Boggs’ transition to the public spotlight after her election to Congress in 1973.

Cokie Roberts, Congressional Correspondent and Daughter of Representatives Hale and Lindy Boggs of Louisiana
Interview recorded July 11, 2008 – Deed of Gift
Transcript (PDF)

Reflections on Being the Only Woman on the Day Shift

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Description of the reactions of and resistance by male officers.

Arva Marie Johnson, Officer, U.S. Capitol Police Department
Interview recorded March 1, 2007 – Deed of Gift
Transcript (PDF)
Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov