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Wednesday, March 9, 2016

"Gertrude-Elzora-Durden-Rush"

Was the first African-American female lawyer in Iowa,admitted to the Iowa bar in 1918.Gertrude helped found the National Bar Association in 1925.

She was born in Navasota,Texas to Sarah E.& Frank Durden.Gertrude attended high schools in Parsons,Kansas and Quincy,Illinois.She taught in Oswego,Kansas,the Native American Territory; and Des Moines,Iowa.She married in 1907 and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Des Moines College in 1914,then earned a law degree through distance learning facility La Salle Extension University.Gertrude remained the only African American female lawyer in Iowa until 1950.

Gertrude took over her husband's law practice after his death after his death.In 1921 she was elected president of the Colored Bar Association.In 1925 she and four other African American lawyers founded the Negro Bar Association after being denied admission to the American Bar Association.The Iowa National Bar Association is erecting a public art project.A Monumental Journal,in honor of Gertrude and the others who opened the profession of law to African Americans.

Gertrude was also and activist in the civil rights and  suffrage movements,as well as an author and playwright.



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