During Women’s History Month, the Rochester Historical Society and Museum will present Attorney Marcia Brown as a special speaker.

Brown will talk about the advancement of women in legislation and women practicing law in New Hampshire since Marilla Ricker, who practiced in Washington, DC, fought to break the glass ceiling.

Marilla Ricker (1840–1920) was an American lawyer and suffragist. She was born in New Durham, NH, and became one of the first women to practice law in the United States. Ricker was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar in 1890, and she actively worked for women’s rights throughout her career.

Ricker ran for several political offices, including governor of New Hampshire and the U.S. presidency, making her one of the first women to seek public office. While those campaigns were not ultimately successful, her contributions to the women’s rights movement and her efforts in the legal profession have left a lasting legacy.