Jane Garibay

 

Celebrating Ella T. Grasso on the 50th Anniversary of her inauguration!



Ella was born in Windsor Locks on May 10, 1919, and would go on to become Connecticut's first female governor, elected in her own right. She was elected state representative in 1952, becoming the first female floor leader in 1955. She served as the CT Secretary of the State, then as a member of the U.S. Congress, before heading back to Connecticut to become the state's 83rd governor. She was elected governor in 1974 and served from 1975 to 1980, before resigning from office due to ovarian cancer. She died in Hartford on February 5, 1981, at the age of 61. She was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Reagan in 1981 and inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993.



On January 22, you can join in the celebration of Ella Grasso at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford (hosted by the League of Women Voters of Connecticut/Capitol Information and Tours). It's a great opportunity to learn more about Ella's life from keynote speaker Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and view archival artifacts from Ella's political career that are not usually on display to the public.

When: January 22 at 10 am

Where: Memorial Hall at the Connecticut State Library, 231 Capitol Avenue, Hartford

What: A celebration of Governor Ella Grasso!

The event is free and open to the public, but RSVP HERE. Light refreshments will be served.