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From YouTube: This Day in History - Lilian Exum Clement (January 5)
Description
January 5th, 1921 is a milestone for North Carolinian women. On this day in history, Lilian Exum Clement took her seat in the State House of Representatives as the first woman to hold legislative office in North Carolina.
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A
January
fifth
1921
is
a
milestone
for
North
Carolinian
women.
On
this
day
in
history,
Lillian
exim
Clement
took
her
seat
in
the
State
House
of
Representatives.
As
the
first
woman
to
hold
legislative
office
in
North,
Carolina
Lillian
XM
Clement
was
born
near
Black
Mountain
in
1894.
She
began
studying
law
while
working
for
the
Buncombe
County
Sheriff's
Office
and
became
the
first
woman
in
North
Carolina
to
open
her
own
law
practice
in
1920
Clement
was
asked
to
run
for
a
seat
in
the
North
Carolina
House
of
Representatives.
A
She
won
the
general
election
by
a
landslide
at
the
age
of
26.
Clement
took
her
seat
in
the
state
legislature
during
her
time
as
a
representative
Clement
introduced,
17
bills,
16
of
which
passed
one
bill
known
as
the
clement
bill
called
for
private
voting
booths
in
a
secret
ballot
throughout
North
Carolina,
one
of
Lillian
XM
Clements.
Most
controversial
projects
was
advocating
that
the
lindley
training
school,
a
home
for
unwed
mothers
and
delinquent
girls
become
a
state
institution.
A
Although
her
plan
stoked
a
hostile
reception,
Clement
remained
steadfast
and
argued
for
the
project
until
it
became
a
reality.
Clement
decided
not
to
run
for
re-election
and
died
from
pneumonia
in
1925.
She
pioneered
the
way
for
women
holding
public
office
in
North
Carolina
and
her
legacy
lives
on
today.