DePauw Stories

Former Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D-Colo.), who represented Denver in Congress from 1973 to 1997, died March 13 from a stroke at the age of 82. “Her congressional career was defined by efforts to advance peace, gender equality and economic justice,” Sarah Rowley, associate professor of history at DePauw University, wrote in an opinion piece published in The Washington Post today. “Many obituaries have lauded her as a ‘feminist pioneer’ and highlighted aspects of her legacy, including her historic presidential run during the 1988 election and iconoclastic wit,” she wrote.

“Examining Schroeder’s experiences and record illuminates how much has changed for American women in the past half century – as well as how much work remains to be done,” Rowley wrote. 

Rowley has been researching Schroeder’s career for the past several years as part of her work on gender and political culture in the 1970s, which is focused on congresswomen. She conducted oral history interviews with Schroeder about two months ago which is part of Rowley’s book project funded by DePauw University grants and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

In the op-ed, Rowley connects Schroeder’s legislative legacy to the celebration of Women’s History Month and the continuing urgency of expanding policies to support working families and women in particular.

Rowley’s piece appeared on the “Made by History” page.