Four Remarkable Ohio Women Lawyers--The Cronise Sisters of Tiffin, Florence Allen, and Cleveland Law School's "Hard-Boiled Mary'"

Four Ohio Women blazed the trail. Among the early women lawyers in our state, they overcame resistance from the male bar or the culture of the day to distinguish themselves in the profession. Nettie Cronise was the first woman admitted to the Ohio bar. Her sister Florence followed, several months later. Florence Allen, admitted in 1914, became the nation's preeminent woman judge of her time. Mary Grossman, from Jewish immigrant roots, had a memorable career on the Cleveland Municipal Court. Why did these women choose law despite society's obstacles? What do they have to tell us?