From WBGU-PBS
A non-partisan documentary telling the story of both Democratic and Republican women who broke electoral barriers beginning in the 1960s is the recipient of a $16,000 grant through the Ohio History Fund, a grant program of the Ohio History Connection, with an additional $10,667 in internal matching funds.
The documentary is the brainchild of Bowling Green State University Political Science Professor Melissa K. Miller, who is an expert on American politics. It is being produced locally by WBGU-PBS.
Titled, “Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics,” the goal of the documentary is to serve as an oral history of several notable women in Ohio politics. Each won an office
never-before held by a woman/woman of color. This includes Jo Ann Davidson, R-Ohio, the first woman speaker of the Ohio House; Helen Rankin, D-Ohio, the first African American woman in the Ohio General Assembly; and Betty Montgomery, Ohio’s first female attorney general along with other distinguished politicians.
“Their unique, lived experiences are fascinating history,” Miller said. “It’s our honor to illuminate their struggles and triumphs for a multi-generational audience.”
The documentary will combine on-camera interviews, artifacts from each trailblazer’s career and archival footage and photos – many from the Ohio History Connection archives. Each interview also will be housed at BGSU’s Center for Archival Collections (CAC), giving scholars access to their oral histories for decades.
“We were thrilled to receive the grant and to share these women’s story,” said WBGU-PBS General Manager Tina Simon. “Many of these history-making names are familiar, but their stories, as told by them, may not be.”
Simon added that WBGU-PBS is working to share the documentary with other PBS affiliates throughout the Buckeye State and the nation.
Production on the documentary is expected to wrap-up in spring 2023. Plans are to host public screenings of the film throughout Ohio, co-hosted by the League of Women Voters. Viewers are encouraged to check WBGU-PBS’ online program schedule at wbgu.org as well as social media for specific air dates.
Additional funding for the project was provided by Ohio Humanities. Other contributors include Dr. Maribeth S. and Martin E. Rahe as well as the Office of the President of Bowling Green State University.
