Arabella Mansfield first woman licensed to practice law in the United States

Background. Arabella Mansfield, born Belle Aurelia Babb, began her studies at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant in 1862. She returned to Mount Pleasant to marry John Melvin Mansfield, a young professor at Iowa Wesleyan. Mansfield learned law by reading it as an apprentice in her brother Washington's law office, after he had passed the bar and established his practice.

Legal Challenge. In 1869, Iowa law restricted the bar exam to males over 21. Mansfield nonetheless took the exam and earned high scores. She challenged the state law excluding her from the profession. The Court ruled that women could not be denied the right to practice law in Iowa, admitting Mansfield to the bar. Iowa subsequently amended its licensing statute to accept women and minorities.

Admission. Following the court's ruling, Mansfield was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1869. She was sworn in at the Union Block building in Mount Pleasant. Although she received the license, Mansfield did not actively practice law. Instead, she concentrated on college teaching and activist work, including chairing the Iowa Women’s Suffrage Convention in 1870.