Women’s History Month: Who was Kate O’Connor?

How much do you know about the history of women in Rockford?

In celebration and recognition of Women's History Month, the Rockford Register Star has partnered with Midway Village Museum to bring readers a local women's history fact of the day.

Visit rrstar.com or the Rockford Register Star newspaper each day throughout the month of March to read about the women who played significant roles in Rockford history.

Born in Rockford in 1863 to Irish immigrants, Kate F. O’Connor found employment after high school as the deputy to the County Clerk. She soon gained a reputation for not just her good work, but her "strong opinions."

She was a passionate advocate for women’s voting rights, and following the adoption of the 19th Amendment, she turned her advocacy to equal pay for women teachers in Rockford.

In later life, she was honored by national women’s suffrage organizations, and in 1933 was appointed by Gov. Henry Horner as the supervisor to the state’s new minimum wage law for women and children.

In 1942, O’Connor was appointed assistant to Thomas F. O’Malley, regional director of the federal wage and hour division of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Want to learn more about Kate O'Connor? Visit Midway Village Museum online at midwayvillage.com or in person at 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Women’s History Month: Who was Kate O’Connor?