The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-15
Women Members of State Boards
DIR. ALMAH ]. FRISBY.

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 At one of its annual meetings the National Conference of Charities and Corrections adopted resolutions rscom- mending that women be appointed members of managing and advisory boards of charitable and penal institu- tions. hospitals, state reform schools and other special schools and of all pub lic establishments where the housing, feeding. clothing and nursing of mum bers of persons were demanded. In the conference suggestions 1t was men, tioned that wherever the cooperation of women had been tried in the man agement of such institutions the re- suits had been highly satisfactory. This statement was made:
 Numerous public institutions, justly regarded as models, including orphan asylums, general hospitals and hos pitfalls for the insane have their internal and financial affairs managed wholly by women"
 The conference further recorded its judgment that the failure of the States 60 avail themselves in the management Of public institutions of woman's su- perfor knowledge of domestic economy entails a pecuniary loss as well as an imperfect administration of affairs. The conference then clinched it's rec concentrations by the following two statements:
 ITO deprive women suffering either from mental or bodily disease in pub lie institutions of the benefits accru- ing from having their sex represented in the board of management is an arro- rant assumption of power often result ing in unintentional cruelty.
 ITO deprive children of counsel based on a mothers experience and of that faithful interest which comes from the motherly instinct by placing them in institutions under the sole manage Is a wrong from which sooner or later society must directly or indirectly suffer"
 The recommendations of the national conference of charities and corrections drew general attention to the so to speak one legged management of public and State institutions, even those in which women and girls are forcibly detained. There soon began to be a sprinkiing of the feminine sex on State Boards of Charities and Correc- tions as well as on the managing com mittees of hospitals and special schools. Some of the chief officers inside such institutions are now women of broad and high culture.
 "A notable appointment recently made Is that of Dr. Almah J. Frisby of Mill waukee to be a member of the Wiscon- sin State Board of Control. This ad- mirable appointment was made by the Governor after the State Legislature had gallantly ordered the Board of Con- trol to be reorganized so that Dr. Fris- by might be made a member of 1t.
 V Dr. Frisby has been an active medical practitioner in Milwaukee for a number of years. Early in her career she be- came warmly interested in hygienic and sanitary science and studied till she became an authority on these sub 5ects. so far as anybody can be au- thority on that which Is constantly changing. From 1889 till 1895. aban doning temporarily her medical work, Dr. Frisby was professor of hygiene and sanitation in the University of wisconsin. then she returned to her profession. She .s still. however, a member of the Wisconsin State Board of Regents in the university
 Before her appointment to the board of control Dr. Frisby was frequently employed by Governor La Toilette to Investigate the sanitary and other con ditions in state institutions, so that the duties of her new post include nothing novel to her in the way of work She has convictions of her own. and one of these Is that the special knowledge and experience of women qualify them to take charge of the de- tails of household economy which have to be looked after among the States dependents. Moreover. she declares the Judgment of women is necessary to de- termine heaithful conditions, occupa- tions. proper care and education of wom- en and girls in State institutions. Eco- homie use of materials Is one of the most important matters in public insti- futions. and this the doctor thinks