Kathryn Clarenbach: A Force in the Modern Women’s Movement

Appropriately for Women’s History Month, the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation gives a local hero her due: Kathryn “Kay” Clarenbach influenced the women’s movement in Wisconsin and nationally especially in the 1960s and '70s. Clarenbach was involved with marital property and divorce reform, establishing the Women’s Studies Program at UW-Madison and much more. Speaker Gary Tipler prepared the landmark nomination for the Kathryn Clarenbach Family Residence at 2229 Eton Ridge, Madison. This program is free but note that registration closes at 5 p.m. the day of the event at tickettailor.com.

media release: As many know, in January the Madison Common Council designated the Kathryn Clarenbach Residence at 2229 Eton Ridge as Madison Landmark #183. The Madison Trust retained Gary Tipler to prepare the nomination and we are thrilled to announce that Gary will speak at a virtual program on March 28.

We hope you will join us in recognizing Kathryn Clarenbach's important contributions to our nation's history.

Kathryn “Kay” Clarenbach was a principal leader in the development of the second wave of the feminist or modern women’s movement in Wisconsin and the United States. She worked as a university instructor, a civic volunteer, and as the mother of three children. She often worked from home – writing and planning activities for state and national women’s organizations and efforts.

Clarenbach earned her doctorate degrees in political science an economics at the University of Wisonscin-Madison, married and started a family while teaching in other states. Soon after the Clarenbach family moved to Madison in 1961, she began her career of organizing to remove impediments to women’s professional growth imposed by policies and laws, to enhance women’s contributions to society and the economy.

While teaching at Edgewood College, she developed the support for the Wisconsin Commission on the Status of Women that she subsequently chaired at the request of Governor John Reynolds. Concurrently, she served as the first Director of University Education of Women at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Over the years, Clarenbach helped plan and organize several causes and groups:

• National Organization for Women (NOW) to lobby for changes in Federal laws.
• The National Women's Political Caucus to train and elect women to political offices.
• Marital property and divorce reform.
• Women’s Studies program at the University of Wisconsin.
• National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year, 1975.
• National Women's Conference Committee, 1977.
• Wisconsin Women’s Network, coalition of over 100 Wisconsin organizations that advance women’s rights.
• Wisconsin Women's Council to continue the work of the former Status of Women’s Commission.

In her career, Clarenbach gave hundreds of talks, provided media commentary, and published works to improve the lives of women and girls throughout Wisconsin and the United States.

Image: Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women. May 8, 1968. Milwaukee Sentinel. Gary Tipler collection. Kathryn is centered in this photo.

Speaker: Gary Tipler has conducted research, developed histories, designed new buildings, planned renovations of historic buildings, and advocated historic preservation in Madison and over 30 communities throughout the Midwest.

Cost: FREE  | Registration closes at 5:00pm on March 28. This program will be recorded.