Manche Irene Langley

Manche Irene Langley (August 19, 1883 - July 13, 1963) was the seventeenth woman in Oregon to practice law. Her career as a litigator lasted from 1909 to 1963; she participated in state and county politics while teaching law at Pacific University.[1]

Early life and education

Langley was born in Furnas County, Nebraska on August 19, 1883.[1] Her father was William Langley, a lawyer, and her mother was Amanda Scott Langley.[1] In 1891, Langley's family moved to Washington County, Oregon.[1] In 1898, she graduated from Forest Grove High School and went on to study at Tualatin Academy, the predecessor of Pacific University.[2]

She studied at Pacific University from 1900 to 1903 where she earned certificates in proficiency in certain departments.[2] Langley did not receive a formal degree, but did go on to study law with her father and passed the bar exam in 1909.[2][3][4] She practiced law in Forest Grove, Oregon from 1909 to 1933.[2] Langley also earned a bachelor's degree of law from Northwestern College of Law.[2]

Government Work and Community Service

Langley was appointed Democratic National Committee women of Oregon on June 5, 1932.[5] She had also served as the secretary and chairman of the Washington County Democratic Central Committee prior to 1932.[5]

In 1926 she was the president of the Women Lawyers’ Association of Oregon and a member of the League of Women Voters in 1925.[5] The league founded the Northwest Institute of International Relations where she served as a moderator for several early sessions.[5] Langley served on the State Board of the League from 1944 to 1948 and continued her service as a member of its Committee on International Relations in 1950.[5]

She was known for her volunteer work for the Oregon Prison Association and helped with parole cases from 1944 to 1950; she was elected as the vice president in 1949.[5] Langley was a member of Phi Delta Delta, a legal fraternity for women, a member and president of Queen's Bench, American Association, Oregon State Association, and Multnomah Bar Association.[5]

Langley was appointed Multnomah County deputy district attorney in the Women's Division in 1944; later, in 1961 she was appointed chief deputy of the Domestic Relations Department of the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.[1] She gave legal advice for real estate matters and with domestic relations.[1]

Legacy

To honor Langley's legacy of helping women in the legal profession in Oregon, a scholarship fund was established in her name at Lewis & Clark Law School.[6]

Langley died in 1963.

References
  1. "Manche Irene Langley (1883-1963)". www.oregonencyclopedia.org. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  2. "Pioneering Woman Lawyer Got Her Start at Pacific University". Pacific University. 2014-03-05. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  3. "Numerous women in all parts of state are out for office". Oregon Daily Journal. April 23, 1916.
  4. "1900 – 1959". Diversity Storywall. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  5. Allen, Trudy (1997). "Pioneers: Manche Irene Langley" (PDF). Oregon Women Lawyers. 8: 3, 12.
  6. OR 97219, The Development & Alumni OfficeLewis & Clark Law School10101 S. Terwilliger Boulevard MSC Portland. "Manche Langley Scholarship". law.lclark.edu. Retrieved 2021-06-11.


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