Whereas, Lola Greene Baldwin, a resident of Portland, upon being sworn in on April 1,

1908, became the first female law enforcement officer hired under civil service in the City of Portland and the Nation, went on to make historic contributions to the growth and strength of Portland in countless recorded and unrecorded ways; and

Whereas, Lola Greene Baldwin had blazed the trail for other women to follow in playing

a critical role in protecting the safety and well-being of the residents of Portland, and thus helped other women to discover their destinies while forming a significant portion of the labor force working inside and outside of the home; and

Whereas, Lola Greene Baldwin, as a self-designated "Municipal Mother" set the example

for American municipalities everywhere with her emphasis on preventative policing and her coalition-building with Portland's residents and early charitable and philanthropic institutions; as exemplified by her earlier volunteer work running the Traveler’s Aid Association which provided services to 2,555 women and children refugees in Portland who had fled the Great 1906 Earthquake of San Francisco; and

Whereas, Lola Greene Baldwin in forming the Department of Public Safety for the

Protection of Young Girls and Women with herself at the helm, exemplified the quality work performed by Portland women of every race, class and ethnic background who served as early leaders in the forefront of every major progressive social change movement; and

Whereas, Lola Greene Baldwin set the example for other Portland women to control their

own destinies, not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity in employment, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the civil rights movement and other movements which create a fair and more just society for all;

Now therefore, I, Thomas Potter, Mayor of the City of Portland, hereby proclaim April 1, 2008

Lola Green Baldwin Centennial Day

in Portland and encourage all residents to observe this day.