MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - On this day- October 29, 1966- the National Organization of Women or “NOW” was established. One Wisconsinite led the way in advocating for women’s rights.

Kathyrn Clarenbach was raised in Sparta and then went to UW Madison to earn a political science degree. She later taught classes at multiple colleges, including Edgewood University.

Clarenbach served on state councils to change laws to get women fair pay and access to credit and more. That included the ‘Commission on the Status of Women’ which she persuaded then-Governor John Reynolds to establish.

She is considered one of the leaders in the twentieth century women’s movement.

As the co-founder of “NOW”, she was elected as the first chair of now at that first organizing conference nearly sixty years ago in Wash

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