Patsy Takemoto Mink was born in Pā`ia, Maui, on December 6, 1927, to Nisei parents Suematsu and Mitama Takemoto. Gwendolyn Mink recalls her family's transition to living in Washington D.C. after her mother was elected to Congress.Gwendolyn Mink describes her father's role in her mother's political career.Gwendolyn Mink describes the accident that caused her mother to leave the floor before casting a vote on an amendment to an educational appropriations bill in 1975.Gwendolyn Mink describes her mother's decision to oppose the Vietnam War.Gwendolyn Mink describes the importance of women in Congress.Gwendolyn Mink discusses the internal politics of the Congressional Women's Caucus and some of the limitations of the organization.Gwendolyn Mink describes the different ways her mother was criticized for her political positions.Gwendolyn Mink describes the way her mother dealt with criticism. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first woman of color elected to Congress, participated in the passage of much of the 1960s Great Society legislation during the first phase of her congressional career. In this interview, Gwendolyn Mink reflects on the life and career of her mother, the late Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink of Hawaii, the first woman of color and the first Asian-American woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Mr. Mink collapsed and died at his daughter's home in Northampton, family spokesman Calvin Tamura said. Patsy Mink is born at 6 December, 1927 in Maui, Hawaii and American by birth. Despite an unsuccessful mayoral campaign in 1988, Patsy later returned to Congress in 1990, to serve out Rep. Daniel Akaka’s seat when he was appointed to fill the Senate vacancy following the death of Spark Matsunaga. MCBL also hosts Girls\u2019 Summit, an annual conference and mentorship event for young women in high school. Patsy Mink was the first woman of color and the first Asian American woman elected to Congress. She remained in Congress as a strong liberal voice for Hawai`i and the nation over the next twelve years, and continued to fight for gender and racial equity, the protection of social welfare programs, and government oversight.While at Chicago, Patsy met geology student John Francis Mink, and they married in 1951, a few months before they both graduated with their respective degrees. Patsy was considered a resident of John’s home state of Pennsylvania under a law that required women to take the residency status of their husbands, making her ineligible to take the Hawai`i bar exam.
The material in this collection displays Patsy Mink's political concerns, including affirmative action and strip mining legislation.