{"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Women+political+activists--Virginia.","last":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Women+political+activists--Virginia.\u0026page=1"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":1,"next_page":null,"prev_page":null,"total_pages":1,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":0,"total_count":2,"first_page?":true,"last_page?":true}},"data":[{"id":"vifgm_miller","type":"collection","attributes":{"title":"Emilie F. Miller papers","creator":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_miller#creator","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"Miller, Emilie F.","label":"Creator"}},"abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_miller#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"The Emile F. Miller papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. 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Miller papers","Mental health services--Virginia.","Women and the military--United States.","Women legislators--Virginia.","Women political activists--Virginia.","Women politicians--Virginia.","Women's rights--United States.","There are no access restrictions.","This collection is arranged by topic, including personal files, legislative issues, bills and resolutions, campaigns, and committees."," Emilie F. Miller is a former politician and activist in Northern Virginia and was the first woman senator to represent the Fairfax area. In 1968 she joined the Fairfax County Democratic Committee and served as its chair from 1976 to 1980. In that same year she was hired as long serving Senator Adelrad L. Brault's (1966-1982) legislative aid. Two years later, Senator Brault retired and endorsed Miller's candidacy for the post. Miller's opponent in 1983 was three-term Republican mayor of Fairfax City John W. Russell, whom Miller disagreed with over his opposition to the Equal Rights Act and negative comments about women serving in combat. Miller lost the election by one percent of the vote."," During the interim between her candidacies, Miller remained active in state and local politics. Virginia Governor Charles S. Robb appointed her to the State Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board (1982- 1988). The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed her to the Child Abuse Prevention Task Force (1984-1987). She was also hired as legislative consultant to the Virginia Federation of Business and Professional Women (1986-1987). Her activism in mental health, family and community services, and women's rights carried over into her term as Virginia senator."," In 1987 Miller ran for a second time against Russell, and maintained strong support from feminists and was endorsed by the National Women's Political Caucus of Northern Virginia. Narrowly defeating Russell by 180 votes, Miller set off on an ambitious and successful freshman term. She was the only freshman to receive four committee assignments, the only woman to serve on the Education and Health Committee, and was the first Virginia legislator to serve on the Labor Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators.","While a senator, Miller was assigned to four standing committees: Education and Health, General Laws, Local Government, and Rehabilitation and Social Services. She was further assigned to several legislative subcommittees, such as the Parental Drug Exposure and Abuse Committee and the Early Intervention Services for Handicapped Infants and Toddlers Committee.","During her first and second sessions (1988-1989) Miller focused on issues dealing with mental health and substance abuse. She introduced many bills and several were passed. One successful bill allowed future funding for mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services; another allowed the study of the criminal prosecution of individuals who abuse patients of state facilities for the mentally disabled. One piece of the latter bill established of the State Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services, which developed regulations defining abuse and facilitated prosecution of people who abused others with disabilities. Miller successfully amended the state budget by two million dollars for use by mental health services, and ensured that state funding would follow the six-year plan established by the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse.","The dominating concern of Miller's 1990 and 1991 sessions was the nationally covered Virginia Military Institute controversy. The U.S. Department of Justice sued the Commonwealth of Virginia for denying admittance to a woman who had applied to VMI. Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry stood behind VMI's decision not to enroll women at the traditionally all-male institution. Miller objected to the practice and considered it sexist and unconstitutional, especially because the school was publicly funded. In response to this controversy, Miller introduced legislation stating that \"all public institutions of higher education shall admit qualified students without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin, or political affiliation.\""," After the VMI controversy, Miller continued to legislate for mental health, women's rights, and family services. Her successful legislation includes the consideration of a defendant's mental health in death penalty cases, the regulation of advertising by licensed treatment facilities for the mentally ill, and authorization for Fairfax County and Fairfax City to regulate child care services and facilities. In addition to this legislation, Miller also introduced legislation that designated April 22, 1990 as Earth Day in Virginia.","Other achievements during her first term include a public-private partnership on pilot projects testing the use of natural gas in Virginia Department of Transportation vehicles, simplified procedures for citizens to obtain government information, and increased civil penalties for zoning code violations.","Miller attempted reelection in 1991, focusing on education and abortion issues, but lost to Republican opponent Jane H. Woods.","Processed by Special Collections and Archives staff. EAD markup completed in March 2009 by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty. Further processing by Emily Curley in Spring 2017. EAD markup updated by Emily Curley in June 2017.","The George Mason University Special Collections and Archives also holds other collections for research on the political life of women in Northern Virginia such as the \n                 , the \n                 , and the \n                 .","The Emile F. Miller Papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.","There are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the Emilie F. Miller papers must be obtained from Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.","The Emile F. Miller papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. 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Miller is a former politician and activist in Northern Virginia and was the first woman senator to represent the Fairfax area. In 1968 she joined the Fairfax County Democratic Committee and served as its chair from 1976 to 1980. In that same year she was hired as long serving Senator Adelrad L. Brault's (1966-1982) legislative aid. Two years later, Senator Brault retired and endorsed Miller's candidacy for the post. Miller's opponent in 1983 was three-term Republican mayor of Fairfax City John W. Russell, whom Miller disagreed with over his opposition to the Equal Rights Act and negative comments about women serving in combat. Miller lost the election by one percent of the vote.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e During the interim between her candidacies, Miller remained active in state and local politics. Virginia Governor Charles S. Robb appointed her to the State Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board (1982- 1988). The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed her to the Child Abuse Prevention Task Force (1984-1987). She was also hired as legislative consultant to the Virginia Federation of Business and Professional Women (1986-1987). Her activism in mental health, family and community services, and women's rights carried over into her term as Virginia senator.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e In 1987 Miller ran for a second time against Russell, and maintained strong support from feminists and was endorsed by the National Women's Political Caucus of Northern Virginia. Narrowly defeating Russell by 180 votes, Miller set off on an ambitious and successful freshman term. She was the only freshman to receive four committee assignments, the only woman to serve on the Education and Health Committee, and was the first Virginia legislator to serve on the Labor Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhile a senator, Miller was assigned to four standing committees: Education and Health, General Laws, Local Government, and Rehabilitation and Social Services. She was further assigned to several legislative subcommittees, such as the Parental Drug Exposure and Abuse Committee and the Early Intervention Services for Handicapped Infants and Toddlers Committee.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eDuring her first and second sessions (1988-1989) Miller focused on issues dealing with mental health and substance abuse. She introduced many bills and several were passed. One successful bill allowed future funding for mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services; another allowed the study of the criminal prosecution of individuals who abuse patients of state facilities for the mentally disabled. One piece of the latter bill established of the State Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services, which developed regulations defining abuse and facilitated prosecution of people who abused others with disabilities. Miller successfully amended the state budget by two million dollars for use by mental health services, and ensured that state funding would follow the six-year plan established by the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe dominating concern of Miller's 1990 and 1991 sessions was the nationally covered Virginia Military Institute controversy. The U.S. Department of Justice sued the Commonwealth of Virginia for denying admittance to a woman who had applied to VMI. Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry stood behind VMI's decision not to enroll women at the traditionally all-male institution. Miller objected to the practice and considered it sexist and unconstitutional, especially because the school was publicly funded. In response to this controversy, Miller introduced legislation stating that \"all public institutions of higher education shall admit qualified students without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin, or political affiliation.\"\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e After the VMI controversy, Miller continued to legislate for mental health, women's rights, and family services. Her successful legislation includes the consideration of a defendant's mental health in death penalty cases, the regulation of advertising by licensed treatment facilities for the mentally ill, and authorization for Fairfax County and Fairfax City to regulate child care services and facilities. In addition to this legislation, Miller also introduced legislation that designated April 22, 1990 as Earth Day in Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eOther achievements during her first term include a public-private partnership on pilot projects testing the use of natural gas in Virginia Department of Transportation vehicles, simplified procedures for citizens to obtain government information, and increased civil penalties for zoning code violations.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMiller attempted reelection in 1991, focusing on education and abortion issues, but lost to Republican opponent Jane H. 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Robb appointed her to the State Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board (1982- 1988). The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed her to the Child Abuse Prevention Task Force (1984-1987). She was also hired as legislative consultant to the Virginia Federation of Business and Professional Women (1986-1987). Her activism in mental health, family and community services, and women's rights carried over into her term as Virginia senator."," In 1987 Miller ran for a second time against Russell, and maintained strong support from feminists and was endorsed by the National Women's Political Caucus of Northern Virginia. Narrowly defeating Russell by 180 votes, Miller set off on an ambitious and successful freshman term. She was the only freshman to receive four committee assignments, the only woman to serve on the Education and Health Committee, and was the first Virginia legislator to serve on the Labor Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators.","While a senator, Miller was assigned to four standing committees: Education and Health, General Laws, Local Government, and Rehabilitation and Social Services. She was further assigned to several legislative subcommittees, such as the Parental Drug Exposure and Abuse Committee and the Early Intervention Services for Handicapped Infants and Toddlers Committee.","During her first and second sessions (1988-1989) Miller focused on issues dealing with mental health and substance abuse. She introduced many bills and several were passed. One successful bill allowed future funding for mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services; another allowed the study of the criminal prosecution of individuals who abuse patients of state facilities for the mentally disabled. One piece of the latter bill established of the State Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services, which developed regulations defining abuse and facilitated prosecution of people who abused others with disabilities. Miller successfully amended the state budget by two million dollars for use by mental health services, and ensured that state funding would follow the six-year plan established by the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse.","The dominating concern of Miller's 1990 and 1991 sessions was the nationally covered Virginia Military Institute controversy. The U.S. Department of Justice sued the Commonwealth of Virginia for denying admittance to a woman who had applied to VMI. Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry stood behind VMI's decision not to enroll women at the traditionally all-male institution. Miller objected to the practice and considered it sexist and unconstitutional, especially because the school was publicly funded. In response to this controversy, Miller introduced legislation stating that \"all public institutions of higher education shall admit qualified students without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin, or political affiliation.\""," After the VMI controversy, Miller continued to legislate for mental health, women's rights, and family services. Her successful legislation includes the consideration of a defendant's mental health in death penalty cases, the regulation of advertising by licensed treatment facilities for the mentally ill, and authorization for Fairfax County and Fairfax City to regulate child care services and facilities. In addition to this legislation, Miller also introduced legislation that designated April 22, 1990 as Earth Day in Virginia.","Other achievements during her first term include a public-private partnership on pilot projects testing the use of natural gas in Virginia Department of Transportation vehicles, simplified procedures for citizens to obtain government information, and increased civil penalties for zoning code violations.","Miller attempted reelection in 1991, focusing on education and abortion issues, but lost to Republican opponent Jane H. Woods."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eEmilie F. 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EAD markup updated by Emily Curley in June 2017."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe George Mason University Special Collections and Archives also holds other collections for research on the political life of women in Northern Virginia such as the \n                \u003cextptr type=\"simple\" show=\"new\" title=\"Jean Marburg League of Women Voters collection\" href=\"http://sca.gmu.edu/finding_aids/marburg.html\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e, the \n                \u003cextptr type=\"simple\" show=\"new\" title=\"League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area records\" href=\"http://sca.gmu.edu/finding_aids/lwvfa.html\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e, and the \n                \u003cextptr type=\"simple\" show=\"new\" title=\"Martha Pennino papers\" href=\"http://sca.gmu.edu/finding_aids/pennino.html\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["The George Mason University Special Collections and Archives also holds other collections for research on the political life of women in Northern Virginia such as the \n                 , the \n                 , and the \n                 ."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Emile F. Miller Papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Emile F. Miller Papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the Emilie F. 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Miller papers"],"title_tesim":["Emilie F. Miller papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1987-1991"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["1987-1991"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["C0048"],"text":["C0048","Emilie F. Miller papers","Mental health services--Virginia.","Women and the military--United States.","Women legislators--Virginia.","Women political activists--Virginia.","Women politicians--Virginia.","Women's rights--United States.","There are no access restrictions.","This collection is arranged by topic, including personal files, legislative issues, bills and resolutions, campaigns, and committees."," Emilie F. Miller is a former politician and activist in Northern Virginia and was the first woman senator to represent the Fairfax area. In 1968 she joined the Fairfax County Democratic Committee and served as its chair from 1976 to 1980. In that same year she was hired as long serving Senator Adelrad L. Brault's (1966-1982) legislative aid. Two years later, Senator Brault retired and endorsed Miller's candidacy for the post. Miller's opponent in 1983 was three-term Republican mayor of Fairfax City John W. Russell, whom Miller disagreed with over his opposition to the Equal Rights Act and negative comments about women serving in combat. Miller lost the election by one percent of the vote."," During the interim between her candidacies, Miller remained active in state and local politics. Virginia Governor Charles S. Robb appointed her to the State Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board (1982- 1988). The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed her to the Child Abuse Prevention Task Force (1984-1987). She was also hired as legislative consultant to the Virginia Federation of Business and Professional Women (1986-1987). Her activism in mental health, family and community services, and women's rights carried over into her term as Virginia senator."," In 1987 Miller ran for a second time against Russell, and maintained strong support from feminists and was endorsed by the National Women's Political Caucus of Northern Virginia. Narrowly defeating Russell by 180 votes, Miller set off on an ambitious and successful freshman term. She was the only freshman to receive four committee assignments, the only woman to serve on the Education and Health Committee, and was the first Virginia legislator to serve on the Labor Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators.","While a senator, Miller was assigned to four standing committees: Education and Health, General Laws, Local Government, and Rehabilitation and Social Services. She was further assigned to several legislative subcommittees, such as the Parental Drug Exposure and Abuse Committee and the Early Intervention Services for Handicapped Infants and Toddlers Committee.","During her first and second sessions (1988-1989) Miller focused on issues dealing with mental health and substance abuse. She introduced many bills and several were passed. One successful bill allowed future funding for mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services; another allowed the study of the criminal prosecution of individuals who abuse patients of state facilities for the mentally disabled. One piece of the latter bill established of the State Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services, which developed regulations defining abuse and facilitated prosecution of people who abused others with disabilities. Miller successfully amended the state budget by two million dollars for use by mental health services, and ensured that state funding would follow the six-year plan established by the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse.","The dominating concern of Miller's 1990 and 1991 sessions was the nationally covered Virginia Military Institute controversy. The U.S. Department of Justice sued the Commonwealth of Virginia for denying admittance to a woman who had applied to VMI. Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry stood behind VMI's decision not to enroll women at the traditionally all-male institution. Miller objected to the practice and considered it sexist and unconstitutional, especially because the school was publicly funded. In response to this controversy, Miller introduced legislation stating that \"all public institutions of higher education shall admit qualified students without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin, or political affiliation.\""," After the VMI controversy, Miller continued to legislate for mental health, women's rights, and family services. Her successful legislation includes the consideration of a defendant's mental health in death penalty cases, the regulation of advertising by licensed treatment facilities for the mentally ill, and authorization for Fairfax County and Fairfax City to regulate child care services and facilities. In addition to this legislation, Miller also introduced legislation that designated April 22, 1990 as Earth Day in Virginia.","Other achievements during her first term include a public-private partnership on pilot projects testing the use of natural gas in Virginia Department of Transportation vehicles, simplified procedures for citizens to obtain government information, and increased civil penalties for zoning code violations.","Miller attempted reelection in 1991, focusing on education and abortion issues, but lost to Republican opponent Jane H. Woods.","Processed by Special Collections and Archives staff. EAD markup completed in March 2009 by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty. Further processing by Emily Curley in Spring 2017. EAD markup updated by Emily Curley in June 2017.","The George Mason University Special Collections and Archives also holds other collections for research on the political life of women in Northern Virginia such as the \n                 , the \n                 , and the \n                 .","The Emile F. Miller Papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.","There are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the Emilie F. Miller papers must be obtained from Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.","The Emile F. Miller papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. 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Miller is a former politician and activist in Northern Virginia and was the first woman senator to represent the Fairfax area. In 1968 she joined the Fairfax County Democratic Committee and served as its chair from 1976 to 1980. In that same year she was hired as long serving Senator Adelrad L. Brault's (1966-1982) legislative aid. Two years later, Senator Brault retired and endorsed Miller's candidacy for the post. Miller's opponent in 1983 was three-term Republican mayor of Fairfax City John W. Russell, whom Miller disagreed with over his opposition to the Equal Rights Act and negative comments about women serving in combat. Miller lost the election by one percent of the vote.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e During the interim between her candidacies, Miller remained active in state and local politics. Virginia Governor Charles S. Robb appointed her to the State Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board (1982- 1988). The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed her to the Child Abuse Prevention Task Force (1984-1987). She was also hired as legislative consultant to the Virginia Federation of Business and Professional Women (1986-1987). Her activism in mental health, family and community services, and women's rights carried over into her term as Virginia senator.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e In 1987 Miller ran for a second time against Russell, and maintained strong support from feminists and was endorsed by the National Women's Political Caucus of Northern Virginia. Narrowly defeating Russell by 180 votes, Miller set off on an ambitious and successful freshman term. She was the only freshman to receive four committee assignments, the only woman to serve on the Education and Health Committee, and was the first Virginia legislator to serve on the Labor Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhile a senator, Miller was assigned to four standing committees: Education and Health, General Laws, Local Government, and Rehabilitation and Social Services. She was further assigned to several legislative subcommittees, such as the Parental Drug Exposure and Abuse Committee and the Early Intervention Services for Handicapped Infants and Toddlers Committee.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eDuring her first and second sessions (1988-1989) Miller focused on issues dealing with mental health and substance abuse. She introduced many bills and several were passed. One successful bill allowed future funding for mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services; another allowed the study of the criminal prosecution of individuals who abuse patients of state facilities for the mentally disabled. One piece of the latter bill established of the State Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services, which developed regulations defining abuse and facilitated prosecution of people who abused others with disabilities. Miller successfully amended the state budget by two million dollars for use by mental health services, and ensured that state funding would follow the six-year plan established by the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe dominating concern of Miller's 1990 and 1991 sessions was the nationally covered Virginia Military Institute controversy. The U.S. Department of Justice sued the Commonwealth of Virginia for denying admittance to a woman who had applied to VMI. Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry stood behind VMI's decision not to enroll women at the traditionally all-male institution. Miller objected to the practice and considered it sexist and unconstitutional, especially because the school was publicly funded. In response to this controversy, Miller introduced legislation stating that \"all public institutions of higher education shall admit qualified students without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin, or political affiliation.\"\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e After the VMI controversy, Miller continued to legislate for mental health, women's rights, and family services. Her successful legislation includes the consideration of a defendant's mental health in death penalty cases, the regulation of advertising by licensed treatment facilities for the mentally ill, and authorization for Fairfax County and Fairfax City to regulate child care services and facilities. In addition to this legislation, Miller also introduced legislation that designated April 22, 1990 as Earth Day in Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eOther achievements during her first term include a public-private partnership on pilot projects testing the use of natural gas in Virginia Department of Transportation vehicles, simplified procedures for citizens to obtain government information, and increased civil penalties for zoning code violations.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMiller attempted reelection in 1991, focusing on education and abortion issues, but lost to Republican opponent Jane H. Woods.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":[" Emilie F. Miller is a former politician and activist in Northern Virginia and was the first woman senator to represent the Fairfax area. In 1968 she joined the Fairfax County Democratic Committee and served as its chair from 1976 to 1980. In that same year she was hired as long serving Senator Adelrad L. Brault's (1966-1982) legislative aid. Two years later, Senator Brault retired and endorsed Miller's candidacy for the post. Miller's opponent in 1983 was three-term Republican mayor of Fairfax City John W. Russell, whom Miller disagreed with over his opposition to the Equal Rights Act and negative comments about women serving in combat. Miller lost the election by one percent of the vote."," During the interim between her candidacies, Miller remained active in state and local politics. Virginia Governor Charles S. Robb appointed her to the State Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board (1982- 1988). The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed her to the Child Abuse Prevention Task Force (1984-1987). She was also hired as legislative consultant to the Virginia Federation of Business and Professional Women (1986-1987). Her activism in mental health, family and community services, and women's rights carried over into her term as Virginia senator."," In 1987 Miller ran for a second time against Russell, and maintained strong support from feminists and was endorsed by the National Women's Political Caucus of Northern Virginia. Narrowly defeating Russell by 180 votes, Miller set off on an ambitious and successful freshman term. She was the only freshman to receive four committee assignments, the only woman to serve on the Education and Health Committee, and was the first Virginia legislator to serve on the Labor Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators.","While a senator, Miller was assigned to four standing committees: Education and Health, General Laws, Local Government, and Rehabilitation and Social Services. She was further assigned to several legislative subcommittees, such as the Parental Drug Exposure and Abuse Committee and the Early Intervention Services for Handicapped Infants and Toddlers Committee.","During her first and second sessions (1988-1989) Miller focused on issues dealing with mental health and substance abuse. She introduced many bills and several were passed. One successful bill allowed future funding for mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services; another allowed the study of the criminal prosecution of individuals who abuse patients of state facilities for the mentally disabled. One piece of the latter bill established of the State Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services, which developed regulations defining abuse and facilitated prosecution of people who abused others with disabilities. Miller successfully amended the state budget by two million dollars for use by mental health services, and ensured that state funding would follow the six-year plan established by the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse.","The dominating concern of Miller's 1990 and 1991 sessions was the nationally covered Virginia Military Institute controversy. The U.S. Department of Justice sued the Commonwealth of Virginia for denying admittance to a woman who had applied to VMI. Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry stood behind VMI's decision not to enroll women at the traditionally all-male institution. Miller objected to the practice and considered it sexist and unconstitutional, especially because the school was publicly funded. In response to this controversy, Miller introduced legislation stating that \"all public institutions of higher education shall admit qualified students without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin, or political affiliation.\""," After the VMI controversy, Miller continued to legislate for mental health, women's rights, and family services. Her successful legislation includes the consideration of a defendant's mental health in death penalty cases, the regulation of advertising by licensed treatment facilities for the mentally ill, and authorization for Fairfax County and Fairfax City to regulate child care services and facilities. In addition to this legislation, Miller also introduced legislation that designated April 22, 1990 as Earth Day in Virginia.","Other achievements during her first term include a public-private partnership on pilot projects testing the use of natural gas in Virginia Department of Transportation vehicles, simplified procedures for citizens to obtain government information, and increased civil penalties for zoning code violations.","Miller attempted reelection in 1991, focusing on education and abortion issues, but lost to Republican opponent Jane H. Woods."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eEmilie F. Miller papers, C0048, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Emilie F. Miller papers, C0048, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Special Collections and Archives staff. EAD markup completed in March 2009 by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty. Further processing by Emily Curley in Spring 2017. EAD markup updated by Emily Curley in June 2017.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Special Collections and Archives staff. EAD markup completed in March 2009 by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty. Further processing by Emily Curley in Spring 2017. EAD markup updated by Emily Curley in June 2017."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe George Mason University Special Collections and Archives also holds other collections for research on the political life of women in Northern Virginia such as the \n                \u003cextptr type=\"simple\" show=\"new\" title=\"Jean Marburg League of Women Voters collection\" href=\"http://sca.gmu.edu/finding_aids/marburg.html\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e, the \n                \u003cextptr type=\"simple\" show=\"new\" title=\"League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area records\" href=\"http://sca.gmu.edu/finding_aids/lwvfa.html\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e, and the \n                \u003cextptr type=\"simple\" show=\"new\" title=\"Martha Pennino papers\" href=\"http://sca.gmu.edu/finding_aids/pennino.html\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["The George Mason University Special Collections and Archives also holds other collections for research on the political life of women in Northern Virginia such as the \n                 , the \n                 , and the \n                 ."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Emile F. Miller Papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Emile F. Miller Papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the Emilie F. Miller papers must be obtained from Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the Emilie F. Miller papers must be obtained from Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"ref2\" label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Emile F. Miller papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["The Emile F. Miller papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy."],"names_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center.","Virginia Military Institute.","Miller, Emilie F."],"corpname_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center.","Virginia Military Institute."],"persname_ssim":["Miller, Emilie F."],"language_ssim":["English\n            "],"total_component_count_is":1354,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-01T00:49:04.653Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_miller"}},{"id":"vifgm_vifgm00016","type":"collection","attributes":{"title":"Emilie F. Miller papers","creator":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_vifgm00016#creator","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"Emilie F. Miller\n","label":"Creator"}},"abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_vifgm00016#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"The Emile F. Miller papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy. ","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_vifgm00016#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"id":"vifgm_vifgm00016","ead_ssi":"vifgm_vifgm00016","_root_":"vifgm_vifgm00016","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_vifgm00016","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/gmu/vifgm00016.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"http://sca.gmu.edu/finding_aids/","title_ssm":["Emilie F. Miller papers\n"],"title_tesim":["Emilie F. Miller papers\n"],"unitdate_ssm":["1987-1991\n"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1987-1991\n"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["C0048\n"],"text":["C0048\n","Emilie F. Miller papers","Mental health services--Virginia.","Women and the military--United States.","Women legislators--Virginia.","Women politicians--Virginia.","Women political activists--Virginia.","Women's rights--United States.","This collection is arranged by topic, including personal files, legislative issues, bills and resolutions, campaigns, and committees.\n","Emilie F. Miller is a local activist and former politician\n         from Northern Virginia. She was the first woman senator to\n         represent the Fairfax area. In 1968 she joined the Fairfax\n         County Democratic Committee, and became its chair from 1976 to\n         1980. In 1974 she joined the Virginia Democratic State Central\n         Committee. Long serving Virginia Senator Adelard L. Brault\n         (1966-1982) hired her as his legislative aid in 1980. Two\n         years later, Senator Brault retired and endorsed Miller's\n         candidacy for the post. Her opponent in 1983 was three-term\n         Republican mayor of Fairfax City, John W. Russell. Early in\n         the race, Miller labeled Russell a sexist for his opposition\n         to the Equal Rights Amendment, and for his comments about\n         women serving in combat as being dangerous enough without\n         guns. However, she lost the election by one-percent of the\n         vote.","During the interim between her candidacies, Miller remained\n         active in state and local politics. Virginia Governor Charles\n         S. Robb appointed her to the State Mental Health and Mental\n         Retardation Board (1982- 1988). The Fairfax County Board of\n         Supervisors appointed her to the Child Abuse Prevention Task\n         Force (1984-1987). She was also hired as legislative\n         consultant to the Virginia Federation of Business and\n         Professional Women (1986-1987). Her activism in mental health,\n         family and community services, and woman's rights carried over\n         into her term as Virginia senator.","In 1987 Miller ran for a second time against Russell. This\n         time the Equal Rights Amendment was not an issue, but she\n         maintained strong support from feminists, and was endorsed by\n         the National Woman's Political Caucus of Northern Virginia.\n         Narrowly defeating Russell by 180 votes, Miller set off on an\n         ambitious and successful freshman term. She was the first\n         woman elected to the Senate from Northern Virginia. She was\n         the only freshman to receive four committee assignments. She\n         was the only woman to serve on the Education and Health\n         Committee. And she was the first Virginia legislator to serve\n         on the Labor Committee of the National Conference of State\n         Legislators.","During her first and second sessions (1988-1989) Miller\n         focused on issues dealing with mental health and substance\n         abuse. She introduced many bills, and several passed. One\n         successful bill allowed future funding for mental health,\n         mental retardation and substance abuse services; another\n         allowed the study of the criminal prosecution of individuals\n         who abuse patients of state facilities for the mentally\n         disabled. An upshot of the latter bill was the establishment\n         of the State Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and\n         Substance Abuse Services, which developed regulations defining\n         abuse and facilitated prosecution of those at fault. Miller\n         successfully amended the state budget by two million dollars\n         for use by mental health services, and ensured that state\n         funding would follow the six-year plan established by the\n         Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and\n         Substance Abuse.","Dominating Miller's 1990 and 1991 sessions was the\n         nationally known Virginia Military Institute (VMI)\n         controversy. The U.S. Department of justice was suing the\n         state of Virginia for denying admittance to a woman who had\n         applied to VMI. Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry stood\n         behind VMI's decision not to enroll women at the traditionally\n         all-male institute. But Miller objected to the practice,\n         calling it sexist and unconstitutional, especially since the\n         school was publicly funded. Consequently she introduced\n         legislation providing that \"all public institutions of higher\n         education shall admit qualified students without regard to\n         race, sex, religion, national origin, or political\n         affiliation.\"","In addition to the VMI controversy, Miller continued to\n         legislate for mental health, woman's rights, and family\n         services. Her successful legislation included the\n         consideration of a defendant's mental health in death penalty\n         cases; authorization for Fairfax County and Fairfax City to\n         regulate child care services and facilities; the regulation of\n         advertising by licensed treatment facilities for the mentally\n         ill; the development of alternative levels of care for\n         psychiatric and substance abuse treatment and insurance\n         coverage that will reimburse for such care; the designation of\n         March as Virginia Woman's History Month; and the designation\n         of April 22, 1990 as Earth day in Virginia.","Among her other achievements during her term included a\n         public-private partnership on three pilot projects testing the\n         use of natural gas in Virginia Department of Transportation\n         vehicles; the extension of health insurance coverage\n         requirements to include mammograms; an increase in the income\n         and net worth limitations for senior citizens to qualify for\n         property tax relief; simplified procedures for citizens to\n         obtain government information and attend public government\n         business; and increased civil penalties for zoning code\n         violations.","While a senator, Miller was assigned to four standing\n         committees: Education and Health, General Laws, Local\n         Government, and Rehabilitation and Social Services. She was\n         further assigned to several legislative subcommittees, such as\n         the Parental Drug Exposure and Abuse Committee, and the Early\n         Intervention Services for Handicapped Infants and Toddlers\n         Committee.","Miller attempted reelection in 1991, focusing on education\n         and abortion issues, but lost to her Republican opponent, Jane\n         H. Woods.","The Emile F. Miller Papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.\n","The Emile F. Miller papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.\n","George Mason University.  Special Collections and Archives.\n","Virginia Military Institute.","Emilie F. Miller\n","Miller, Emilie F.","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["C0048\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Emilie F. Miller papers"],"collection_title_tesim":["Emilie F. Miller papers"],"collection_ssim":["Emilie F. Miller papers"],"repository_ssm":["George Mason University"],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"creator_ssm":["Emilie F. Miller\n"],"creator_ssim":["Emilie F. Miller\n"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Emilie F. Miller\n"],"creators_ssim":["Emilie F. Miller\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["Collection donated by Emilie F. Miller in 1996.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["Mental health services--Virginia.","Women and the military--United States.","Women legislators--Virginia.","Women politicians--Virginia.","Women political activists--Virginia.","Women's rights--United States."],"access_subjects_ssm":["Mental health services--Virginia.","Women and the military--United States.","Women legislators--Virginia.","Women politicians--Virginia.","Women political activists--Virginia.","Women's rights--United States."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["48 linear feet (36 boxes)"],"extent_tesim":["48 linear feet (36 boxes)"],"date_range_isim":[1987,1988,1989,1990,1991],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection is arranged by topic, including personal files, legislative issues, bills and resolutions, campaigns, and committees.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement\n"],"arrangement_tesim":["This collection is arranged by topic, including personal files, legislative issues, bills and resolutions, campaigns, and committees.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eEmilie F. Miller is a local activist and former politician\n         from Northern Virginia. She was the first woman senator to\n         represent the Fairfax area. In 1968 she joined the Fairfax\n         County Democratic Committee, and became its chair from 1976 to\n         1980. In 1974 she joined the Virginia Democratic State Central\n         Committee. Long serving Virginia Senator Adelard L. Brault\n         (1966-1982) hired her as his legislative aid in 1980. Two\n         years later, Senator Brault retired and endorsed Miller's\n         candidacy for the post. Her opponent in 1983 was three-term\n         Republican mayor of Fairfax City, John W. Russell. Early in\n         the race, Miller labeled Russell a sexist for his opposition\n         to the Equal Rights Amendment, and for his comments about\n         women serving in combat as being dangerous enough without\n         guns. However, she lost the election by one-percent of the\n         vote.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eDuring the interim between her candidacies, Miller remained\n         active in state and local politics. Virginia Governor Charles\n         S. Robb appointed her to the State Mental Health and Mental\n         Retardation Board (1982- 1988). The Fairfax County Board of\n         Supervisors appointed her to the Child Abuse Prevention Task\n         Force (1984-1987). She was also hired as legislative\n         consultant to the Virginia Federation of Business and\n         Professional Women (1986-1987). Her activism in mental health,\n         family and community services, and woman's rights carried over\n         into her term as Virginia senator.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1987 Miller ran for a second time against Russell. This\n         time the Equal Rights Amendment was not an issue, but she\n         maintained strong support from feminists, and was endorsed by\n         the National Woman's Political Caucus of Northern Virginia.\n         Narrowly defeating Russell by 180 votes, Miller set off on an\n         ambitious and successful freshman term. She was the first\n         woman elected to the Senate from Northern Virginia. She was\n         the only freshman to receive four committee assignments. She\n         was the only woman to serve on the Education and Health\n         Committee. And she was the first Virginia legislator to serve\n         on the Labor Committee of the National Conference of State\n         Legislators.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eDuring her first and second sessions (1988-1989) Miller\n         focused on issues dealing with mental health and substance\n         abuse. She introduced many bills, and several passed. One\n         successful bill allowed future funding for mental health,\n         mental retardation and substance abuse services; another\n         allowed the study of the criminal prosecution of individuals\n         who abuse patients of state facilities for the mentally\n         disabled. An upshot of the latter bill was the establishment\n         of the State Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and\n         Substance Abuse Services, which developed regulations defining\n         abuse and facilitated prosecution of those at fault. Miller\n         successfully amended the state budget by two million dollars\n         for use by mental health services, and ensured that state\n         funding would follow the six-year plan established by the\n         Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and\n         Substance Abuse.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eDominating Miller's 1990 and 1991 sessions was the\n         nationally known Virginia Military Institute (VMI)\n         controversy. The U.S. Department of justice was suing the\n         state of Virginia for denying admittance to a woman who had\n         applied to VMI. Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry stood\n         behind VMI's decision not to enroll women at the traditionally\n         all-male institute. But Miller objected to the practice,\n         calling it sexist and unconstitutional, especially since the\n         school was publicly funded. Consequently she introduced\n         legislation providing that \"all public institutions of higher\n         education shall admit qualified students without regard to\n         race, sex, religion, national origin, or political\n         affiliation.\"\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn addition to the VMI controversy, Miller continued to\n         legislate for mental health, woman's rights, and family\n         services. Her successful legislation included the\n         consideration of a defendant's mental health in death penalty\n         cases; authorization for Fairfax County and Fairfax City to\n         regulate child care services and facilities; the regulation of\n         advertising by licensed treatment facilities for the mentally\n         ill; the development of alternative levels of care for\n         psychiatric and substance abuse treatment and insurance\n         coverage that will reimburse for such care; the designation of\n         March as Virginia Woman's History Month; and the designation\n         of April 22, 1990 as Earth day in Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAmong her other achievements during her term included a\n         public-private partnership on three pilot projects testing the\n         use of natural gas in Virginia Department of Transportation\n         vehicles; the extension of health insurance coverage\n         requirements to include mammograms; an increase in the income\n         and net worth limitations for senior citizens to qualify for\n         property tax relief; simplified procedures for citizens to\n         obtain government information and attend public government\n         business; and increased civil penalties for zoning code\n         violations.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhile a senator, Miller was assigned to four standing\n         committees: Education and Health, General Laws, Local\n         Government, and Rehabilitation and Social Services. She was\n         further assigned to several legislative subcommittees, such as\n         the Parental Drug Exposure and Abuse Committee, and the Early\n         Intervention Services for Handicapped Infants and Toddlers\n         Committee.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMiller attempted reelection in 1991, focusing on education\n         and abortion issues, but lost to her Republican opponent, Jane\n         H. Woods.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Emilie F. Miller is a local activist and former politician\n         from Northern Virginia. She was the first woman senator to\n         represent the Fairfax area. In 1968 she joined the Fairfax\n         County Democratic Committee, and became its chair from 1976 to\n         1980. In 1974 she joined the Virginia Democratic State Central\n         Committee. Long serving Virginia Senator Adelard L. Brault\n         (1966-1982) hired her as his legislative aid in 1980. Two\n         years later, Senator Brault retired and endorsed Miller's\n         candidacy for the post. Her opponent in 1983 was three-term\n         Republican mayor of Fairfax City, John W. Russell. Early in\n         the race, Miller labeled Russell a sexist for his opposition\n         to the Equal Rights Amendment, and for his comments about\n         women serving in combat as being dangerous enough without\n         guns. However, she lost the election by one-percent of the\n         vote.","During the interim between her candidacies, Miller remained\n         active in state and local politics. Virginia Governor Charles\n         S. Robb appointed her to the State Mental Health and Mental\n         Retardation Board (1982- 1988). The Fairfax County Board of\n         Supervisors appointed her to the Child Abuse Prevention Task\n         Force (1984-1987). She was also hired as legislative\n         consultant to the Virginia Federation of Business and\n         Professional Women (1986-1987). Her activism in mental health,\n         family and community services, and woman's rights carried over\n         into her term as Virginia senator.","In 1987 Miller ran for a second time against Russell. This\n         time the Equal Rights Amendment was not an issue, but she\n         maintained strong support from feminists, and was endorsed by\n         the National Woman's Political Caucus of Northern Virginia.\n         Narrowly defeating Russell by 180 votes, Miller set off on an\n         ambitious and successful freshman term. She was the first\n         woman elected to the Senate from Northern Virginia. She was\n         the only freshman to receive four committee assignments. She\n         was the only woman to serve on the Education and Health\n         Committee. And she was the first Virginia legislator to serve\n         on the Labor Committee of the National Conference of State\n         Legislators.","During her first and second sessions (1988-1989) Miller\n         focused on issues dealing with mental health and substance\n         abuse. She introduced many bills, and several passed. One\n         successful bill allowed future funding for mental health,\n         mental retardation and substance abuse services; another\n         allowed the study of the criminal prosecution of individuals\n         who abuse patients of state facilities for the mentally\n         disabled. An upshot of the latter bill was the establishment\n         of the State Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and\n         Substance Abuse Services, which developed regulations defining\n         abuse and facilitated prosecution of those at fault. Miller\n         successfully amended the state budget by two million dollars\n         for use by mental health services, and ensured that state\n         funding would follow the six-year plan established by the\n         Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and\n         Substance Abuse.","Dominating Miller's 1990 and 1991 sessions was the\n         nationally known Virginia Military Institute (VMI)\n         controversy. The U.S. Department of justice was suing the\n         state of Virginia for denying admittance to a woman who had\n         applied to VMI. Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry stood\n         behind VMI's decision not to enroll women at the traditionally\n         all-male institute. But Miller objected to the practice,\n         calling it sexist and unconstitutional, especially since the\n         school was publicly funded. Consequently she introduced\n         legislation providing that \"all public institutions of higher\n         education shall admit qualified students without regard to\n         race, sex, religion, national origin, or political\n         affiliation.\"","In addition to the VMI controversy, Miller continued to\n         legislate for mental health, woman's rights, and family\n         services. Her successful legislation included the\n         consideration of a defendant's mental health in death penalty\n         cases; authorization for Fairfax County and Fairfax City to\n         regulate child care services and facilities; the regulation of\n         advertising by licensed treatment facilities for the mentally\n         ill; the development of alternative levels of care for\n         psychiatric and substance abuse treatment and insurance\n         coverage that will reimburse for such care; the designation of\n         March as Virginia Woman's History Month; and the designation\n         of April 22, 1990 as Earth day in Virginia.","Among her other achievements during her term included a\n         public-private partnership on three pilot projects testing the\n         use of natural gas in Virginia Department of Transportation\n         vehicles; the extension of health insurance coverage\n         requirements to include mammograms; an increase in the income\n         and net worth limitations for senior citizens to qualify for\n         property tax relief; simplified procedures for citizens to\n         obtain government information and attend public government\n         business; and increased civil penalties for zoning code\n         violations.","While a senator, Miller was assigned to four standing\n         committees: Education and Health, General Laws, Local\n         Government, and Rehabilitation and Social Services. She was\n         further assigned to several legislative subcommittees, such as\n         the Parental Drug Exposure and Abuse Committee, and the Early\n         Intervention Services for Handicapped Infants and Toddlers\n         Committee.","Miller attempted reelection in 1991, focusing on education\n         and abortion issues, but lost to her Republican opponent, Jane\n         H. Woods."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Emile F. Miller Papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Emile F. Miller Papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.\n"],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Emile F. Miller papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.\n\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["The Emile F. Miller papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.\n"],"names_ssim":["George Mason University.  Special Collections and Archives.\n","Virginia Military Institute.","Emilie F. Miller\n","Miller, Emilie F."],"corpname_ssim":["George Mason University.  Special Collections and Archives.\n","Virginia Military Institute."],"persname_ssim":["Emilie F. Miller\n","Miller, Emilie F."],"language_ssim":["English\n"],"total_component_count_is":1347,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-01T01:00:28.285Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vifgm_vifgm00016","ead_ssi":"vifgm_vifgm00016","_root_":"vifgm_vifgm00016","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_vifgm00016","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/gmu/vifgm00016.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"http://sca.gmu.edu/finding_aids/","title_ssm":["Emilie F. Miller papers\n"],"title_tesim":["Emilie F. Miller papers\n"],"unitdate_ssm":["1987-1991\n"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1987-1991\n"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["C0048\n"],"text":["C0048\n","Emilie F. Miller papers","Mental health services--Virginia.","Women and the military--United States.","Women legislators--Virginia.","Women politicians--Virginia.","Women political activists--Virginia.","Women's rights--United States.","This collection is arranged by topic, including personal files, legislative issues, bills and resolutions, campaigns, and committees.\n","Emilie F. Miller is a local activist and former politician\n         from Northern Virginia. She was the first woman senator to\n         represent the Fairfax area. In 1968 she joined the Fairfax\n         County Democratic Committee, and became its chair from 1976 to\n         1980. In 1974 she joined the Virginia Democratic State Central\n         Committee. Long serving Virginia Senator Adelard L. Brault\n         (1966-1982) hired her as his legislative aid in 1980. Two\n         years later, Senator Brault retired and endorsed Miller's\n         candidacy for the post. Her opponent in 1983 was three-term\n         Republican mayor of Fairfax City, John W. Russell. Early in\n         the race, Miller labeled Russell a sexist for his opposition\n         to the Equal Rights Amendment, and for his comments about\n         women serving in combat as being dangerous enough without\n         guns. However, she lost the election by one-percent of the\n         vote.","During the interim between her candidacies, Miller remained\n         active in state and local politics. Virginia Governor Charles\n         S. Robb appointed her to the State Mental Health and Mental\n         Retardation Board (1982- 1988). The Fairfax County Board of\n         Supervisors appointed her to the Child Abuse Prevention Task\n         Force (1984-1987). She was also hired as legislative\n         consultant to the Virginia Federation of Business and\n         Professional Women (1986-1987). Her activism in mental health,\n         family and community services, and woman's rights carried over\n         into her term as Virginia senator.","In 1987 Miller ran for a second time against Russell. This\n         time the Equal Rights Amendment was not an issue, but she\n         maintained strong support from feminists, and was endorsed by\n         the National Woman's Political Caucus of Northern Virginia.\n         Narrowly defeating Russell by 180 votes, Miller set off on an\n         ambitious and successful freshman term. She was the first\n         woman elected to the Senate from Northern Virginia. She was\n         the only freshman to receive four committee assignments. She\n         was the only woman to serve on the Education and Health\n         Committee. And she was the first Virginia legislator to serve\n         on the Labor Committee of the National Conference of State\n         Legislators.","During her first and second sessions (1988-1989) Miller\n         focused on issues dealing with mental health and substance\n         abuse. She introduced many bills, and several passed. One\n         successful bill allowed future funding for mental health,\n         mental retardation and substance abuse services; another\n         allowed the study of the criminal prosecution of individuals\n         who abuse patients of state facilities for the mentally\n         disabled. An upshot of the latter bill was the establishment\n         of the State Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and\n         Substance Abuse Services, which developed regulations defining\n         abuse and facilitated prosecution of those at fault. Miller\n         successfully amended the state budget by two million dollars\n         for use by mental health services, and ensured that state\n         funding would follow the six-year plan established by the\n         Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and\n         Substance Abuse.","Dominating Miller's 1990 and 1991 sessions was the\n         nationally known Virginia Military Institute (VMI)\n         controversy. The U.S. Department of justice was suing the\n         state of Virginia for denying admittance to a woman who had\n         applied to VMI. Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry stood\n         behind VMI's decision not to enroll women at the traditionally\n         all-male institute. But Miller objected to the practice,\n         calling it sexist and unconstitutional, especially since the\n         school was publicly funded. Consequently she introduced\n         legislation providing that \"all public institutions of higher\n         education shall admit qualified students without regard to\n         race, sex, religion, national origin, or political\n         affiliation.\"","In addition to the VMI controversy, Miller continued to\n         legislate for mental health, woman's rights, and family\n         services. Her successful legislation included the\n         consideration of a defendant's mental health in death penalty\n         cases; authorization for Fairfax County and Fairfax City to\n         regulate child care services and facilities; the regulation of\n         advertising by licensed treatment facilities for the mentally\n         ill; the development of alternative levels of care for\n         psychiatric and substance abuse treatment and insurance\n         coverage that will reimburse for such care; the designation of\n         March as Virginia Woman's History Month; and the designation\n         of April 22, 1990 as Earth day in Virginia.","Among her other achievements during her term included a\n         public-private partnership on three pilot projects testing the\n         use of natural gas in Virginia Department of Transportation\n         vehicles; the extension of health insurance coverage\n         requirements to include mammograms; an increase in the income\n         and net worth limitations for senior citizens to qualify for\n         property tax relief; simplified procedures for citizens to\n         obtain government information and attend public government\n         business; and increased civil penalties for zoning code\n         violations.","While a senator, Miller was assigned to four standing\n         committees: Education and Health, General Laws, Local\n         Government, and Rehabilitation and Social Services. She was\n         further assigned to several legislative subcommittees, such as\n         the Parental Drug Exposure and Abuse Committee, and the Early\n         Intervention Services for Handicapped Infants and Toddlers\n         Committee.","Miller attempted reelection in 1991, focusing on education\n         and abortion issues, but lost to her Republican opponent, Jane\n         H. Woods.","The Emile F. Miller Papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.\n","The Emile F. Miller papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.\n","George Mason University.  Special Collections and Archives.\n","Virginia Military Institute.","Emilie F. Miller\n","Miller, Emilie F.","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["C0048\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Emilie F. Miller papers"],"collection_title_tesim":["Emilie F. Miller papers"],"collection_ssim":["Emilie F. Miller papers"],"repository_ssm":["George Mason University"],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"creator_ssm":["Emilie F. Miller\n"],"creator_ssim":["Emilie F. Miller\n"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Emilie F. Miller\n"],"creators_ssim":["Emilie F. Miller\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["Collection donated by Emilie F. Miller in 1996.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["Mental health services--Virginia.","Women and the military--United States.","Women legislators--Virginia.","Women politicians--Virginia.","Women political activists--Virginia.","Women's rights--United States."],"access_subjects_ssm":["Mental health services--Virginia.","Women and the military--United States.","Women legislators--Virginia.","Women politicians--Virginia.","Women political activists--Virginia.","Women's rights--United States."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["48 linear feet (36 boxes)"],"extent_tesim":["48 linear feet (36 boxes)"],"date_range_isim":[1987,1988,1989,1990,1991],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection is arranged by topic, including personal files, legislative issues, bills and resolutions, campaigns, and committees.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement\n"],"arrangement_tesim":["This collection is arranged by topic, including personal files, legislative issues, bills and resolutions, campaigns, and committees.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eEmilie F. Miller is a local activist and former politician\n         from Northern Virginia. She was the first woman senator to\n         represent the Fairfax area. In 1968 she joined the Fairfax\n         County Democratic Committee, and became its chair from 1976 to\n         1980. In 1974 she joined the Virginia Democratic State Central\n         Committee. Long serving Virginia Senator Adelard L. Brault\n         (1966-1982) hired her as his legislative aid in 1980. Two\n         years later, Senator Brault retired and endorsed Miller's\n         candidacy for the post. Her opponent in 1983 was three-term\n         Republican mayor of Fairfax City, John W. Russell. Early in\n         the race, Miller labeled Russell a sexist for his opposition\n         to the Equal Rights Amendment, and for his comments about\n         women serving in combat as being dangerous enough without\n         guns. However, she lost the election by one-percent of the\n         vote.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eDuring the interim between her candidacies, Miller remained\n         active in state and local politics. Virginia Governor Charles\n         S. Robb appointed her to the State Mental Health and Mental\n         Retardation Board (1982- 1988). The Fairfax County Board of\n         Supervisors appointed her to the Child Abuse Prevention Task\n         Force (1984-1987). She was also hired as legislative\n         consultant to the Virginia Federation of Business and\n         Professional Women (1986-1987). Her activism in mental health,\n         family and community services, and woman's rights carried over\n         into her term as Virginia senator.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1987 Miller ran for a second time against Russell. This\n         time the Equal Rights Amendment was not an issue, but she\n         maintained strong support from feminists, and was endorsed by\n         the National Woman's Political Caucus of Northern Virginia.\n         Narrowly defeating Russell by 180 votes, Miller set off on an\n         ambitious and successful freshman term. She was the first\n         woman elected to the Senate from Northern Virginia. She was\n         the only freshman to receive four committee assignments. She\n         was the only woman to serve on the Education and Health\n         Committee. And she was the first Virginia legislator to serve\n         on the Labor Committee of the National Conference of State\n         Legislators.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eDuring her first and second sessions (1988-1989) Miller\n         focused on issues dealing with mental health and substance\n         abuse. She introduced many bills, and several passed. One\n         successful bill allowed future funding for mental health,\n         mental retardation and substance abuse services; another\n         allowed the study of the criminal prosecution of individuals\n         who abuse patients of state facilities for the mentally\n         disabled. An upshot of the latter bill was the establishment\n         of the State Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and\n         Substance Abuse Services, which developed regulations defining\n         abuse and facilitated prosecution of those at fault. Miller\n         successfully amended the state budget by two million dollars\n         for use by mental health services, and ensured that state\n         funding would follow the six-year plan established by the\n         Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and\n         Substance Abuse.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eDominating Miller's 1990 and 1991 sessions was the\n         nationally known Virginia Military Institute (VMI)\n         controversy. The U.S. Department of justice was suing the\n         state of Virginia for denying admittance to a woman who had\n         applied to VMI. Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry stood\n         behind VMI's decision not to enroll women at the traditionally\n         all-male institute. But Miller objected to the practice,\n         calling it sexist and unconstitutional, especially since the\n         school was publicly funded. Consequently she introduced\n         legislation providing that \"all public institutions of higher\n         education shall admit qualified students without regard to\n         race, sex, religion, national origin, or political\n         affiliation.\"\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn addition to the VMI controversy, Miller continued to\n         legislate for mental health, woman's rights, and family\n         services. Her successful legislation included the\n         consideration of a defendant's mental health in death penalty\n         cases; authorization for Fairfax County and Fairfax City to\n         regulate child care services and facilities; the regulation of\n         advertising by licensed treatment facilities for the mentally\n         ill; the development of alternative levels of care for\n         psychiatric and substance abuse treatment and insurance\n         coverage that will reimburse for such care; the designation of\n         March as Virginia Woman's History Month; and the designation\n         of April 22, 1990 as Earth day in Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAmong her other achievements during her term included a\n         public-private partnership on three pilot projects testing the\n         use of natural gas in Virginia Department of Transportation\n         vehicles; the extension of health insurance coverage\n         requirements to include mammograms; an increase in the income\n         and net worth limitations for senior citizens to qualify for\n         property tax relief; simplified procedures for citizens to\n         obtain government information and attend public government\n         business; and increased civil penalties for zoning code\n         violations.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhile a senator, Miller was assigned to four standing\n         committees: Education and Health, General Laws, Local\n         Government, and Rehabilitation and Social Services. She was\n         further assigned to several legislative subcommittees, such as\n         the Parental Drug Exposure and Abuse Committee, and the Early\n         Intervention Services for Handicapped Infants and Toddlers\n         Committee.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMiller attempted reelection in 1991, focusing on education\n         and abortion issues, but lost to her Republican opponent, Jane\n         H. Woods.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Emilie F. Miller is a local activist and former politician\n         from Northern Virginia. She was the first woman senator to\n         represent the Fairfax area. In 1968 she joined the Fairfax\n         County Democratic Committee, and became its chair from 1976 to\n         1980. In 1974 she joined the Virginia Democratic State Central\n         Committee. Long serving Virginia Senator Adelard L. Brault\n         (1966-1982) hired her as his legislative aid in 1980. Two\n         years later, Senator Brault retired and endorsed Miller's\n         candidacy for the post. Her opponent in 1983 was three-term\n         Republican mayor of Fairfax City, John W. Russell. Early in\n         the race, Miller labeled Russell a sexist for his opposition\n         to the Equal Rights Amendment, and for his comments about\n         women serving in combat as being dangerous enough without\n         guns. However, she lost the election by one-percent of the\n         vote.","During the interim between her candidacies, Miller remained\n         active in state and local politics. Virginia Governor Charles\n         S. Robb appointed her to the State Mental Health and Mental\n         Retardation Board (1982- 1988). The Fairfax County Board of\n         Supervisors appointed her to the Child Abuse Prevention Task\n         Force (1984-1987). She was also hired as legislative\n         consultant to the Virginia Federation of Business and\n         Professional Women (1986-1987). Her activism in mental health,\n         family and community services, and woman's rights carried over\n         into her term as Virginia senator.","In 1987 Miller ran for a second time against Russell. This\n         time the Equal Rights Amendment was not an issue, but she\n         maintained strong support from feminists, and was endorsed by\n         the National Woman's Political Caucus of Northern Virginia.\n         Narrowly defeating Russell by 180 votes, Miller set off on an\n         ambitious and successful freshman term. She was the first\n         woman elected to the Senate from Northern Virginia. She was\n         the only freshman to receive four committee assignments. She\n         was the only woman to serve on the Education and Health\n         Committee. And she was the first Virginia legislator to serve\n         on the Labor Committee of the National Conference of State\n         Legislators.","During her first and second sessions (1988-1989) Miller\n         focused on issues dealing with mental health and substance\n         abuse. She introduced many bills, and several passed. One\n         successful bill allowed future funding for mental health,\n         mental retardation and substance abuse services; another\n         allowed the study of the criminal prosecution of individuals\n         who abuse patients of state facilities for the mentally\n         disabled. An upshot of the latter bill was the establishment\n         of the State Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and\n         Substance Abuse Services, which developed regulations defining\n         abuse and facilitated prosecution of those at fault. Miller\n         successfully amended the state budget by two million dollars\n         for use by mental health services, and ensured that state\n         funding would follow the six-year plan established by the\n         Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and\n         Substance Abuse.","Dominating Miller's 1990 and 1991 sessions was the\n         nationally known Virginia Military Institute (VMI)\n         controversy. The U.S. Department of justice was suing the\n         state of Virginia for denying admittance to a woman who had\n         applied to VMI. Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry stood\n         behind VMI's decision not to enroll women at the traditionally\n         all-male institute. But Miller objected to the practice,\n         calling it sexist and unconstitutional, especially since the\n         school was publicly funded. Consequently she introduced\n         legislation providing that \"all public institutions of higher\n         education shall admit qualified students without regard to\n         race, sex, religion, national origin, or political\n         affiliation.\"","In addition to the VMI controversy, Miller continued to\n         legislate for mental health, woman's rights, and family\n         services. Her successful legislation included the\n         consideration of a defendant's mental health in death penalty\n         cases; authorization for Fairfax County and Fairfax City to\n         regulate child care services and facilities; the regulation of\n         advertising by licensed treatment facilities for the mentally\n         ill; the development of alternative levels of care for\n         psychiatric and substance abuse treatment and insurance\n         coverage that will reimburse for such care; the designation of\n         March as Virginia Woman's History Month; and the designation\n         of April 22, 1990 as Earth day in Virginia.","Among her other achievements during her term included a\n         public-private partnership on three pilot projects testing the\n         use of natural gas in Virginia Department of Transportation\n         vehicles; the extension of health insurance coverage\n         requirements to include mammograms; an increase in the income\n         and net worth limitations for senior citizens to qualify for\n         property tax relief; simplified procedures for citizens to\n         obtain government information and attend public government\n         business; and increased civil penalties for zoning code\n         violations.","While a senator, Miller was assigned to four standing\n         committees: Education and Health, General Laws, Local\n         Government, and Rehabilitation and Social Services. She was\n         further assigned to several legislative subcommittees, such as\n         the Parental Drug Exposure and Abuse Committee, and the Early\n         Intervention Services for Handicapped Infants and Toddlers\n         Committee.","Miller attempted reelection in 1991, focusing on education\n         and abortion issues, but lost to her Republican opponent, Jane\n         H. Woods."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Emile F. Miller Papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Emile F. Miller Papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.\n"],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Emile F. Miller papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.\n\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["The Emile F. Miller papers contain materials pertaining to her service in the Virginia State Legislature. Included in the collection are campaign material, subject files, bills and resolutions, correspondence, committee information, constituent files, and information on the Virginia Military Institute controversy.\n"],"names_ssim":["George Mason University.  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