Panke Bradley Miller

Panke Bradley Miller
Member of the Atlanta City Council
At-large Post 15
In office
July 7, 1972 (1972-07-07) – July 1979
Preceded byRichard A. Petree
Succeeded byElaine Wiggins Lester
Personal details
Born
Panke J. Mattox

(1940-11-25) November 25, 1940 (age 84)
Parris Island, South Carolina
EducationAntioch College (psychology)
University of Chicago (social work)
OccupationPolitician, social worker

Panke Bradley Miller (November 25, 1940; born Panke J. Mattox, also known as Panke Bradley) is an American politician, civic leader, and social worker who was the first woman to serve on the Atlanta Board of Aldermen (today the Atlanta City Council) from 1972 to 1979.[1][2]

Panke J. Mattox was born in Parris Island, South Carolina on November 25, 1940 to John D. and Elizabeth K. Mattox;[3] she was raised in Macon, Georgia.[4] She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and her graduate degree in community organizing and social work from the University of Chicago.[5] After her studies, Miller returned to Atlanta.

Miller was appointed to the Atlanta Board of Aldermen's at-large Post 15 by mayor Sam Massell on July 7, 1972,[6] becoming the first woman to serve on the council.[7][8][9][10] The post had been filled previously by R. A. "Pete" Petree, who was convicted of bribery and suspended in 1970.[6]

She was later elected in 1973, defeating Henry Dodson and Sherman Barge.[11] Miller was chair of the Human Resources committee, and also served on the Development, Transportation, and Judiciary committees.[12] Miller was described in 1974 by the Atlanta Journal as a "former research analyst for health and community action groups, [and] wife of a Georgia State University sociology professor."[13] In 1975, the New York Times called her "one of the more liberal whites on the City Council".[14] Miller was also a supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment, joining mayor Maynard Jackson to declare January 11, 1975 as "ERA Day in Atlanta".[15] Miller also pledged to introduce gay rights legislation.[16]

After her work in government, Miller was vice-chair of the Georgia section of Common Cause. Miller was honored by the Atlanta City Council in March 2023.[5]

Miller was married to professor Donald M. Bradley in the 1970s.[6] She married Peter O. Miller in the 1980s; he died in 2022.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Panke M. Bradley papers, 1970-1977". Emory Libraries. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Lester, Lowe Win". The Atlanta Constitution. 28 October 1979.
  3. ^ "1950 United States Federal Census". National Records and Archives Administration. 1950.
  4. ^ Durand, Joyce (18 December 2000). "Panke Bradley Miller oral history interivew, December 18, 2000". Georgia State University Library. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Zena; Ulmer, Michael (2 March 2023). "Atlanta City Council Member Michael Julian Bond to Honor Panke Bradley Miller, First Woman to Serve in Atlanta City Government". Atlanta City Council. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Mrs. Bradley Takes Oath as First Woman Alderman". The Atlanta Constitution. 8 July 1972. p. 5.
  7. ^ Andrews, Evelyn (26 February 2018). "Massell calls for unity in 'State of Buckhead' address". Rough Draft Atlanta.
  8. ^ Short, Bob (22 August 2008). "Sam Massell interviewed by Bob Short" (PDF). ... but I appointed the first woman to city council in Atlanta's 125- year history. Panke Bradley, who was a city planner, did a great job.
  9. ^ Jackson, Barbara L. (1978). "Desegregation: Atlanta Style". Theory into Practice. 17 (1): 43–53. doi:10.1080/00405847809542741.
  10. ^ Hall, Van (Fall 2003). "Morningside Lenox Park: The Neighborhood That Killed an Interstate" (PDF). MLPA News. 22 (3): 2–11.
  11. ^ Lawrence, Jay (20 September 1977). "District 2 to Find Out What's In A Name". The Atlanta Constitution. Unlike Sweet, Barge has run for office before. He came in third in a 1973 at-large council race including Panke Bradley, who won, and Henry Dodson.
  12. ^ Merriner, Jim (9 January 1974). "Fowler Accused of Bias in His Council Choices". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 14-A.
  13. ^ Ezell, Hank (23 January 1974). "Here's Organization of New City Council". The Atlanta Journal. p. 16-A.
  14. ^ Ayres Jr., B. Drummond (26 February 1975). "Amid Signs of Racial Division, Atlanta's Black Mayor Begins Second Year Under Fire". The New York Times.
  15. ^ Millwood, Linda (31 January 1975). "1,500 in Atlanta Say: 'Ratify ERA Now!'" (PDF). The Militant. 39 (3): 16.
  16. ^ "Barb Endorsements". The Barb. 1 October 1977. p. 4.
  17. ^ "Peter Miller Obituary". Legacy.com. 27 February 2022. Family members mourning his loss include his wife Panke Bradley Miller ...