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Lillian Frink

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Lillian Frink
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Canterbury
In office
1921–1925
Preceded byArthur C. Bennett
Edward Baker[1]
Succeeded byClinton E. Frink
Andrew T. J. Clark
In office
1953–1959
Preceded byNelson L. Carpenter
Charles Grab[1]
Succeeded byHans Hansen
Richard L. Trayner[1]
Personal details
BornLillian Mae Spalding[2]
1882
Brooklyn, Connecticut, U.S.
Died (aged 91)
Plainfield, Connecticut, U.S.
PartyRepublican
SpouseClinton E. Frink
RelativesFrank D. Spalding (brother)
EducationWillimantic Normal School

Lillian Mae Frink (née Spalding; 1882 – March 14, 1974) was an American politician who served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1921 to 1925 and 1953 to 1959, representing the town of Canterbury as a Republican. She was among the first five women to serve in the Connecticut General Assembly, taking office in the first state legislative session following the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.

Personal life and family

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Lillian Frink and Frank Spalding

Frink was born in 1882 in Brooklyn, Connecticut, to parents Frank and Emma Spalding.[2] She graduated from the Willimantic Normal School and worked as a schoolteacher in her early career.[3][4][5] She was the sister of politician Frank D. Spalding, who would later serve alongside her in the Connecticut House of Representatives.[6] Frink's husband, Clinton E. Frink, was also a state legislator. He represented Canterbury in the Connecticut House from 1925 to 1933, immediately following Lillian's first two terms.[7][8]

Frink was a longtime resident of Canterbury. While serving in the legislature, she lived in the historic William Moore House in the area now known as the Canterbury Center Historic District. In 2018, the house burned down, and it was demolished in 2019.[9][10]

In 1920, Clinton Frink purchased Hoxie's Store, a local business in Canterbury. Along with his brother-in-law, William Wright, he opened a new store, Frink & Wright's Merchandise, in the location. Wright and the Frinks operated the store until the mid-1940s, when it was sold to state legislator Sally Romanoff and her husband, William. The Romanoffs operated the store until 1953.[11][12][3]

Frink died on March 14, 1974, in Plainfield, Connecticut. She was 91.[8][13]

Political career

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Frink was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1920, the first election cycle in which women in Connecticut could vote for and hold state office, and was among the first five women to serve in the General Assembly.[14][15] A Republican, she served two terms as one of two representatives from the town of Canterbury and did not run for reelection in 1924. She was succeeded by Clinton E. Frink and Andrew T. J. Clark.[1] During her first term, Frink was a member of the Public Health and Safety Committee and clerk of the Legislative Expenses Committee.[4]

In 1952, Frink was again elected to represent Canterbury in the Connecticut House, and she served three terms. She did not run for reelection in 1958 and was succeeded by fellow Republicans Hans Hansen and Richard L. Trayner.[1][16][4]

Outside of her service in the House, Frink remained active in local politics and government. From 1923 to 1932, she worked as postmistress of Canterbury. From 1937 to 1960, she was Canterbury's town clerk.[5] In 1941, she also served as treasurer.[17] She was a member of the state and national Order of Women Legislators.[5]

Political positions and legislation

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In 1920, Frink commented that while she was not a suffragist, she had "the serious intent of proving that women can legislate honestly, fairly, and wisely" as a member of the House of Representatives.[3] In 1953, she remarked that she had "never really thought [suffrage] was necessary until it came".[5][16]

In 1955, Frink authored and introduced House Bill 1065, a bill intended to regulate the manufacture, sale, and transportation of realistic toy pistols in Connecticut. The bill sought to establish a fine of up to $100 for "any person who shall manufacture, distribute, transport, carry or sell toy pistols that are colored black, blue, silver or aluminum, or any person who shall paint toy pistols black, blue, silver or aluminum". J. & E. Stevens, then the second-largest business in Cromwell and one of the largest producers of toy pistols in the United States, was notably opposed to the bill, claiming that if the law were passed, the strain of making changes to their most popular products could force the plant to close and thus impact the jobs of 125 residents of Cromwell, Portland, and Middletown.[18] The bill also faced significant local opposition from both Republican and Democratic politicians and organizations, and Frink withdrew the bill on February 16, 1955, shortly before it was scheduled to be heard by the General Assembly's Judiciary Committee.[19]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "City/Town of Canterbury Historical Election Results". electionhistory.ct.gov. Connecticut Office of the Secretary of the State. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Lillian Spalding", United States census, 1900; Brooklyn, Windham, Connecticut; page 7A, line 4, enumeration district 510, Family History film 1240151. Retrieved on July 16, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Five Women Elected to Connecticut Assembly". The Boston Post. Newspapers.com. November 29, 1920. p. 11. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 "Mrs. Lillian M. S. Frink". The Day. Newspapers.com. January 26, 1923. p. 15. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Mrs. Frink Dies; Ex-Legislator". Hartford Courant. Newspapers.com. March 16, 1974. p. 2. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  6. ↑ "For First Time Brother and Sister Are Members of Same Legislature". Hartford Courant. Newspapers.com. May 6, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Clinton E. Frink". electionhistory.ct.gov. Connecticut Office of the Secretary of the State. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Lillian Mae Frink, 91, Dies; Woman Pioneer in Assembly". Connecticut Post. Newspapers.com. March 16, 1974. p. 7. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Fire Destroys Canterbury's Historic William Moore House". Hartford Courant. April 26, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  10. ↑ Barry, John (May 12, 2019). "Town to demolish remains of historic Canterbury house". The Repository. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  11. ↑ Lemanski, Miles (April 23, 2003). "Family unearths town history". The Bulletin. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved July 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Foley, John (March 5, 1988). "William Romanoff; his orchids were sent all over the world". The Day. Newspapers.com. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Mrs. Lillian Mae Frink". The New York Times. March 16, 1974. p. 34. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  14. ↑ Altimari, Daniela (March 28, 2021). "Five women pioneers were elected to the Connecticut legislature a century ago; here are their stories". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on June 10, 2026. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Women Legislators Like It So Far". The Boston Globe. Newspapers.com. January 16, 1921. p. 39. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  16. 1 2 "Pioneer Woman Legislator Again In General Assembly". Hartford Courant. Newspapers.com. January 16, 1953. p. 7. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Canterbury Now Is Without Taxes". Stamford Advocate. Newspapers.com. October 31, 1941. p. 9. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Democrats Voice Objections To Toy Pistol Bill". Hartford Courant. Newspapers.com. February 15, 1955. p. 37. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Opposition Brings Withdrawal of Toy Pistol Bill". Hartford Courant. Newspapers.com. February 17, 1955. p. 7. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
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