Helen Elizabeth Brown collection

Helen Elizabeth Brown was born in Indiana, but spent most of her childhood in Fort Worth, Texas. Directly after completing high school, she went to work for the Fort Worth Star - Telegram. In lieu of the typical assignments given to female reporters, i.e, the society page, she secured assignments covering the police court circuit, city hall, and local politics. When finances allowed, she entered Barnard College. After graduation, she returned to Fort Worth and resumed her work as a reporter. In 1922, she moved to Baltimore to accept a position on the editorial staff of the Baltimore Post. At the Post she covered the courthouse, marking the first time a woman held that position.

She then attended the University of Maryland Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1926. In 1927, she formed the first organization for women lawyers in Maryland, and in 1928 founded the Business and Professional Woman's Council. In the early 1930s, Helen Brown lead the struggle to give Maryland women jury rights. As a leader and lawyer, Miss Brown fought all legislative attempts to limit the hours women were allowed to work. She has served as Assistant City Solicitor, Judge of the Housing Court in Baltimore, and instructor of a course in domestic relations at the University of Baltimore Law School.