This themed, composite collection contains information on Gwendolyn Sawyer Cherry, the first African-American woman elected to the Florida Legislature and Dade County's first black female attorney.

Born in Miami, Gwendolyn Sawyer Cherry earned three degrees between 1946 and 1965, while mothering two children. Her bachelor's degree and law degree were from Florida A&M University; she also earned a master's degree in science from New York University. After careers as a teacher and a lawyer, Cherry was elected to the Florida House in 1970. She introduced the Equal Rights Amendment there in 1972, chaired the state's committee for International Woman's Year in 1978, and co-authored Portraits in Color.

The collection contains autobiographies, biographies, a poster (donated by Gamma Delta Sigma chaper of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, located in Oversize Materials, Box 1, Folder 18), pictures, programs, obituaries, certificates, awards, newspaper articles, correspondence, resumes, and other materials.  See "Other URL" for more information.