Martha Richards Conley holds a significant place in the history of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, paving the way for future generations of Black women in the legal profession. Graduating from Pitt Law in 1971, Conley broke through significant racial and gender barriers in legal education as the first African American woman to earn a degree from Pitt Law, setting a precedent for future generations of Black women in the profession.
She comes from a distinguished family with a legacy spanning three centuries. In the late 19th and early 20th-century, Conley’s great-grandfather, J.T. Writt, was a prominent civic and business leader in Pittsburgh. Operating the Writt Catering Parlor from the historic Burke Building—this Greek Revival edifice is a Pittsburgh landmark that survived the great fire of 1845, making its Pittsburgh’s oldest remaining structure that still stands today.—and later in the Homewood neighborhood on Susquehanna Street, Mr. Writt was renowned for his catering business, serving a diverse clientele of both Black and White patrons. Throughout the early 1900s, the Writts were influential in civic life, actively participating in organizations such as the Urban League, the Centre Avenue YMCA, and the Aurora Reading Club. The merger of the Richards, Writt, and notably the Woodson families carried these achievements into the modern era.
Conley’s achievements reflect the distinguished lineage from which she comes. After her graduation from Waynesburg University, she attended law school at the University of Pittsburgh, where she served as a member of the law review. In 1971, she made history as the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, breaking through a significant racial and gender barrier. Her groundbreaking success paved the way for many others, including Sandra Jordan, a 1979 Pitt Law alum who became the first tenured Black female full professor at Pitt Law.
With her undergraduate degree from Waynesburg University and a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Conley achieved another significant milestone in 1972 by becoming the first Black woman admitted to the Allegheny County bar. She was Pittsburgh’s first Black female practicing attorney, specializing in workers' compensation, black lung disease law, and business law. Today, among the 200 Black attorneys and judges in the Western Pennsylvania region, many are women. Additionally, Black women have attained leadership positions in both the Allegheny County Bar Association and the Homer S. Brown Law Association, Pittsburgh’s Black bar organization.
In her legal career, she advanced to the role of Senior General Attorney at United States Steel before retiring. Though she is retired from the steel industry, she remains deeply committed to addressing social issues. Currently, she dedicates her time to efforts aimed at reducing the incarceration rates of Black men. As the chair of Pittsburgh's chapter of Pennsylvania’s Alternative to the Death Penalty movement, she continues to advocate for preserving lives and advancing justice.
Conley has been an active member of various civic organizations, including the historic Aurora Reading Club and Pittsburgh Pioneers Club. She has also played a crucial role in advocating for greater recognition of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 at the Heinz History Center of Western Pennsylvania, increasing the recognition its role in dismantling official American Jim Crow segregation. Martha's contributions have been recognized by numerous awards and accolades she has received. In 2017, she was honored with the Marjorie Matson Woman of the Year Award by the Pitt Law Women's Association, recognizing her outstanding achievements as a lawyer. Additionally, the University of Pittsburgh African American Alumni Council of the Pitt Alumni Association named her a distinguished alumna in the same year.
Martha Richards Conley’s remarkable career and enduring legacy continue to inspire and pave the way for future generations of legal professionals and activists.