Immediately below is the list of women who I know or believe worked in television before 1956. I have only been able to track down one or two of these women and any help contacting them or sending them to my web site would be appreciated.
This list is being perfected and expanded at this time. Please let me know if you know of someone who should be added to the list, even if she may not be interested in contributing or possible to contact.
Last First Entered TV Position Role as actress Station/Co/Show Name found through Birth YoD Searched Biography
Ahern Mary 1950s producer   Omnibus Missing in Action        
Alberg Mildred Freed 1951 producer   Hallmark Hall of Fame O'Dell Pioneers/Lowe Encyclopedia 1921    
Allen Evelyn   traffic director   WBRC WBRC Web site     possible address  
Allen Gracie   actress     Lowe Encyclopedia 1906 1964  
Allison Fran 1947 actress host Kukla, Fran & Ollie in Chicago O'Dell Pioneers/Lowe Encyclopedia 1924 1989    
Arden Eve 1952 actress Miss Brooks, teacher Our Miss Brooks O'Dell Pioneers/Lowe Encyclopedia       yes
Babbin Jacqueline   producer   Armstrong Circle Theatre Missing in Action Doc         mentioned in Schultz bio  
Bachner Annette 1947 director   NBC Missing in Action Doc      
Ball Lucille 1950 actress Housewife   O'Dell Pioneers        
Bankhead Tallulah 1954 actress     Lowe Encyclopedia 1903 1968   self-titled
Barker Mary Lou “Ma”   TD   Texas her web site     ImbdPro    
Barrie Wendy 1949 Hostess   The Wendy Barrie Show, NYC O'Dell Pioneers   1978  
Barrymore Ethel 1950s actress   Hollywood Opening Night, G.E. Theatre, Playhouse 90, Ethyl Barrymore Theatre Lowe Encyclopedia 1879 1959   Memories  
Beavers Louise** 1952 actress title role Beulah Lowe Encyclopedia 1902 1962  
Berg Gertrude 1948 actress/writer Mother The Goldbergs O'Dell Pioneers/Lowe Encyclopedia 1899 1966   Molly & Me  
Bonsignori Mili   editor   See it Now O'Dell Pioneers     ImbdPro
BROOKS MARTHA   talent   WRGB UM Library   1999      
Brown Vanessa 1949 panelist   Leave It to the Girls Lowe Encyclopedia      
Burk Clara 1948 TV Institute Panelist     May 1948 Televisor     ImbdPro    
Burnett Carol 1955 actress   NBC Paul Winchell's show, Colgate Comedy Hour O'Dell Pioneers/Lowe Encyclopedia 1933     Yes
Burr Ann 1951 actress Dr. Kate Murrow City Hospital Lowe Encyclopedia        
Bus Frances 1940s       Missing in Action Doc       mentioned in Swift bio
Byington Spring 1954 actress Lily Ruskin, widow December Bride Lowe Encyclopedia        
Charren Peggy 1949 film Editor   WPIX O'Dell Pioneers/Lowe Encyclopedia 1928 contacted  
Churchhill Sarah 1951 host   Hallmark Hall of Fame, Hallmark Television Playhouse          
Claman Barbara   production asst/casting director   Dupont Missing in Action Doc      
Claster Nancy 1953 host   Romper Room (from Baltimore) Lowe Encyclopedia   1997    
Coca Imogene 1939 Costar   Your Show of Shows O'Dell Pioneers/Lowe Encyclopedia 1908 2001 ImbdPro
Cooney Joan Ganz 1955 copywriter   CBS US Steel Hour O'Dell Pioneers/Lowe Encyclopedia 1930   ImbdPro    
Dandridge Ruby 1953 actress Oriole Beulah Lowe Encyclopedia 1900 1987  
Davis Ann B. 1955 actress Charmaine Schultz, Secretary The Bob Cummings Show Lowe Encyclopedia          
Davis Bette 1950 actress anthologies Ford Theatre, Schlitz Playhouse, Studio 57, etc Lowe Encyclopedia 1908 1989  
Davis Gail 1953 actress title role Annie Oakley, also appeared in The Gene Autry Show, The Lone Ranger, The Cisco Kid, The Range Rider and Death Valley Days Lowe Encyclopedia 1926 1997      
Davis Madelyn Pugh 1950 writer   I Love Lucy O'Dell Pioneers     ImbdPro
Dewhurst Colleen 1953 actress anthologies US Steel Hour, DuPont Show if the Week (recent work includes The New Twilight Zone and  Tennessee Williams South) Lowe Encyclopedia 1926 1991      
Dickerson Nancy 1954 Associate Producer   NBC Face the Nation O'Dell Pioneers/Lowe Encyclopedia       yes
Dinsdale Shirley 1949 talent puppeteer Kukla, Fran & Olli Lowe Encyclopedia 1927 1999    
Dougherty Marion 1940s Casting Director   Kraft Television Theatre Missing in Action Doc      
Dupuy Judy 1945 Televisor Columnist   CBS Television Show Business     ImbdPro    
Emerson Faye 1948 host   CBS Faye Emerson Show, NBC Fifteen with Faye, Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town, Faye and Skitch, I've Got a Secret, Masquerade O'Dell Pioneers   1993  
ENTENMANN GERTRUDE   Advertising copywriter and TV producer     UM Library   1998    
Evans Dale 1951 actress   The Roy Rogers Show (1951-1957) Lowe Encyclopedia 1912    
Francis Arlene 1950 TV regulars   What's My Line? (1950-1967), Blind Date (1949-1951), Fashion Magic (1950-1951), The Talent Patrol (1953-1955), Home (1954-1957) O'Dell Pioneers/Lowe Encyclopedia 1908 2001 ImbdPro    
Francis Arlene 1949 panelist   What’s My Line? O'Dell Pioneers      
Frederick Pauline 1948 Newswoman   ABC Pauline Frederick's Feature Story, NBC UN Reporter O'Dell Pioneers/Lowe Encyclopedia 1909 1990    
Fuldheim Dorothy 1947 TV Newswomen   WEWS, Cleveland O'Dell Pioneers   1989   yes
FUNNELL MILDRED   talent   Cleveland UM Library   1977    
Furness Betty 1945 actress   DuMont: Fashions, Coming and Becoming, Studio One, NewsGal, Meet Betty Furness, What's My Line, I've Got a Secret O'Dell Pioneers 1916 1994  
GARDE BETTY   actress     UM Library   1989    
Gish Lillian 1949 actress dramatic anthologies Philco TV Playhouse (1948-1953), Ford Theatre, Pulitzer Prize Playhouse, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, Kraft Television Theatre Lowe Encyclopedia 1896 1993  
Gordon Dorothy 1953       O'Dell Pioneers        
Graham Virginia   TV regulars     O'Dell Pioneers       yes
Hall Ann 1948 Film Editor   WFIL April 12, 1948 Televisor     ImbdPro    
Hanna Mrs. Eloise   Owner   WBRC WBRC Web site      
Harris JULIE   actress   Actor's Studio, Goodyear TV Playhouse, The PhilcoTV Playhouse, The Starlight Theatre Lowe Encyclopedia 1925        
Hart Kitty Carlisle   TV regulars     O'Dell Pioneers       yes
Havoc June 1954 actress Willa Dodger, lawyer Willy Lowe Encyclopedia        
Hennock Frieda 1948 FCC Commissioner     O'Dell Pioneers   1960  
Horwich Dr Frances 1952 host Miss Frances Wallers Ding Dong School O'Dell Pioneers/Lowe Encyclopedia   2001 (O'Dell or encyc says 1997) ImbdPro    
Howard Lisa   one of 1st female reporters   ABC O'Dell Pioneers/Lowe Encyclopedia 1930 1965 ImbdPro
Hunter Ann   Commentator   Chicago the Actor in Television     ImbdPro    
Ilot Pamela   executive producer   Lump Onto My Feet, Look Up and Live Lowe Encyclopedia 1935    
Jarvis Lucy 1955       O'Dell Pioneers        
Jenkins Phyllis Adams 1952 producer   Whats the problem NBC Missing in Action Doc   2004  
Kallen Lucille 1949 writer   Admiral broadway Review & Your Show of Shows O'Dell Pioneers   1999 ImbdPro    
Keane HELEN FAITH pre-1951 host   WABD UM Library      
KENT MONA   script writer   Capatin Video UM Library   1990      
Kilgallen Dorothy 1950 TV Newswomen/Quiz Show Panelist   What's My Line? (1950-1967) O'Dell Pioneers/ Lowe Encyclopedia 1913 1965   yes
Lawrence Lee   production aide, researcher and producer   NBC UM Library   2003    
Lewis Shari   puppetteer Lamb Chop   Lowe Encyclopedia      
Lucille  Ball   actress     O'Dell Pioneers        
Lupino Ida 1952     Four Star Playhouse O'Dell Pioneers      
Maber Ida Mae 1952 host   Dumont, Happy's Party Lowe Encyclopedia        
Mann-Winkler Rhoda   puppetteer   Howdy-Doody Missing in Action Doc      
McNellis Maggi 1949 moderator   Leav It to the Girls Lowe Encyclopedia        
Meadows Audrey   actress     O'Dell Pioneers       yes
nee Grover Virginia Raymond   PA & AD   Kraft Television Theatre Missing in Action Doc        
nee Lungren Lynn Sackler   PA   Omnibus Missing in Action Doc      
Neill Noel 1951 actress Lois Lane, reporter Superman Lowe Encyclopedia       *Also known as Phyllis Coates (changed name)
Nixon Agnes   started with Irna     O'Dell Pioneers      
Norris Fran   Kids Show Talent   Ohio UM Library   1988    
Parish Helen 1946 hosted   Hour Glass O'Dell Pioneers   1959 ImbdPro
Phillips Irna 1952 writer     O'Dell Pioneers   1974    
Pritchett Florence 1949 panelist   Leave It to the Girls Lowe Encyclopedia      
Rafferty Frances 1954 actress Ruth, daugter The December Bride Lowe Encyclopedia        
Randolf Amanda 1953 actress Louise, maid The Danny Thomas Show Lowe Encyclopedia      
Randolf Lillian 1955 actress Birdie, maid The Great Gildersleeve Lowe Encyclopedia        
Rountree Martha 1947 creator/moderator   Meet the Press, Leave It to the Girls O'Dell Pioneers/ Lowe Encyclopedia   1999 ImbdPro
RUNDVOLD INGA   talent   Inga's Angle and Let's Go Places. in DC UM Library   2004      
Savitch Jessica   TV Newswomen     O'Dell Pioneers       Yes
Schultz Barbara 1956 Story editor   Armstrong Circle Theatre Missing in Action Doc        
SIOUSSAT HELEN   executive   CBS Table Talk UM Library   1995  
Southern Ann 1953 actress Susie McNamara, Secretary Private Secretary Lowe Encyclopedia        
STEVENS JULIE 1951 Actress   Big Towne UM Library   1984  
Swift Lela 1950s directed   live TV dramas O'Dell Pioneers & MIA doc        
trotta Liz   TV Newswomen     O'Dell Pioneers       Yes
HARRIS-TUCHMAN FRAN WWII Watts pioneer     UM Library        
Vance Vivian 1951 actress Ethel mertz I Love Lucy Lowe Encyclopedia      
Verdugo Elena 1952     Meet Millie Lowe Encyclopedia        
Violet Ellen M 1950 writer   The Lottery Missing in Action Doc      
Waller Judith 1952 TVs 1st Educ Show     O'Dell Pioneers   1973    
Walters Barbara   TV Newswomen     O'Dell Pioneers      
White Betty 1949 actress   KLAC, LA Cali O'Dell Pioneers       Yes  
Wood Peggy 1949 actress?   Mama on CBS O'Dell Pioneers   1978 ImbdPro
Young Loretta 1956-1961 Host   Loretta Young Show Lowe Encyclopedia        
This list includes a smaller group of women whose names I;ve happened to come across that worked in TV after 1955.
L Trotta from 60’s
B Walters started in 63 O'Dell Pioneers
Nancy Dickerson, 60s O'Dell Pioneers
Elma Farnsworth helped husband Philo invent TV O'Dell Pioneers
Graham late 50s and early 70s O'Dell Pioneers
V Marmaduke late 1950’s on WGN TV O'Dell Pioneers
H Marmour, 1970s O'Dell Pioneers
M Sanders 1970s O'Dell Pioneers