Lucy Stone (1818-1893) was a prominent nineteenth century American woman 's rights advocate, suffragette, and abolitionist who frequently gave public lectures, wrote articles, and edited publications to support such causes. Throughout her career she conservatively campaigned for women 's equality and civil rights arguing that individuals must define themselves, their work, and influence on their own accounts rather than being prejudged on the basis of race or gender. A respected orator, Stone was known for her rhetoric which advocated that woman deserved opportunities for equal education, had the right to vote, keep their maiden names, their own property, and hold public office. Stone became nationally known for publically keeping her maiden name and property after her marriage into the prominent Blackwell family. In addition to which Stone advocated for the abolition of slavery arguing that the social and political subjugation of black Americans and women were similar. Stone was also a founder of the American Women Suffrage Association (AWSA) which contrasted itself from the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) led by Susan Anthony (1820-1906) and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) and helped in establishing the influential women 's rights publication, the Woman 's Journal. While less known than her counterparts, and often the focus of public debate during her lifetime, Stone nonetheless had an indelible influence upon the Woman 's Rights, Suffrage, and Abolitionist movements as one of the most prominent advocates of the nineteenth century. Born in West Brookfield Massachusetts on August 13, 1818, Lucy Stone was one of nine children to farmers Francis Stone and Hannah Matthews.
…show more content…
Following her father 's refusal to assist her or pay for her schooling, Lucy was employed as a teacher and domestic worker, at women 's wages, and attended Mount Holyoke Seminary (1839) and later Oberlin Collegiate Institute, a coeducational institution in Ohio (1843-1847). While at Oberlin, Stone was influenced by the advocacy of sisters Angelina (1805-1879) and Sarah Grimké (1792-1873) and became friends with Antoinette Brown (1825-1921), a supporter of women 's rights. During her time at school, Stone debated and developed her position on the inequalities in the United States which offered preferential treatment to men throughout the nation. In 1847, Stone became the first woman from Massachusetts to graduate, and soon began to give public speeches on the equality and rights of women as well as advocating for the abolition of slavery as a member of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. She argued a conservative approach to civil rights and proposed reforms to property ownership and divorce laws. Two years later, Stone was introduced to Susan Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton establishing a relationship which defined the women 's movement for decades. During that same year, along with Abbey Kelley Foster (1811-1887), and Paulina Wright Davis (1813-1876) she organized the Worcester Convention (1850) also known as the First Worcester Convention or the National Woman 's Rights Convention which is considered to be the beginning of the national women 's movement. Soon after, in 1853, Stone began a two year courtship with Henry Browne Blackwell (1825-1909) which in 1855 resulted in their marriage. Their union however, garnered national attention and criticism when it was publically announced that Stone had kept her maiden name and maintained control of her property arguing that to surrender either would lead her to lose independence and become subjugated. In 1857, Stone gave birth to her only child, daughter Alice Stone Blackwell (1857-1950) who would later attend Boston 's Chauncy Hall School and write a biography on her mother. During this period, in addition to caring for her family Stone remained an advocate arguing that since women lacked legislative recognition they were not obliged to pay property taxes. As a result, her possessions and property were confiscated and sold to pay her arrears. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Stone supported the passage of the …show more content…
Between 1887 and 1890, Stone aided in the merging of the AWSA with the NWSA, and eventually joined the executive committee of the unified woman 's rights organization the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). However, despite the amalgamation of the two organizations neither Anthony nor Stone 's friendship was ever fully renewed in confidence. On October 18, 1893, Stone passed away in Dorchester Massachusetts and subsequently had her remains
Following her father 's refusal to assist her or pay for her schooling, Lucy was employed as a teacher and domestic worker, at women 's wages, and attended Mount Holyoke Seminary (1839) and later Oberlin Collegiate Institute, a coeducational institution in Ohio (1843-1847). While at Oberlin, Stone was influenced by the advocacy of sisters Angelina (1805-1879) and Sarah Grimké (1792-1873) and became friends with Antoinette Brown (1825-1921), a supporter of women 's rights. During her time at school, Stone debated and developed her position on the inequalities in the United States which offered preferential treatment to men throughout the nation. In 1847, Stone became the first woman from Massachusetts to graduate, and soon began to give public speeches on the equality and rights of women as well as advocating for the abolition of slavery as a member of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. She argued a conservative approach to civil rights and proposed reforms to property ownership and divorce laws. Two years later, Stone was introduced to Susan Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton establishing a relationship which defined the women 's movement for decades. During that same year, along with Abbey Kelley Foster (1811-1887), and Paulina Wright Davis (1813-1876) she organized the Worcester Convention (1850) also known as the First Worcester Convention or the National Woman 's Rights Convention which is considered to be the beginning of the national women 's movement. Soon after, in 1853, Stone began a two year courtship with Henry Browne Blackwell (1825-1909) which in 1855 resulted in their marriage. Their union however, garnered national attention and criticism when it was publically announced that Stone had kept her maiden name and maintained control of her property arguing that to surrender either would lead her to lose independence and become subjugated. In 1857, Stone gave birth to her only child, daughter Alice Stone Blackwell (1857-1950) who would later attend Boston 's Chauncy Hall School and write a biography on her mother. During this period, in addition to caring for her family Stone remained an advocate arguing that since women lacked legislative recognition they were not obliged to pay property taxes. As a result, her possessions and property were confiscated and sold to pay her arrears. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Stone supported the passage of the …show more content…
Between 1887 and 1890, Stone aided in the merging of the AWSA with the NWSA, and eventually joined the executive committee of the unified woman 's rights organization the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). However, despite the amalgamation of the two organizations neither Anthony nor Stone 's friendship was ever fully renewed in confidence. On October 18, 1893, Stone passed away in Dorchester Massachusetts and subsequently had her remains