Lucy
Stone was
born in West Brookfield, Massachusetts on 13th August, 1818. At the
age of sixteen she became a teacher but after saving enough funds
she studied at Oberlin College. After graduating in 1847, Stone worked
as a lecturer for the American Anti-Slavery
Society. As well as speaking about the evils of slavery, Stone
also advocated woman's suffrage and
was responsible for recruiting Susan B.
Anthony and Julia Ward Howe to the
movement.
In 1855 Stone married Henry B. Blackwell, a man also active in the
anti-slavery movement. During the marriage
service they pledge that both partners would have absolutely equal
rights in marriage. In protest against the laws that discriminated
against women, Stone retained her own name.
In 1869 Stone, Julia Ward Howe and Josephine
Ruffin formed the American Woman Suffrage
Association (AWSA) in Boston. Less militant that the National
Woman Suffrage Association, the AWSA was only concerned with obtaining
the vote and did not campaign on other issues.
Over the next twenty years Stone edited the Woman's
Journal, a feminist weekly magazine, and wrote a large number
of woman's suffrage leaflets.
Her daughter, Alice Stone Blackwell, edited the Woman's
Journal for 35 years. Lucy's last words to her daughter were
"make the world better". Lucy Stone died in Dorchester,
Massachusetts, on 18th October, 1893.
(1)
In 1846 Lucy Stone told her family that she intended to campaign for
sexual equality. Her sister, Sarah Stone, wrote to her about this
decision on 28th November 1846.
I don't know as I was very much surprised at the
content of your letter. I have half-believed for a long time that
you were preparing for a public speaker, though I hoped I might be
mistaken. Not that I think I wrong in itself, but because I think
it an employment a great many grades below I think it an employment
a great many grades below, what I believe my only and dearly loved
sister qualified to engage in. I don't hardly know what you mean by
"laboring for the restoration and salvation of our sex"
but I conclude you mean a salvation from some thralldom imposed by
man. Now my sister I don't believe woman is groaning under half so
heavy a yoke of bondage as you imagine. I am sure I do not feel burdened
by anything man has laid upon me, be sure I can't vote, but what care
I for that, I would not if I could. I know there is a distinction
made in the wages of males and females when they perform the same
labor, this I think is unjust, and it is the only thing in which woman
is oppressed, that I know of, but women have no one to blame, but
themselves in this matter. If as a general thing they had qualified
themselves, as men have they would command the same price, but they
have not, and the few who have are obliged to suffer on that account.
I think my sister if you would spend the remainder of your
life in educating our sex, you would do afar greater good than you
will if you spend your noble energies in forever hurling "back
the insults and indignities that men heap upon us." This I am
sure you can never do "by the grace of God" for it is entirely
contrary to his spirit and teachings. My sister commit your ways unto
the Lord, and he will direct your steps.
Last updated: 7th January, 2002
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