{"id":1384,"date":"2013-06-27T14:13:51","date_gmt":"2013-06-27T21:13:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/?page_id=1384"},"modified":"2013-07-17T13:38:33","modified_gmt":"2013-07-17T20:38:33","slug":"lucywatersphelpsresources","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/historic-interpretation\/lucy\/lucywatersphelpsresources\/","title":{"rendered":"Lucy Waters Phelps Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Lucy’s Metal Blue Bird Suffrage Sign<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The purpose of this resource page is to offer the resources found while “fleshing out” Lucy Waters Phelps and other Massachusetts’ suffragists to students and other researchers. \u00a0They provide a starting point and often generate as many questions as they answer. \u00a0The tin bluebird signs, shown above, were hung on the front pillars of Phelps’ home according to historian Paul Brosnihan.<\/span><\/p>\n

1898 January 6 Massachusetts Women’s Bimetallic Club membership notification from Edith Peters to Lucy Waters Phelps.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a> \u00a0Phelps Family Archives.<\/span><\/p>\n

1919 Lucy on state committee on Massachusetts Single Tax League<\/span>.<\/span> <\/a>Land & Freedom<\/em>, Vol. 18-19 of Single Tax Review (113). Phelps Family Archives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Correspondence of Lucy Waters Phelps<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Intellectual and Professional Development of Lucy Waters Phelps<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Obituaries<\/span><\/a><\/span>:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Lucy Phelps 1965 and Charles Phelps 1962<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Phelps Timeline<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Note that Lucy’s 1900 voter registration drive was to defeat an unpopular school committee member’s election.<\/span><\/p>\n

Waters genealogy<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

“Yours for Right, in Action as in Thought…”<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>2004 Fall WWHP Newsletter (6 & 7).<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong>PHELPS’ HOMESTEAD AT 650 CENTRAL TURNPIKE, WEST SUTTON, MASSACHUSETTS<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Phelp's<\/a>
Phelp’s \u00a0West Sutton home (Howe, late 1880s). Stevenson Collection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"1920s<\/a>
1920s view of 646 Central Turnpike, Phelps Family Archives.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"1894<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\"2003<\/a><\/p>\n

. View of Lucy’s autograph and stenciling in her bedroom (Board Moran, 2003).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Back<\/a>
Back view of 646 Central Turnpike [n.d.], Phelps Family Archives.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"2003<\/a>
Phelps’ homestead 650 Central Turnpike, Sutton showing road buildup over time (Board Moran, 2003).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"1920s<\/a>
1920s view of West Sutton, Phelps Family Archives.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The West Sutton Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Lucy Waters Phelps never owned a car.<\/strong> \u00a0She used the trolley to travel to Worcester and connect to the railways. \u00a0The system’s hub was Harrington Corner at the junction of Main, Front and pleasant Streets in downtown Worcester. \u00a0The Worcester & Millbury line began in 1892 and the Uxbridge & Blackstone Valley line in 1901. \u00a0By 1911, all of the suburban lines had been merged into the Worcester Consolidated. \u00a0Routes as of 1922, traveled from Jefferson & Bramanville (Millbury), Blackstone Valley–Woonsocket to Providence and Plummer’s Corner to Whitinsville. The Millbury line was abandoned in 1929 and was replaced by private and jitney bus lines. \u00a0 <\/span>For more information see: \u00a0Philip C. Becker’s “Worcester\u00a0Consolidated\u00a0Street Railway” and Carlson and Harding’s Worcester Trolleys Remembered<\/em> (Worcester Regional Transit Authority, 1985).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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TEACHER, WEST SUTTON SCHOOL<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 But bye-and-bye this little mind<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Shall stand \u2018mong great ones of mankind. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Excerpt from Phelps’ “A Child\u2019s Possessions” printed in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em>Coming Nation, <\/em>August 1900.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Report of the School Committee of the Town of Sutton for the year ending April 1, 1884<\/em> (East Douglas, MA: Charles J. \"Lucy'sBatcheller, 1884) we find the first time Lucy is reported with perfect attendance (her brother Charles was frequently listed prior to this date). \u00a0She would have been 7 years old \u00a0in the spring (aka summer) term. \u00a0Her teacher, Miss Mildred Sibley, reported over the 2.5 month term 31 scholars had an average attendance of 25.31. \u00a0Miss Sibley earned $28 per month.<\/p>\n

The following Report<\/em> reported Lucy had perfect attendance that winter term. \u00a0The teachers had to change each term because of sickness; 34 scholars had a 20.6 average attendance at a cost pf $7.66 per student. \u00a0Teacher’s wage increased to $32 or $34 \u00a0per month. \u00a0In 1886 West Sutton salary changed to $260 for 7.5 months (previously, Sutton had had the lowest wages in the area.)<\/p>\n

Lucy continued to have perfect attendance for the 3rd term of 1888 despite the interruption \u00a0in school due to an outbreak of scarlet fever and measles. \u00a0The first two terms in 1889 she did it again with M. S. Bixby as her teacher through 1890.<\/p>\n

The 1890 Report<\/em> said the West Sutton school house was moved for $200 onto land that cost $50 with a “good play ground and warm dry basement”. \u00a0The plan was to replace seats and desks.<\/p>\n

Did 15 year old Lucy go away to school after having perfect attendance during second term of 1892? Or did she go to Sutton High School? \u00a0Evidence of her first teaching assignment was the 1895\u00a0Report<\/em>\u00a0 said Miss Phelps taught at Harback school 1894-5 and paid $225 for 7.5 months with 32 students (27 average attendance). \u00a0She was paid $48 January 1, 1895 for teaching in District 13 (Torreyville) to replace Seddie Hodgdon; $8 for Wilkinsonville Primary on February 8 in District 8 (along with her uncle Jason Waters. \u00a0She was also paid $4 to care for West Sutton school June 9 and November 23. \u00a0Her brother Willie was paid $2 February 7. Lucy taught in West Sutton for 12 weeks in February of 1996 and then was at Harback with Miss Bessie M. Kimball (June and September, 1896 and February 1897). \u00a0Lucy was paid for 9 months with 24 students: \u00a0Spring Term March 28-June 17, Fall Term August 29- November 18 and Winter Term December 5 for 13 weeks including a week of vacation.<\/p>\n

\"1897
Identifications on back of photo: West Sutton School, December 1897
C.L. Hyde, artist, East Durham, NY, Negative No. 135
Joe Moore, Carrie Shaw (visiting), Addie Harback, Clarence Wallace, Ann Tucker, Everett Plummer, Sarah Limure [?], [Enfletie ?] Waters, Charles Plummer, Louise Putnam, Lucy W. Phelps (teacher). Noted that several students were absent. Phelps Family Archives.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\u00a0In 1898-1899 Lucy taught at West Sutton and Putnam Hill (traded places with Miss May M Larkin) earning $192 and $96 respectively and $5 for janitor’s service in June at West Sutton.\u00a0 \u00a0In 1899-1901 Lucy is not listed as teacher. \u00a0Jason Waters was teaching Vocal Education.<\/p>\n
\"West<\/a>
Undated class picture at West Sutton School. Phelps Family Archives.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"1914<\/a>
1914 December Ceremony, Phelps Family Archives.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"1927<\/a>
1927 West Sutton School, Phelps Family Archives.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"1897<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"1899\u00a0\u00a0\"1909<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\"class<\/a>
Undated class photo with Lucy at center rear. Phelps Family Archives.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"1903<\/a>\"1903<\/a><\/p>\n

\"1906
1906 West Sutton School. Phelps Family Archives.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From 1899 to 1905 there is no mention of Lucy as a teacher in the school committee reports. \u00a0In the 1905-1906 report Lucy and eleven other new teachers are hired. \u00a0“The cause lies in the geographical situation, the large school of all grades and low salary.” \u00a0Auburn and Sutton Have had combined teachers’ meetings for several years. \u00a0Lucy’s class had 28 registered\u00a0(22 students between ages 7-14 and youngest age 5 and oldest age 15) \u00a0with an average attendance of 21.8 for the 8 month 13.5 day school year.<\/p>\n

Lucy earned $288 in 1906-7 school year, $311 in 1907-8 , $324 in 1908-1909 and 1909-1910. \u00a0The Superintendent’s Report for 1911-1912 cites a real problem obtaining teachers. \u00a0“The town is fortunate in having a number of resident teachers who are willing to remain because of home ties, for less remuneration that they could obtain elsewhere.” \u00a0 \u00a0Lucy’s\u00a0uncle Jason Waters dies in 1908 and West Sutton librarian position is open. \u00a0Louise Sherwood replaces him for several years.<\/p>\n

Lucy’s salary fluctuates annually: \u00a0!912-13 $333 with only 16 students, 1913-14 despite a supposed salary increase, Lucy earned $258 plus $13.50 for janitorial services for 27 weeks.<\/p>\n

West Sutton Library burned 3 April 1915 with a loss of half the library books and furniture and was moved to the school house under Lucy’s supervision. \u00a0Lucy earned $360 for the 1914-15 school year ($350 and janitorial pay for 1915-16, $352 and janitorial pay for 1916-17. \u00a0The death of her mother (14 February 1918) surely affected Lucy’s 1917-18 school year. \u00a0She earned $350 and Eight Lots, Leland Hill and Putnam Hill student were moved to the Center and Wilkinsonville Schools. That year the School Committee Chair boldly stated on page 6 of the School Report, “I hope the time will come when the citizens of this town will awake to the true value of education in its fullest sense and to the fact that it is not how cheap we can run our schools that counts….Think with what pride the father watches the daughter grow into sweet, pure womanhood; think how the mother’s eyes shine as she looks at the baby boy grow into manhood and take his place of honor and trust before the world because they had the chance of an education that was not stunted because of the mere value of a dollar bill.” \u00a0At the end of his term, “…and I leave the office with malice towards none.”<\/p>\n

In 1918 Lucy’s pay was raised to $550!<\/p>\n

The earliest Sutton Report at the Worcester Public Library<\/span><\/a><\/span> was The Annual Reports of the Town Officers of the Town of Sutton<\/i> for the year ending Dec 21, 1921 <\/i>(Millbury Journal Printers, Millbury, 1922).\u00a0\u00a0 In the \u201cReport of School Committee\u201d (page 73) <\/b>Lucy Waters Phelps was paid $450 and Mrs. Evelyn (Charles A.) Plummer was paid $300 in District 1, West Sutton School.\u00a0 In 1920 there were 17 students and in 1921 there were 25 in grades 1-7. Phelps resigned as Librarian in West Sutton that September and Plummer took over.\u00a0 The Marble Fund was used for books and the Woman\u2019s Education Association of MA sent about 40 books in their traveling library.\u00a0 Phelps is not listed as a teacher in the 1922 Annual Report.<\/p>\n

There is also coming to be a more serious attitude toward the work of the school.\u00a0 It must be admitted that for some time past the attitude of many of our pupils toward real work in the high school was to shirk as much of it as possible with expectation that somehow deficiencies would be patched up at the end. \u00a0<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Henry H. Pratt, Sutton Superintendent of Schools<\/span><\/p>\n

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JOURNALIST<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Phelps began writing letters to the editor and then articles in The<\/em>\u00a0Truth Seeker,<\/em>\u00a0a journal begun in 1873 and now the world’s oldest Freethought publication. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Its masthead read,\u00a0<\/span>Devoted to: science, morals, free thought, free discussions, liberalism,\u00a0sexual<\/span>\u00a0equality, labor reform, progression, free education and whatever tends to elevate and emancipate the human race. \u00a0Opposed to: priestcraft, ecclesiasticism, dogmas, creeds, false<\/span> theology, superstition, bigotry, ignorance, monopolies, aristocracies, privileged classes, tyranny, oppression, and everything that degrades or burdens mankind mentally or\u00a0physically<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

See\u00a0<\/span>Intellectual and Professional Development of Lucy Waters Phelps<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0for her work with the American Press Writers Association.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"1887-8<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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From Phelps Family Archives\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"1888<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo from Stevenson Collection is an apt view of her 1887 and 1888 articles in The Truth Seeker.<\/em><\/p>\n

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1892 <\/span><\/a><\/span>The Truth Seeke<\/span>r<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/strong>articles by Lucy Waters Phelps\u00a0from her scrapbook<\/span>,\u00a0Phelps Family Archives.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"1894<\/a>
1894 Nov 12 Lucy Waters Phelps, Phelps Family Archives<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1894 Liberal Correspondence Club for Young People<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/strong><\/span>advertised in The Truth Seeker (Walter C. Clark, Benjamin Phillips, Edwin A. and M. Eloise Sailor, et. al.). \u00a0Phelps Family Archives.<\/p>\n

1898-9 The Blue Grass Blade<\/em> and 1900 <\/span><\/span>The Coming Nation<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/strong>articles by Lucy Waters Phelps\u00a0from her scrapbook<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, Phelps Family Archives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1900 The Truth Seeker<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0articles by Lucy Waters Phelps<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>from her scrapbook<\/span>,\u00a0P<\/span>helps Family Archives.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1900 March 11, “She Wipes Up the Earth with Cardinal Gibbons”<\/span><\/strong><\/span>,<\/a>\u00a0The Truth Seeker<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0by Lucy Waters Phelps\u00a0from her scrapbook,\u00a0Phelps Family Archives.<\/p>\n

Invitation to American Press Writers Association [ca. 1901]<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a>,<\/span>\u00a0Lucy Waters Phelps scrapbook<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>,\u00a0Phelps Family Archives.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1902 “The Woman’s Rights Department”,<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span> Our Home Rights<\/em>,<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Lucy Waters Phelps scrapbook,\u00a0Phelps Family Archives.<\/span><\/p>\n

1906 buys a Blickensderfer typewriter:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"1908<\/a><\/p>\n

\"1910<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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1915 The Melting Pot<\/em> and 1917 The Omaha Daily News<\/em> articles by Lucy Waters Phelps <\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong>from her scrapbook. \u00a0The scrapbook is \u00a0\u00a0an old catalog in the Phelps Family Archives.<\/span><\/p>\n

1915 July 24, “Department of Economics”, The Truth Seeker.<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Lucy Waters Phelps scrapbook,\u00a0Phelps Family Archives.<\/span><\/p>\n

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SUTTON SUFFRAGIST<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/em> \u00a0I imagine bright prospects ahead caused by the scattered bright lights<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0already flaming here and there among the feminine element of the universe. \u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Diary entry 6 September 1902<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"1911<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"Lucy<\/a><\/p>\n

On left 1911 Lucy stands on Central Turnpike in front of her home in West Sutton, MA and on right she is ready to join\u00a0the Worcester Suffrage Parade 30 Oct 1914 and\/or\u00a0the Boston Suffrage Parade 16 Oct 1915<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/strong> \u00a0From Phelps Family Archives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many of the Worcester County Woman’s Righters who attended the 1850 first National Woman’s Rights Convention kept the cause alive and enlivened the next generation by calling for a Woman Suffrage Convention in the Worcester Evening Gazette on 6 January 1870.<\/p>\n

\"1870<\/a><\/p>\n

Lucy was greatly influenced by her Uncle Jason Waters,\u00a0Esq.\u00a0 (9 October 1824-13 July 1908). \u00a0He served in the state legislature from 1863-1864. \u00a0Before Lucy’s birth, Jason subscribed to\u00a0The Revolution<\/em>\u00a0in 1868, may have joined the National Woman’s Suffrage Association and\u00a0corresponded with Susan B. Anthony.<\/p>\n

1870 Susan B. Anthony letter to Jason Waters<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>National Woman’s Suffrage Association. Phelps Family Archives.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1873 Susan B. Anthony Letter to Jason Waters<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0National Woman’s Suffrage Association. Phelps Family Archives.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1874 Susan B. Anthony Letter to Jason Waters<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>N<\/span>ational<\/span> Woman’s Suffrage Association. Phelps Family Archives.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Suffrage<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\"1915<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\"1915<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\"NWSA<\/a><\/p>\n

The following excerpt \u00a0summarizes Lucy as a suffragist is from pages 8-10 of Rebecca Rhoades’ “Lucy Waters Phelps: Profile of a Turn of the Century Woman” submitted for a college course on May 2, 1979. \u00a0Rebecca’s mother Barbara Brinks Rhoades owns the Phelps Family Archives. \u00a0Barbara’s mother is shown below with with Lucy’s mother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"1915<\/a>
Julia Matilda Waters Phelps, aged 74, with Mary Harris Putnam October 1915, Phelps Family Archives.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“In the years 1911 to 1913, [Lucy Waters Phelps] received many appeals for contributions to the Massachusetts Women’s Suffrage Association (MWSA) and is thanked in turn for her ‘assistance and interests.’ \u00a0She subscribed to the\u00a0 Woman’s Journal<\/span>, the voice of the MWSA, and received invitations to suffrage meeting in New York. \u00a0Her activity within the movement at this time seemed to have consisted of contacting prominent citizens in her area to gain their support for women’s suffrage.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“The ‘Votes for Women’ campaign for the referendum to amend the Massachusetts Constitution in 1915 was well underway in early 1914. \u00a0The Massachusetts’ suffragists realized that only by vigorous and persistent work would they win a victory for equal franchise after so many previous deals. \u00a0Lucy began to correspond with the Worcester Equal Franchise Club (WEFC) and soon became a member….Lucy did as much foot work in the Sutton area as her free time allowed, but was generally unable to attend meetings in Worcester during the week. \u00a0There were many devoted suffragists in that town, and they would write, ‘we are going to raid every town in the State,’ and ‘the D.A.R.’s are apt to be pretty reactionary–perhaps their continually looking back to the Revolution prevents the proper consideration of the present and future….'”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Lucy became chairman of the Sutton district of the WEFC and as such conducted the enrollment of known suffrage sympathizers by asking them to sign cards. \u00a0One of her friends [Flora Dudley of Millbury remarked], ‘It is hardest work for me to ask men to sign the card and I hope to get more courage.’ \u00a0Obviously, the task of convincing citizens of Sutton to favor women’s suffrage was not as easy one. \u00a0Over a nine month period; only twenty-eight men and thirty-six women (less than half of all who were contacted) agreed to pledge their support by signing the enrollment cards. \u00a0The men she asked to preside over an open air meeting were all less than enthusiastic, replying with comments such as ‘if the woman does so wish, it will be granted.'”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"1915<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\"1916<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"Women<\/a><\/p>\n

FEARS OF WOMEN GAINING POWER NOT IMMEDIATELY REALIZED<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are 53,000 more adult women than men in Massachusetts.\u00a0 Do you wish to turn over your political parties and entire government to female majorities?\u00a0 Think this over, then vote No! E.L.K.” (Undated-Worcester paper in the Worcester Historical Society Collection)<\/p>\n

Articles in the Woman\u2019s Suffrage Folder in Pamphlet File\u00a0Worcester Historical Museum<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0show that the Massachusetts was ready to welcome female voters. \u00a0The Massachusetts’ legislature had already passed an act to take effect upon adoption of the proposed constitutional amendment 2 June 1920 and\u00a0Worcester women went to polls in large numbers on 7 September 1920 \u00a0The\u00a0Worcester Telegram<\/em>\u00a0of that date reported \u201cmany Women[sic] approached the polling places gingerly, feeling very green about the business of voting…They reportedly voted in larger numbers than the men in proportion to numbers registered.\u00a0 About 8,000 women were eligible to vote and it was estimated that up to 3,000 of them did so.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0No women\u2019s vote\u2014as such\u2014materialized in the nation after victory.\u00a0\u201cThe women were merely seeking independence, not organized power.\u201d<\/p>\n

Camilla Whitcomb’s obituary is in this folder (1860-1949) as a champion of women\u2019s rights in Worcester.<\/p>\n

Dorothea Dix\u00a0was cited in an undated letter to editor by\u00a0Mrs. S. B. Woodward\u00a0in this folder: \u00a0\u201cWomen should vote, because every question of politics affects the women in the home.\u00a0 Out of the woman\u2019s housekeeping allowance which has not increased, come the increased profits of the beef trust and the milk trust and the sugar trust and the canned goods trust.\u00a0 If women had a say-so in naming the laws, they would have long ago, clipped the wings of the predatory combinations that have increased the cost of living so greatly.\u201d<\/p>\n

1885 Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0letter to Lucy Waters Phelps.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Phelps Family Archives.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1898\u00a0<\/span>Women of Sutton Register to VOTE<\/span><\/a>.<\/span> <\/span><\/strong>The General Register of Voters, Vol. 2.<\/span><\/span><\/span> at<\/span>\u00a0Sutton Town Hall, Sutton, MA.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1914 November 2 letter from Wenona Osborne Pinkham to Lucy Waters Phelps<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/strong> Phelps Family Archives,<\/p>\n

1915 Honoring Lucy Stone<\/span><\/a>\u00a0Pilgrimage<\/span>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. Phelps Family Archives.<\/p>\n

1915 Bi-weekly MWSA Campaign Bulletins.<\/span><\/strong><\/span> \u00a0May 20 Bulletin<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span> from the Massachusetts Woman’s Suffrage Association Executive Board decides “to co-operate in every way with the Worcester League in making the 65th anniversary of the first Woman’s Rights Convention ever held in the United States…a tremendously significant event in our campaign….Its significance may be so broad as to sway the vote of the state–coming as it does 10 days before election.” \u00a0June 26 Bulletin<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bernette E. Bachelor Obituary<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>,\u00a0Woman\u2019s Suffrage Folder in Pamphlet File\u00a0Worcester Historical Museum<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Grenfell<\/span><\/a>, Helen.\u00a0“The Ballot and the Schools” [ca. 1913]<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association,\u00a0Phelps Family Archives.<\/p>\n

Sarah H. Henshaw Obituary<\/span><\/a><\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0Woman\u2019s Suffrage Folder in Pamphlet File\u00a0Worcester Historical Museum<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hopkins, Mary Alden. “Woman’s Place” [n.d.]<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. Phelps Family Archives.<\/p>\n

Marot, E. F. “Two Suffrage Songs”<\/span><\/strong><\/span>, 1913 (sold for a nickle).\u00a0Phelps Family Archives.<\/p>\n

National Woman Suffrage Association [n.d.]<\/span><\/a><\/span>,\u00a0Phelps Family Archives.<\/p>\n

“R. H. J. Makes Plea for Ballot”.<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span> The Worcester Telegram<\/em> [n.d.]. Phelps Family Archives.<\/p>\n

Stone Blackwell, Alice.\u00a0“Some Massachusetts Laws”\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span>[n.d.]<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Women’s Journal.<\/em>\u00a0Phelps Family Archives.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Stone Blackwell, Alice.<\/strong>“The Threefold Menace”l [n.d.]\u00a0page 1<\/span><\/a>;\u00a0page 2<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Women’s Journal.<\/em>\u00a0Phelps Family Archives.<\/p>\n

“‘Suffragette City<\/span><\/a>‘:\u00a0Winning the Vote for Women in Worcester”<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/strong> \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/span>2004 Fall WWHP Newsletter<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0(3).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“The Test of Experiment<\/span><\/a>”\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span>pamphlet<\/span>.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>MWSA and Woman’s Journal<\/em>.\u00a0Phelps Family Archives.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Woman Citizen <\/em><\/strong><\/span>excerpts:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>1917 April 11<\/span><\/a><\/span>; 1920 October 2<\/span><\/a><\/span>; 1922 April 22<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/strong> \u00a0Phelps Family Archives. \u00a0<\/span><\/span>The <\/b>Woman Citizen<\/em>,<\/b>\u00a0 came into existence as a result of a substantial bequest from Mrs. Frank Leslie to\u00a0Carrie Chapman Catt<\/span>, the head of the\u00a0National American Woman Suffrage Association<\/span><\/span>. \u00a0According to the terms of the bequest, the money was to be used to further the cause of\u00a0woman suffrage. \u00a0Accordingly, Catt founded\u00a0The Woman Citizen<\/em>\u00a0in 1917 by merging three suffrage journals, the\u00a0Woman\u2019s Journal<\/em>, the\u00a0National Suffrage News<\/em>, and\u00a0Woman Voter<\/em>.<\/span>\u00a0Every congressman was added to the mailing list free of charge.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Worcester Equal Franchise Club [ca. 1915]<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span>,\u00a0Worcester Room,\u00a0Worcester Public Library.<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0 “The WEFC is the immediate predecessor of the League of Women Voters in Worcester. \u00a0The WEFC was started in the fall of 1912 by a group of young women who met at the Trowbridge Street home of Harriette Merrifield Forbes, (mother of Esther Forbes). \u00a0They were outraged after women had been shut out of a recent Theodore Roosevelt speech at Mechanics Hall because they were non-voters, while a group of college men had been allowed tin because they were considered future voters. \u00a0After the defeat of a Massachusetts woman suffrage proposal (state question), the WEFC joined the nation-wide efforts of Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the NAWSA (National American Woman’s Suffrage Association), to push for an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. \u00a0Beginning in 1916 they kept a minute book which is now at the Worcester Historical Museum. \u00a0After the 19th amendment was passed and looked like it was headed for ratification, Lucy Stone’s daughter Alice Blackwell make a special visit to the WEFC and urged them to transform themselves into a local branch of the new non-partisan group: The League of Women Voters (which they did).” \u00a0Lisa Connelly Cook<\/span><\/p>\n

Worcester Suffrage League<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(a.k.a. Woman Suffrage Club, Worcester Woman Suffrage League, Equal Franchise Club) listings in Worcester City Directories<\/em>,1887-1915.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Worcester Suffrage Organizations <\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span>in Charles Nutt’s History of Worcester and its People, Vol. I<\/em>. \u00a0New York City: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1919 (499-503) eBook.<\/p>\n

SUTTON, MASSACHUSETTS<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"historyoftownofs00beneiala_0195\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This image links to the original version of the History of the Town of Sutton, Massachusetts<\/em> printed in 1878. \u00a0It has been reprinted in 1966 and 1970 with additions by Lucy Waters Phelps.<\/p>\n

1870 MAPS OF SUTTON<\/span><\/p>\n

\"1870<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"1870\"1870<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\"1870<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The purpose of this resource page is to offer the resources found while “fleshing out” Lucy Waters Phelps and other Massachusetts’ suffragists to students and other researchers. \u00a0They provide a starting point and often generate as many questions as they answer. \u00a0The tin bluebird signs, shown above, were hung on the front pillars […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":14,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1384"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1384"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1384\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1388,"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1384\/revisions\/1388"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}