Lucy Stone
various, largely ca. 1870 to 1887
Lucy Stone Archive of Letters and Ephemera w/ Suffrage Content
Archive

Lucy Stone archive of letters and ephemera, with related family correspondence and photographs. Eleven letters by Stone, spanning the years 1870 to 1887, mostly to her nephew Luther Stone, including eight original transmittal covers. Content is largely familial news, but the majority make mention of her suffrage work. Stone's sensibilities about the disadvantages women faced, including lack of equality in pay and division of labor in the home is evident in the advice she frequently imparts to Luther. Also present is a leaflet titled, "Prof. Carruth on Suffrage," and an uncut printing of the "Australian Ballot Law" passed in Massachusetts in 1889. Together with additional family letters, largely from Luther Stone to his wife Kate, and correspondence by later descendants. In all, more than 50 letters. Also present are many photographs from the early 1900s and a CDV of John Wilkes Booth. Overall condition is very good.

During the 1870s and 1880s (the years in which most of the letters are written) Lucy Stone was a steady organizational force behind the American woman suffrage movement. She helped to found the American Woman Suffrage Association in 1869, and focused on building broad, state by state support for voting rights rather than pursuing confrontational national tests of the law. From 1870 onward she edited and published "The Woman's Journal," the leading suffrage newspaper of its day, using it to report campaigns, shape strategy, and keep activists connected across the country. Stone tirelessly lectured, organized state suffrage societies, and promoted partial voting rights, such as school and municipal suffrage, as stepping stones toward full enfranchisement. These letters reflect her tireless work and embody her efforts to improve the lives of women.

Of note:

Lucy Stone ALS on "The Woman's Journal" letterhead. 2pp, 4.875" x 8"; Boston; October 24, 1870. Stone gives advice to her young nephew Luther, and compares her lot as a woman to his prospects: "…I have not forgotten how hard I found it when I had not a dollar, and only such pay as women get. But I mastered it, and so will you, for you can get more dollars for one day's work than I could get for a week…" Signed, "Lucy Stone."

Brief ALS signed, "Aunt Lucy" dated October 27, [1870] transmitting a letter from Charles Spafford with information about tuition and room and board at the University (presumably Cornell) at Ithaca. Spafford writes: "I might try to get the students to subscribe for your ‘Woman's Journal'"

Lucy Stone ALS on American Woman Suffrage Association letterhead. 4pp, 5" x 8.25"; Dorchester, Massachusetts; August 18, 1886. A long letter to her nephew Luther furtively asking that he meet his wife in Chicago to help her make the long journey to Nebraska: "She is very large and looks as though she might have twins – But she seems well and courageous. Nevertheless, a long, jolting, shaking ride with three little children to be lifted on an doff the seats 50 times a day…I do not think a man can understand it as a woman does. But it is better to keep Kate for the mother of her children than to risk bringing the premature birth…" She adds, "I shall send you the Woman's Journal and may be some other papers your will need to keep the run of things. I especially hope you will always be outspoken for Equal rights for women. Every voice in Nebraska on that side counts more than it does here." Signed, "Lucy Stone."

Henry Blackwell ALS on "The Woman's Journal" letterhead to Kate Stone. 2pp, 5" x 8.125"; Boston, Massachusetts; August 20, 1886. Blackwell sends details of the costs and accommodations for travel by rail to Chicago, and then to Missouri Bluffs. Signed, "Henry B. Blackwell."

Lucy Stone ALS on American Woman Suffrage Association letterhead. 4pp, 5" x 8.25"; Boston, Massachusetts; November 21, 1886. Great content letter to her nephew Luther, asking that he help grow support for suffrage in Nebraska: "I have had the Woman's Journal sent to you and it is paid for for a year. If you can get any body to take it, who will pay you $2.50 which is the regular price for a year, you may send us $1.50 and keep the other dollar for your commission. We will do the same rate for six months subscribers. We now offer Nov. and Dec. for 25 cts. That is on trial that they may see how they like it…I am glad you will try to make suffragists by the help of leaflets. They will do a great deal of good and Nebraska has need enough of light in the question. I will send you some for your distributions…We had great many meetings west, and found many clergymen and editors warmly on our side…" Signed, "Lucy Stone."

Lucy Stone ALS on Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association letterhead. 2pp, 5.5" x 8.5"; Boston; February 18, 1887. Stone writes to her nephew Luther and suggests he contact Charles Robinson, who has become Superintendent of the "Haskell Institute, which is a school for Indian children" and includes news that "this winter Kansas has passed the bill for municipal suffrage for women." Signed, Lucy Stone." Partial tear at the top left of the sheet, with no loss of text.

Lucy Stone ALS on a Ward 16 Republican Ticket with Women Voters; Candidates for School Committee ballot. Both sides of a printed ballot used for either the 1883 or 1884 Boston elections, 4.75" x 12.625"; Thomasville, Georgia; March 30, 1887. A letter to Luther and Kate Stone. During this time, Stone was traveling through the South on speaking tour to promote and organize in support of women's suffrage. In part: "I wrote to Mr. Webb to see if he could not interest the women of the farmer's club in suffrage. When he replied, he said among other things that you were going to build a house this spring…The Kansas women are to vote Apr. 6th for city and town officers! It is a great step gained!" In 1887 Kansas granted women the right to vote in municipal elections, though not yet in state or national elections. Kansas became a key example for suffragists like Stone when arguing that women's municipal voting was both practical and beneficial. Signed, "Lucy Stone" perpendicularly along the left margin of the letter.

Lucy Stone ALS on American Woman Suffrage Association letterhead. 2pp, 5" x 8.25"; Dorchester, Massachusetts; November 30, 1887. Stone writes to her brother Frank and notes her work on "The Woman's Journal." In part: "…We are all busy. The Journal and the B[?] crowd us all the time. The Journal alone is too much. I feel it so – but still we have to pull on till women get their rights. I wish the Grangers and the farmers clubs would take hold…" Signed, "L. Stone."

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