Some+Nineteenth-Century+BQC+Feminists

Original Author: Jessica Hutchinson, ENG 299 FL10 Revision Author:
 * Women’s Clubs and Organizations of Antebellum and Post-bellum Quad Cities**

Back in the Antebellum and Post-bellum periods or 1750-1950 women’s organizations and clubs were emerging nationally. As well as, in the area that is now known as the Quad Cities. The women who were largely involved in these organizations and clubs were feminists. Of course back then feminists was not a term used to describe strong minded women. Through research it was discovered that two movements in history had women as prominent movers and shakers. They were the Temperance Movement and the Suffrage Movement. Within the Temperance Movement there were four organizations apparently involved: the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), the Young Women’s Christian Temperance Union (YWCTU), The Moline Total Abstinence League, and The Temperance Relief Association. One obviously had a religious influence while the others did not. Additionally, there were other organizations in practice in this period. One was the Women’s Club of Moline. In general women’s organizations in the Antebellum and Post-bellum periods were designed to elicit change in society. These changes were seen to improve society, as well as improve the quality of life for not just women, but for men and children too. In addition, these organizations provided an opportunity for women to in a sense step out of their usual spheres. The organizations listed above that women were involved in will be addressed below.

**Temperance Movement Organizations** There were four organizations affiliated with Temperance in the area that is now known as the Quad Cities. They were the WCTU, the YWCTU, The Moline Total Abstinence League, and The Temperance Relief Association. The names of women involved in the WCTU, the YWCTU, The Moline Total Abstinence League, and The Temperance Relief Association were discovered. In addition, the Rock Island County Historical Society holds newspaper clippings that describe what the Temperance Movement was and when meetings were held for the WCTU, the YWCTU, The Moline Total Abstinence League, and The Temperance Relief Association. Temperance, as a reminder, was a movement in which individuals pressured society to totally abstain from alcohol (Rock Island County Historical Society). But it was more than that. “Temperance may be defined as: Moderation in all things healthful; Total abstinence from all things harmful” (www.wctu.org). The WCTU was developed in 1874. It was/is the longest running non-sectarian women’s association in the world. The first President of the organization was Annie Wittenmyer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperance_Movement). It was managed by means of women who were disturbed regarding the devastating influence of liquor and the troubles it was producing in their lives with their families and within the world they lived in ( [|www.wctu.org] ). The WCTU was concerned about many social reform matters besides alcohol, such as “labor, prostitution, public health, sanitation, and international peace” ( [] ). The women who participated in this organization assembled in places of worship to implore God’s intervention through prayer, followed by marches to bars to demand owners to shut down their businesses.

The women of the WCTU elected complete abstinence from liquor all together in their lives and assumed this as the meaning of temperance ( [|www.wctu.org] ). In order to successfully combat the evils of liquor the WCTU founded a Department of Scientific Temperance Instruction which was taught in schools and colleges. Mary Hunt was the National Superintendent and she deemed that voters “must first be convinced that alcohol and kindered narcotics are by nature outlaws, before they [the voters] will outlaw them [alcohol and similar types of drink]” ( [] ). The names of the women who were members of the WCTU are as follows: Mrs. W. K. Sloan, Mrs. P. S. McGlynn, Mrs. Jane Attkinson, Mrs. E. S. Crane, Mrs. J. C. Wright, Mrs. B. H. Quick, Mrs. L. D. Bearby, Mrs. M. E. Metzgar, Mrs. J. K. Groom, Mrs. Mattie Taylor, Mrs. Humphreys, Mrs. J. F. Huntoon, Mrs. P. R. Brown, Mrs. Dunlap, H. L. Bullen, W. A. Jones, Rev. C. D. Moore, Cora Griffin, Annie M. Holbrook, J. N. Stephens, Mrs. M. M. Hubbard, Mrs. C. L. Johnston, Mrs. R. Cederberg, Mrs. R. Nye, Mrs. Charles Ogden, Mrs. A. E. Montgomery, Mrs. Allie Lancashire, Mrs. M. E. Ells, Mrs. W. F. Eastman, Mrs. M. E. Stewart, Mrs. J. e. Gustus, Mrs. Hayes Wright, Mrs. Scinner, Mrs. Manny, Mrs. Wicks, Mrs. Cox, Mrs. Saams, and Mrs. Hultin (Rock Island County Historical Society). In addition a Young Women Christian Temperance Union (Y. W. C. T. U.) existed. This organization was affiliated with the WCTU. The members of this organization were young women who, like their mothers and other adult females in their lives, were advocates for Temperance. The names of the young women who were members of this organization are as follows: Amy Huey, Grace Hall, Addie Underwood, Kate Griffin, Amanda Chingrin, Emma L. Cooper, Mrs. Fred Williams, Mrs. John Huey, Matie Hull, Mary Anthony, Jessie Florida, Mary Kerms, Ciara Swan, Velma Snyder, Nellie Fleming, Mabel Crampton, Lou Schillinger, Maggie Griffin, Jennie Kadel, Sadie Barker, Mary Richards, Cora Griffin, and Emma F. Stratford. Additionally there was another Temperance organization that women participated in. It was the Moline Total Abstinence League. The names of the women who were members of The Moline Total Abstinence League in what is now the Quad Cities are as follows: Mrs. Ann M. Dow, Mrs. A. B. Hitchcock, Rev. Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Borchers, Mrs. Wendel, Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Henry Ainsworth, Mrs. Sleight, Mrs. Gordon, Mrs. Hyde, Mrs. Dr. Davidson, Mrs. Everett Weelock, Mrs. Charles Edwards, Mrs. J. C. Starr, Mrs. M. A. Gordon, Mrs. Mary Rhinehart, Mrs. Mary Kneberg, Mrs. Henrietta Shields, and Mrs. D. J. Huey (Rock Island County Historical Society). Lastly, the Temperance Relief Association was an organization composed exclusively of ladies. The ladies would provide clothing for the children and the poor. They would provide food for the hungry. As well as, advance the cause of Temperance. The members of the Moline organization are as follows: Mrs. M. A. Gordon, Mrs. Mary Rhinehart, Mrs. M. A. Knowles, Mrs. Mary Kneberg, Mrs. Henrietta Shields, and Mrs. D. J. Huey (Rock Island County Historical Society).

**Suffrage Movement Organization** This Movement nationally was very extensive because it included women and men with a wide array of differing views. One viewpoint that contained a lot of diversity and debate was what was considered a “women’s place”. Some individuals who crusaded for women’s suffrage believed that women were overall kinder, gentler, and more concerned about vulnerable individuals of society, in particular children. It was regularly understood that women who could cast ballots would facilitate a humanizing effect on politics and therefore society (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Suffrage). The Suffrage organization in Moline was initially called The Moline Suffrage Association. Then some men expressed their support of women getting the right to vote therefore, the name of the organization changed to the Equal Suffrage Association and it was developed in 1877. This organization became affiliated with the National Women Suffrage Association which was formed in May 15, 1896 in New York City (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Women_Suffrage_Association). The National Women Suffrage Association had a constitution. It consisted of five articles. The first article declared the title of the association: The National Women Suffrage Association. The second article highlighted the purpose of the association: “To secure the right to vote for women of the nation on equal terms with men” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Women_Suffrage_Association). The third article stated that the association would require a one dollar yearly association fee. It also explained that the association fees were required if an individual desired to vigorously contribute and vote thereby helping the organization make decisions. The fourth article designated the officeholders of the National Women Suffrage Association. It specified the “President, the Vise Presidents from each of the states and territories, corresponding and recording Secretaries, Treasurer, an Executive Committee of five or more members located in New York City, and an Advisory Council from each state and territory” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Women_Suffrage_Association). The officeholders it deemed were to be elected at every yearly assembly of the National Association. The fifth article stated that “all other women suffrage societies were welcomed to become axillaries” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Women_Suffrage_Association). The Moline Association, soon after its organization became an auxiliary to the National Association (“History”). Newspaper clippings about this organization were discovered at the Rock Island County Historical Society. However, the information was limited to when meetings were held, at whose home, and who was there. In addition, the names of women within the community who were members was discovered and they are as follows: Mrs. Eunice Sayles, Mrs. Kate Holt, Mrs. Julia Dunn, Mrs. Sarah F. Nourse, Elizabeth Boynton Harbert, Abbie A. Gould, Mrs. Waugh McCullough, Harriet Taylor Uphem, Mrs. Hannah M. Gould, Mrs, Mrs. Mary Stewart, Mrs. Mary G. Hay, Dr. Jennie McCowen, Mrs. Daphne Heald, Mrs. F. W. Peck, Mrs. A. S. Wright, Rev. J. G. Evans, Rev. C. L. Morgan, C. W. Heald, Dr. Nettie H. Wheelock, Mrs. Sherry, Mrs. Allen, Mrs. J. M. Flower, Mrs. Mattie Taylor, Mrs. Lawson, Mrs. Bingham, Mrs. Horace Anderson, Mrs. Cook, Henreitta G. More, Mrs. M. E. Metzgar, and Miss Ruth Barnard (Rock Island County Historical Society).

**Community Improvement Organization(s)** The Women’s Club of Moline was an organization of women who helped the needy and improved Moline. It was founded in 1903 by 136 women. The women who participated in this organization donated thousands of hours and dollars to the needy and poor. For instance, this organization established the Moline visiting nurse program, It had a Philanthropic Department that started a Helping Hand Club for working women, the Club’s Civic Department worked with the city to beautify the city’s entrances, parks, streets, and improve the sanitation, It established with the Community Playground Association, playgrounds for the community, and other Departments within the Club were started for the improvement of Moline: such as the Music, Study (later named Art and Literature), Child Study, and Legislative Clubs. The Women’s Club of Moline also had a constitution and is as follows: “To foster in the interest of its members in literary, scientific, musical, historical, and other topics of vital importance to promote culture and cordial personal relations among women and to contribute to the welfare of the community”. The women who were members of the Women’s Club of Moline are as follows: Lillian Owen, C. H. Deere, F. W. Gould, A. R. Bryant, Mrs. M. Y. Cady, Mrs. Frank Gates Allen, Mrs. Huntoon, Mrs. Ainsworth, Mrs. Grace Crawley, Mrs. A. H. Arp, Mrs. A. M. Beal, Mrs. C. A. Banister, Mrs. John McEniry, Mrs. S. P. Windell, Mrs. R. K. Baker, Mrs. Fred Leavens, Mrs. T. B. Reidy, Mrs. George Dun, Miss Clara Sloan, Miss May Lindsey Oliver, Miss Harriet Cooper, Mrs. Ada Entrikin-Peterson, Mrs. Joseph Tucas, Mrs. B. M. Burrows, Mrs. G. H. Ficke, C. C. Cox, J. J. Cox, Geo H. Holt, G. Edwin Schmid, Mrs. W. C. Bennett, Miss Robbins, Mrs. Ernest Jericho, Miss Florence Friestat, Miss Hazel Munger, Mrs. C. Arnold Peterson, Dr. Martha Anderson, Miss Edna Mitchell, Mrs. Elda Lund, Mrs. George W. Sohrebeck, and Miss Myara Ransonm (Rock Island County Historical Society).

In Conclusion, this report just touched on the research that was done on female organizations that women were involved in the Antebellum and Post-Bellum period in the Quad Cities area. Names of women involved in the Temperance, Suffrage Movement, and The Moline Club, were uncovered through the use of newspaper clippings that were discovered at the Rock Island County Historical Society. In addition, more information was found on these organizations on the internet. Further information on the national level was also uncovered. Additionally, there could be many other organizations and names of members. It appears that any extensive information regarding women organizations and clubs is very difficult to find and for the most part incomplete.

**Works Cited**

Print information obtained from The Rock Island County Historical Society archives.

Stanton, Elizabeth Cady, Susan Brownhell Anthony, Matilda Josyln Gage, and Ida Husted Harper. History of Women’s Suffrage: 1876-1855: Google Books. []

[|www.wctu.org].

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