Frances Willard correspondence

Collection

Identifier: ACCN 3338

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Frances Willard correspondence consists of three letters:

Letter written by Willard addressed to Mr. Metcalf. [undated]. She writes, "..Your helpful words meant much to me and I sent them to my dear 83 year old mother, with whom I like to share my good news [...] Woman is a bright fore-gleam of the better Civilization."

Letter written by Willard. [1877 December 22]. Willard writes to the editor of a newspaper to remind him of their "alliance" and ask that he consider running "weekly letter, review or article" written by her friend Mr. Hamilton Mable.

Letter written by Willard addressed to Mr. Bowen. [1879 May 14]. Willard discusses an upcoming speaking engagement and the arrangements to be made.

Dates

Creation: 1877 December 22
Creation: 1879 May 14

Creator

Willard, Frances E. (Frances Elizabeth), 1839-1898 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical / Historical

Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard (September 28, 1839 – February 17, 1898) was an American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist. She was born to to Josiah Flint Willard and Mary Thompson Hill Willard in Churchville, New York. Willard became the national president of Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) in 1879 and remained president until her death in 1898. Her influence continued in the next decades, as the Eighteenth (on Prohibition) and Nineteenth (on women's suffrage) Amendments to the United States Constitution were adopted. Willard developed the slogan "Do Everything" for the WCTU and encouraged members to engage in a broad array of social reforms by lobbying, petitioning, preaching, publishing, and education.

Willard's accomplishments include raising the age of consent in many states and passing labor reforms, most notably including the eight-hour work day. She also advocated for prison reform, scientific temperance instruction, Christian socialism, and the global expansion of women's rights.

Citation:

Frances Willard. (2025, June 03). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frances_Willard&oldid=1288737093

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 Folder)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Frances Willard correspondence consists of three letters written by Willard discussing suffrage and other issues. Willard was an American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist.