Roessing, Jennie Bradley, 1882-1963.

Dates:

Birth 1882

Death 1963

Biographical notes:

Born in the Pittsburgh area around 1882, Jennie Bradley was the daughter of a successful tailor, John Bradley. She married and later divorced Frank M. Roessing, a civil engineer. Her campaign for women's suffrage began in 1904 when she, Hannah Patterson, Mary Flinn, Lucy Kennedy, and Mary Bakewell organized the Allegheny County Equal Rights Association (ACERA). As their confidence grew, these women assumed leadership positions in a variety of organizations. The Equal Rights Franchise Federation of Western Pennsylvania replaced ACERA in 1910. Roessing served as vice-president of this organization. Roessing went on to be elected president of the Pennsylvania Women's Suffrage Association (PWSA) in 1912. Due to health problems, she took a leave of absence from February to November 1914. As part of the PWSA's efforts to pass a women's suffrage bill in the Pennsylvania legislature, Roessing and Patterson embarked on an intensive lobbying effort to gain support. They traveled the state extensively, giving lectures and attending public events, including a four-month statewide tour of the Liberty Bell of Suffrage. However, the bill was narrowly defeated on November 2, 1915. Despite this failure, Roessing continued to pressure policy makers at the national level. She served as a chairwoman of the National American Woman Suffrage Association under Carrie Chapman Catt. Roessing was also involved in various community organizations, including the English Speaking Union, the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, and the Audubon Society, among others. She served as the recording secretary for the Twentieth Century Club, a literary organization, founded in 1901, devoted to the social and intellectual improvement of its members. She also volunteered her time as treasurer of Pittsburgh Play Grounds, Vacation Schools and Recreation Parks.

From the description of Papers of Jennie Bradley Roessing, 1887-1962. (University of Pittsburgh). WorldCat record id: 30506883