Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association

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In 1870, within a year of forming the American Woman Suffrage Association, Lucy Stone, Henry Blackwell, Julia Ward Howe, and others founded the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. MWSA was affiliated with AWSA and shared both its goals and activities. The merger, in 1890, of AWSA with the National Woman Suffrage Association to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), prompted Alice Stone Blackwell and Ellen Batelle Dietrick to write a new constitution in April 1892. The constitution was designed to enable MWSA to become a truly state-wide organization, and to increase its membership and voice in NAWSA. MWSA was incorporated in December 1892. In 1901, Massachusetts healed its own National/American split as MWSA merged with the smaller National Suffrage Association of Massachusetts. MWSA became the Massachusetts League of Women Voters in 1920.

From the description of Records in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1893-1918 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 232008709

In 1870, within a year of forming the American Woman Suffrage Association, Lucy Stone, Henry Blackwell, Julia Ward Howe, and others founded the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. MWSA was affiliated with AWSA and shared both its goals and activities. It lobbied legislatures, educated people about the benefits of woman suffrage, promoted school and later municipal woman suffrage, founded local leagues, sought male support, and worked with associations in other states.

The merger, in 1890, of AWSA with the National Woman Suffrage Association to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), along with other changes in the suffrage movement and a need for financial stability, prompted Alice Stone Blackwell and Ellen Batelle Dietrick to write a new constitution in April 1892. The constitution was designed to enable MWSA to become a truly state-wide organization, to become less reliant on the work and support of a few leaders by developing grass-roots work and donations, and to increase its membership and voice in NAWSA. To gain the benefits of a legal existence, such as receiving bequests, MWSA incorporated in December 1892. In 1901, Massachusetts healed its own National/American split as MWSA merged with the smaller National Suffrage Association of Massachusetts. MWSA became the Massachusetts League of Women Voters in 1920. For further historical information, see Lois Bannister Merk, Massachusetts and the Woman Suffrage Movement (Ph.D. thesis, 1961), Schlesinger Library microfilm (M-19), or Sharon Strom, "Leadership and Tactics in the American Woman Suffrage Movement: A New Perspective from Massachusetts," Journal of American History 62 (September 1975): 296-315.

From the guide to the Woman's Rights Collection (WRC), (Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Richards, Elizabeth N. Papers, 1893-1914 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Foley, Margaret, 1875-1957. Papers, 1847-1968 (inclusive), 1909-1929 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Luscomb, Florence, 1887-. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1904-1959 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Stantial, Edna Lamprey. Series XI of the Mary Earhart Dillon Collection, 1893-1944 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. Records, 1893-1918 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Edna Lamprey Stantial, 1836-1985 (inclusive), 1900-1955 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Foley, Margaret, 1875-1957. Papers of Margaret Foley and Helen Elizabeth Goodnow, 1882-1965 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Foley, Margaret, 1875-1957. Papers, 1847-1968 (bulk: 1909-1929) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Lutz, Alma, 1890-1973. Collection of documents by and about abolitionists and women's rights activists, 1775-1943 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Park, Maud Wood, 1871-1955. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1870-1960 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America,. Essay collection, 1952-1976 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Foley, Margaret, 1875-1957. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1911-1924 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Woman's rights collection, 1853-1958 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1821-1961 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Cambridge Political Equality Association. Records, 1896-1926 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Woman's rights collection, 1853-1958 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Howe, Julia Ward, 1819-1910. LS, 1876 March 7 : Boston, to Hon. Philip J. Stripp. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Baldwin, Amelia Muir, 1876-1960. Papers, 1821-1961 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Page, Mary Hutcheson, 1860-1940. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1892-1943 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Page, Mary Hutcheson, 1860-1940. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1892-1943 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Mead, Lucia True Ames, 1856-1936. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1870-1921 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. Records in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1893-1918 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1900-1943 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Crowley, Teresa A., 1874-1930. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1914-1944 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Grace A. Johnson in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1840-1952 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Mead, Lucia True Ames, 1856-1936. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1870-1921 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Crowley, Teresa A., 1874-1930. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1914-1944 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Collection of materials issued by or relating to the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association and the Concord Woman Suffrage League, Mass., <1885-[1892?]> Concord Free Public Library, Special Collection
creatorOf Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. "Votes for women" fan, [ca. 1916]. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. Letter, 1884. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Robinson, Harriet Jane Hanson, 1825-1911, and Shattuck, Harriette Lucy Robinson, 1850–1937. Papers, 1833-1937 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Grace A. Johnson in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1840-1952 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Stantial, Edna Lamprey, 1897-1985. Papers in the Mary Earhart Dillon Collection, 1870-1944 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Park, Maud Wood, 1871-1955. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1870-1960 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Ames, Blanche, 1878-1969. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1913-1940 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Mary Ware Dennett Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Reyher, Rebecca Hourwich, 1897-1987. Papers, 1877-1988 (bulk: 1915-1970) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Foley, Margaret, 1875-1957. Papers, 1888-1957 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn League of Women Voters of Massachusetts. Additional records of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, 1918-2001 (inclusive), 1960-1990 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Dennett, Mary Ware, 1872-1947. Papers: Series III, 1909-1942 (inclusive) [microform]. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Luscomb, Florence, 1887-1985. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1904-1959 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Essay collection of the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, 1952-1976 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Ames, Blanche. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1913-1940 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association miscellany, 1915. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Foley, Margaret, 1875-1957. Papers in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1911-1924 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Cambridge Political Equality Association. Records in the Woman's Rights Collection, 1896-1926 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Stone, Lucy, 1818-1893. Letters, 1850-1893 (bulk: 1876-1893) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn O'Sullivan, Mary Kenney, 1864-1943. Papers, 1892-1943 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith ALMA LUTZ, 1890-1973 person
associatedWith Amelia Muir Baldwin, 1876-1960 person
associatedWith Ames, Blanche. person
associatedWith Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, corporateBody
associatedWith Baldwin, Amelia Muir, 1876-1960. person
associatedWith Blanche (Ames) Ames, 1878-1969 person
associatedWith Boston Equal Suffrage Association for Good Government. corporateBody
associatedWith Cambridge Political Equality Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Cambridge Political Equality Association, 1896-1920 corporateBody
associatedWith Clemmer, Mary, 1839-1884. person
associatedWith College Equal Suffrage League corporateBody
associatedWith College Equal Suffrage League. corporateBody
associatedWith Crowley, Teresa A., 1874-1930. person
associatedWith Dennett, Mary Ware, 1872-1947. person
associatedWith Edna Lamprey Stantial person
associatedWith Florence Hope Luscomb person
associatedWith Foley, Margaret, 1875-1957. person
associatedWith Grace Allen (Fitch) Johnson, 1871-1952 person
associatedWith Howe, Julia Ward, 1819-1910. person
associatedWith Johnson, Grace A., 1871-1952. person
associatedWith League of Women Voters of Massachusetts. corporateBody
associatedWith Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice, 1820-1905. person
associatedWith Lucia True (Ames) Mead, 1856-1936 person
associatedWith Luscomb, Florence, 1887- person
associatedWith Margaret Foley, 1875-1957 person
associatedWith Mary Hutcheson Page, 1860-1940 person
associatedWith Mary (Kenney) O'Sullivan, 1864-1943 person
associatedWith MARY (WARE) DENNETT person
associatedWith Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. Cambridge Division. Men's Council. corporateBody
associatedWith Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. Cambridge Division. Men's Council. corporateBody
associatedWith Maud May (Wood) Park, 1871-1955 person
associatedWith Mead, Lucia True Ames, 1856-1936. person
associatedWith National American Woman Suffrage Association. corporateBody
associatedWith O'Sullivan, Mary Kenney, 1864-1943. person
associatedWith Page, Mary Hutcheson, 1860-1940. person
associatedWith Park, Maud Wood, 1871-1955. person
associatedWith Phelps, Elizabeth Stuart, 1844-1911. person
associatedWith Rebecca Hourwich Reyher person
associatedWith Richards, Elizabeth N. person
associatedWith Robinson, Harriet Jane Hanson, 1825-1911 person
associatedWith Shattuck, Harriette Lucy Robinson, 1850-1937 person
associatedWith Stantial, Edna Lamprey. person
associatedWith Stone, Lucy, 1818-1893. person
associatedWith Teresa A. (O'Leary) Crowley, 1874-1930 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
United States
Massachusetts
Subject
Anti-feminism
Women
Women
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1893

Active 1918

Information

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SNAC ID: 28402270