Sorbier, Louise, 1847-1929.

Louise Sorbier was a prominent organizer and member of many women's and civic improvement organizations in San Francisco in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. She served as president of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union, an organization founded in 1891 to provide women with educational opportunities and vocational training. She was also active in the women's suffrage movement of the 1890s, serving as president of the Eleventh Amendment Club, and treasurer of the Woman's Congress Association of the Pacific Coast, the California State Suffrage Constitutional Amendment Association, and the Women's Suffrage Association. In the 1900s, 1910s, and 1920s, Louise Sorbier was active in various civic improvement efforts in San Francisco, including and prominently, the cemetery anti-removal movement. She served as director of the Outdoor Art League, president of the Cemetery Beautifying and Anti-Removal Association, and vice president of the Arguello Boulevard Improvement Club. Her daughter Cecile followed in her footsteps, serving as president of the San Francisco Club and Memorial Museum, Golden Gate Park Endowment Committee, beginning around 1916.

From the description of Louise Sorbier papers, 1854-1956. (California Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 122642383

Biographical Information

Louise Sorbier, née Bacon, was born in 1847 in Paris. She immigrated to San Francisco with her parents as a child. She had three daughters with her husband, Jules Sorbier: Josephine Sorbier (1873-1899), Cecile Sorbier (1875-1952), and Marie Sorbier (1877-1947). She and Jules Sorbier divorced in 1877.

Louise Sorbier was a prominent organizer and member of many women's and civic improvement organizations in San Francisco in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. She served as president of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union, an organization founded in 1891 to provide women with educational opportunities and vocational training. At the same time, she was active in the women's suffrage movement of the 1890s, serving as president of the Eleventh Amendment Club, and treasurer of the Woman's Congress Association of the Pacific Coast, the California State Suffrage Constitutional Amendment Association, and the Women's Suffrage Association. As an officer of these organizations, Sorbier advocated the amendment of the state constitution to guarantee women's suffrage in California.

In the 1900s, 1910s, and 1920s, Louise Sorbier was active in various civic improvement efforts in San Francisco, including and prominently, the cemetery anti-removal movement. She served as director of the Outdoor Art League, president of the Cemetery Beautifying and Anti-Removal Association, and vice president of the Arguello Boulevard Improvement Club. Her daughter Cecile followed in her footsteps, serving as president of the San Francisco Club and Memorial Museum, Golden Gate Park Endowment Committee, beginning around 1916. Louise Sorbier died in 1929.

From the guide to the Louise Sorbier papers, 1854-1956, (California Historical Society)