Blackwell, Antoinette Louisa Brown, 1825-1921

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Antoinette Louisa Brown Blackwell (1825-1921) was a reformer, abolitionist, author, lecturer, and the first woman ordained as a minister in the United States. In 1846, Blackwell enrolled at Oberlin College in Ohio, and by 1847, she had received her literary degree – the only degree available to women at the time. She stayed at Oberlin for three more years to study theology, but the college would not confer her degree or allow her to be ordained as a minister. She then began working as an independent lecturer, speaking against slavery and on woman’s rights and temperance throughout New England, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio. She also preached Sunday sermons when invited to do so. In 1852, Blackwell was asked to take up the ministry of the Congregational Church in South Butler, New York. She was ordained as the church’s minister on September 15, 1853, making her the first woman ordained in a regular denomination in the United States. She resigned from this position in July 1854, but continued to be active in reform movements and women’s rights conventions throughout the country. In 1869, Blackwell founded the American Woman Suffrage Association with Lucy Stone and also published her first book, Studies in general science, detailing her philosophy on life and religion. She went on to write six more books and one book of poetry. In 1878, the American Unitarian Association recognized her as a Unitarian minister. She went on to acquire a grant of land for a Unitarian Church, establishing the All Souls Unitarian Church in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1908. Antoinette Louisa Brown Blackwell died on November 5, 1921.

From the guide to the Antoinette Louisa Brown Blackwell letter, Blackwell (Anotoinette Louisa Brown) letter, 1869, (Redwood Library and Athenaeum)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Hays, Elinor Rice, 1901-1994. Papers, 1867-196-. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Blackwell Family Papers, 1759-1960, (bulk 1845-1890) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
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 Blackwell family. Papers, 1784-1944 (bulk: 1832-1939) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Blackwell family. Papers, 1784-1944 (bulk: 1832-1939) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company. Houghton Mifflin Company reader reports on manuscripts submitted for publication. 1882-1931. Houghton Library
referencedIn Horn, Margo. Dissertation on the the Blackwell family, 1980 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Blackwell, Antoinette Louisa Brown, 1825-1921. Letter and an envelope, 1902. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Gage, Matilda Electa Josyln, 1826-1898. Papers, 1870-1970 South Dakota State Archives
referencedIn Autograph File, B, ca.1500-1982 Houghton Library
referencedIn May family. Papers of the May and Goddard families, 1766-1912 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Blackwell, Antoinette Louisa Brown, 1825-1921. Papers, 1842-1921 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Ward, Lester Frank, 1841-1913. Correspondence, 1865-1913, "Bird" to "Clancy". Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
creatorOf Antoinette Louisa Brown Blackwell letter, Blackwell (Anotoinette Louisa Brown) letter, 1869 Redwood Library & Athenaeum
referencedIn Blackwell family. Papers, 1832-1981 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Emily Howland papers, 1797-1938. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Howe family. Papers of the Julia Ward Howe family, 1787-1984 (inclusive), 1787-1944 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Blackwell Family Papers, 1759-1960, (bulk 1845-1890) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Fred A. Rosenstock autograph collection L. Tom Perry Special Collections
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 Woman's rights collection, 1853-1958 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Fowler and Wells families papers, 1807-1968, 1836-1901(bulk) Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Hays, Elinor Rice, 1901-1994. Papers, 1867-196-. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Blackwell family. Papers, 1832-1981 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn May, Samuel J. (Samuel Joseph), 1797-1871. Samuel J. May diary, 1860. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Chapman, Mariana W. (Mariana Wright), 1843-1907. Chapman Family Papers, 1808-1983. Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
referencedIn Gage, Matilda Joslyn, 1826-1898. Papers, 1840-1974 (inclusive) [microform]. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Autograph Files, 1783-1983 Vassar College
creatorOf Petition of E. Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, Antoinette Brown Blackwell, and Others Asking for an Amendment of the Constitution that Shall Prohibit the Several States from Disfranchising Any of Their Citizens on the Ground of Sex Center for Legislative Archives
referencedIn Women's Project of New Jersey. Records, 1984-2004 Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Gage, Matilda Joslyn, 1826-1898. Papers, 1840-1974 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Blackwell family. Papers, 1835-1963 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Howe, Julia Ward, family. Papers, 1787-1984 (bulk 1787-1944) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn May family. Papers of the May and Goddard families, 1766-1912 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Ladies' Literary Society. Records 1846-1953. Oberlin College Library
creatorOf Riis, Jacob A. (Jacob August), 1849-1914. Branson-Jackson Family Papers, 1794-1962. Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
referencedIn Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874. Papers, 1762-1962 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Blackwell family. Additional papers of the Blackwell family, 1851-1972 (inclusive), 1851-1935 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Howland, Emily, 1827-1929. Emily Howland papers, 1797-1938. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872. Letters and notes from prominent New Yorkers, 1794-1897. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Brown, Olympia, 1835-1926. Papers, ca. 1849-1963 (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 Fowler family. Fowler and Wells families papers, 1807-1968, 1836-1901(bulk). Cornell University Library
referencedIn May family. Papers of the May and Goddard families, 1766-1912 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Blackwell family. Papers, 1835-1963 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Petition for Universal Suffrage which Asks for an Amendment to the Constitution that Shall Prohibit the Several States from Disenfranchising Any of Their Citizens on the Ground of Sex, ca. 1865 Center for Legislative Archives
referencedIn Diaries (unidentified) collection, 1760-1855. American Antiquarian Society
referencedIn Brown, Olympia, 1835-1926. Papers, ca. 1849-1963 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith ALMA LUTZ, 1890-1973 person
founderOf American Woman Suffrage Association corporateBody
associatedWith Aylesworth, Barton O. (Barton Orville), 1860-1933 person
associatedWith Aylesworth, Barton Orville, 1860-1933. person
associatedWith Blackwell family family
associatedWith Blackwell family. family
associatedWith Blackwell family. family
associatedWith Blackwell family. family
associatedWith Blackwell family. family
associatedWith Blackwell family. family
associatedWith BLACKWELL FAMILY family
associatedWith BLACKWELL FAMILY family
associatedWith BLACKWELL FAMILY family
spouseOf Blackwell, Samuel Charles, 1823-1901. person
associatedWith Brown, Olympia, 1835-1926. person
associatedWith Chapman, Mariana W. (Mariana Wright), 1843-1907. person
associatedWith Emily, Howland 1827-1929. person
associatedWith Finney, Charles G., 1792-1875 person
associatedWith Fowler family. family
associatedWith Fowler family. family
associatedWith Gage, Matilda Electa Josyln, 1826-1898. person
associatedWith Hays, Elinor Rice. person
associatedWith Hays, Elinor Rice. person
associatedWith Higginson, Thomas Wentworth, 1823-1911 person
associatedWith Houghton Mifflin Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Howe family. family
associatedWith Howland, Emily, 1827-1929. person
associatedWith JULIA (WARD) HOWE FAMILY family
associatedWith Ladies' Literary Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Lutz, Alma, person
associatedWith Margo E. Horn person
associatedWith MATILDA (JOSLYN) GAGE, 1826-1898 person
associatedWith May family. family
associatedWith May family. family
associatedWith MAY-GODDARD FAMILY family
associatedWith May, Samuel J. (Samuel Joseph), 1797-1871. person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Oberlin College corporateBody
associatedWith OLYMPIA BROWN, 1835-1926 person
associatedWith Rosenstock, Fred A., b. 1895 person
associatedWith Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874 person
associatedWith Stone, Lucy, 1818-1893 person
associatedWith Vassar College. corporateBody
associatedWith Ward, Lester Frank, 1841-1913. person
associatedWith Women's Project of New Jersey corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Henrietta NY US
Elizabeth NJ US
Subject
Clergy
Ẁomen authors, American
Women clergy
Women poets, American
Occupation
Ministers
Activity

Person

Birth 1825-05-20

Death 1921-11-05

English

Information

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