Harbert, Elizabeth Boynton, 1843-1925

Elizabeth Morrison (Boynton) Harbert (1845-1925) served as president of the Illinois Woman Suffrage Association (1876-1884), and, after the IWSA became the Illinois Equal Suffrage Association in 1885, served four more one-year terms. She was also president of the Cook County (Illinois) Woman Suffrage Society. In 1877 Harbert became the first editor of "Woman's Kingdom," a section in the Chicago Inter Ocean that covered women's activities, resigning in 1884 because of the anti-Prohibition, anti-suffrage views of the editorial board. Harbert was proprietor and editor of The New Era of Chicago for one year, probably 1885. She later lived in California. Harbert organized the Evanston Woman's Club in 1889 and was president for seven years, was associate president of the World's Unity League, vice-president of the Woman's Civic League of Pasadena, vice-president of the Southern California Woman's Press Association, president of the National Household Economic Association, and a lecturer for suffrage. Further biographical information may be found in Woman's Who's Who of America, 1914-15 (1914), and A Woman of the Century (1893).

From the description of Series II of the Mary Earhart Dillon Collection, 1870-1939 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 232008765

Elizabeth Morrison Boynton Harbert, a feminist, suffragist, author andlecturer, was active from an early age in support of the rights of women to vote and to obtain a higher education. She served for twelve years as president of the Illinois Woman Suffrage Association, corresponded extensively with other prominent feminist leaders, wrote pamphlets and books, and was active in numerous women's, political, religious and philanthropic organizations.

From the description of Papers of Elizabeth Boynton Harbert (Addenda), 1861-1925. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122445983

Elizabeth Morrison Boynton Harbert, a feminist, suffragist, author and lecturer, was active from an early age in support of the rights of women to vote and to obtain a higher education. She served for twelve years as president of the Illinois Woman Suffrage Association, corresponded extensively with other prominent feminist leaders, wrote pamphlets and books, and was active in numerous women's, political, religious and philanthropic organizations.

From the description of Papers of Elizabeth Boynton Harbert, 1863-1925. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 228721153

Author, editor, and lecturer, Harbert was active in the woman suffrage movement.

From the description of Letter, 1887. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 232007381

Elizabeth Morrison (Boynton) Harbert, suffragist, lecturer, author, and editor, was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana on April 15, 1845 (one source gives 1843), the daughter of William and Abigail Upton (Sweetser) Boynton. She graduated from Terre Haute Female College in 1862 and earned a Ph.D. from Ohio Wesleyan University. She married William S. Harbert on October 18, 1870; they had three children, and lived in Chicago, Iowa, and later California.

EBH served as president of the Illinois Woman Suffrage Association (1876-1984), and, after the IWSA became the Illinois Equal Suffrage Association in 1885, served four more one-year terms. She was also president of the Cook County (Illinois) Woman Suffrage Society. In 1877 EBH became the first editor of "Woman's Kingdom," a section in the Chicago Inter Ocean that covered women's activities. A member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, she resigned as editor of "Woman's Kingdom" in 1884 because of the journal's anti-prohibition, anti-suffrage editorial board. EBH was proprietor and editor of The New Era of Chicago for one year, probably 1885.

EBH organized the Evanston Woman's Club in 1889 and was its president for seven years. An active social reformer, she was associate president of the World's Unity League, vice-president of the Woman`s Civic League of Pasadena, vice-president of the Southern California Woman's Press Association, and president of the National Household Economic Association. In addition to her editorial and service work, EBH lectured for suffrage. She died in Pasadena, Calif. on January 19, 1925. Further biographical information may be found in Woman's Who's Who of America, 1914-1915 (New York, 1914), and A Woman of the Century (Buffalo, 1893).

From the guide to the Papers, n.d., 1870-1939, (Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)