Program

National Votes for Women Trail

Subject

House, People

Location

627 Washington Ave, Dunkirk, NY, USA

Lat/Long

42.4789835, -79.3320992

Grant Recipient

National Collaborative for Women's History Sites

Elnora M. Babcock was a social and political reformer advocating for women’s suffrage, who established herself as a leading voice and mover within the movement. Along with founding and serving as president of the Dunkirk Political Equality Club beginning in 1889, she would also lead press campaigns and serve as the Superintendent of Press Work at both the state and national level for the movement from 1894-1906.

Historians note that Babcock often used editorials and newspaper articles to respond to anti-suffrage organizations and their publications, crafting arguments challenging the statements and stances of those opposed to women’s suffrage. These printed debates garnered interest from newspapers, which initially avoided publishing articles relating to women’s suffrage, leading to increased attention. The visibility brought about by Babcock’s writing and her management of press campaigns was key to the movement’s growth and outreach, particularly for regions and areas that had not yet established a political equality club or pro women’s suffrage organization.

Born in 1852 in Freehold Township, Pennsylvania, Babcock would move to Dunkirk, New York in 1880. It was here where she would help found the Dunkirk Political Equality Club, serving as its first President in 1889. This would not be the only leadership role Babcock would take in the women’s suffrage movement: not long after, she was elected as the president of the Chautauqua County Political Equality Club. As noted, Babcock helped lead the New York State Suffrage Association press campaign as the chairperson for Press Work. This garnered her a national reputation, and in 1899 she would become the Superintendent of Press Work for the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA).

A talented writer, in 1904, Babcock would author an entry in The Centennial History of Chautauqua County (Jamestown, New York: The Chautauqua History Company) titled: “Political Equality Movement.”

She starts this essay:

“It is highly gratifying that the compilers of the History of Chautauqua County should recognize the part taken by the women in the affairs of the county as worthy a place in its political history. Chautauqua County is noted for its broad and liberal men and women and as a natural result it has been the cradle of many progressive movements. Not only is it the birthplace of the Grange, the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and the great Chautauqua Assembly, but it bears the proud distinction of being the first county in the state to organize a County Political Equality club, with the various local clubs in the county auxiliary to it.”

Babcock would remain involved in the fight for women’s suffrage locally after resigning from her national post in 1906. She passed away on December 29^th, 1934 at the age of 82.

The Indianapolis Star reprinted the report of Babcock’s death on Dec. 30^th, 1934. The article was titled, “Mrs. Babcock, Suffrage Pioneer Leader, is Dead” and read:

“Mrs. Elnora Babcock, prominent in the early days of the women’s suffrage movement, organizer of the first political club in Chautauqua county and superintendent under Susan B. Anthony, died here today. She was 82 years old.”  

An influential leader in the women’s suffrage movement who helped transform NAWSA’s press campaigns, thanks to Babcock’s tireless efforts countless readers were exposed to the statewide and national conversation regarding women’s suffrage.

This marker is located at Babcock’s former house.