Program

National Votes for Women Trail

Subject

People

Location

367 Mentor Ave, Painesville, OH 44077, USA

Lat/Long

41.718799, -81.252303

Grant Recipient

National Collaborative for Women's History Sites

The Ohio Woman Suffrage Association held its annual meeting in Painesville, Ohio on May 12 & 13, 1885. The convention attracted many people from the community along with students from the Lake Erie Female Seminary. Among those in attendance was famed suffragist Susan B. Anthony. During the convention, after several people spoke on subject of woman’s suffrage, Mary Evans, suffragist & principal of the Lake Erie Female Seminary had a chance to speak.  A June 1885 edition of The New Era detailed the occasion as follows:

Miss Evans, principal of the Lake Erie Female Seminary, were called upon, the gentlemen responding with thanks and the briefest word of encouragement; Miss Evans saying in the charming manner so peculiarly her own, that as she had come to listen not to speak, she had only to say that at the seminary they were engaged in striving to worthily fit young women for their share of the world’s work and duties, be it as votes or in whatsoever circumstances they should be placed. She had been very interested in the proceedings of the convention and highly complimented the ladies taking active part, extending an invitation to all ladies from abroad who should find it possible to visit the seminary before their departure. A number of the seminary pupils were present.

While suffrage for women was not achieved until 1920, women like Mary Evans helped shape and inspire future generations of women who continued to support the effort.