Frances Willard correspondence, 1877 December 22
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Willard, Frances E. (Frances Elizabeth), 1839-1898
- Title
- Frances Willard correspondence
- Dates
- 1877 December 221877-12-221877-12-22
1879 May 141879-05-141879-05-14 - Quantity
- 0.25 linear feet, (1 folder)
- Collection Number
- ACCN 3338
- Summary
- The Frances Willard correspondence consists of three letters written by Willard discussing suffrage and other issues. Willard was an American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist.
- Repository
-
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860
Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
- Languages
- English
Historical Note
Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard (September 28, 1839 – February 17, 1898) was an American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist. She was born to to Josiah Flint Willard and Mary Thompson Hill Willard in Churchville, New York. Willard became the national president of Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) in 1879 and remained president until her death in 1898. Her influence continued in the next decades, as the Eighteenth (on Prohibition) and Nineteenth (on women's suffrage) Amendments to the United States Constitution were adopted. Willard developed the slogan "Do Everything" for the WCTU and encouraged members to engage in a broad array of social reforms by lobbying, petitioning, preaching, publishing, and education.
Willard's accomplishments include raising the age of consent in many states and passing labor reforms, most notably including the eight-hour work day. She also advocated for prison reform, scientific temperance instruction, Christian socialism, and the global expansion of women's rights.
Citation:
Frances Willard. (2025, June 03). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frances_Willard&oldid=1288737093
Content Description
The Frances Willard correspondence consists of three letters:
Letter written by Willard addressed to Mr. Metcalf. [undated]. She writes, "..Your helpful words meant much to me and I sent them to my dear 83 year old mother, with whom I like to share my good news [...] Woman is a bright fore-gleam of the better Civilization."
Letter written by Willard. [1877 December 22]. Willard writes to the editor of a newspaper to remind him of their "alliance" and ask that he consider running "weekly letter, review or article" written by her friend Mr. Hamilton Mable.
Letter written by Willard addressed to Mr. Bowen. [1879 May 14]. Willard discusses an upcoming speaking engagement and the arrangements to be made.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Preferred Citation
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Administrative Information
Arrangement
Arranged to the item level.
Acquisition Information
Purchased from Max Rambod, Inc. in 2024.
Processing Note
Processed by Betsey Welland in 2025.
Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.
Separated Materials
Two photographs of Francis Willard were transferred to the Multimedia Archives.
Detailed Description of the Collection
-
Description: Correspondence
This collection consists of the following three letters:
- Letter written by Willard addressed to Mr. Metcalf. [no date]. She writes, "..Your helpful words meant much to me and I sent them to my dear 83 year old mother, with whom I like to share my good news [...] Woman is a bright fore-gleam of the better Civilization."
- Letter written by Willard. [1877 December 22]. Willard writes to the editor of a newspaper to remind him of their "alliance" and ask that he consider running "weekly letter, review or article" written by her friend Mr. Hamilton Mable. Willard, who published profusely, maintained a productive relationship with editors like this one, and she begs "pardon [for] this much freedom from an old friend of editor and paper."
- Letter written by Willard addressed to Mr. Bowen.[1879 May 14]. Willard discusses an upcoming speaking engagement and the arrangements to be made. Willard's platform of "Home Protection" as the premise behind suffrage was designed to appeal to women everywhere. She held that if a woman had the right to vote, she could better protect her home and family and improve society. She mentions this in her note, writing: "Mr. Bowen, 'Home Protection' will be my subject. 'Evanston' Illinois will be my address for though absent, letters will be promptly forwarded. Will arrive July 3d. If there is no objections, I will bring my secretary, Miss Anna Gordon, daughter of I.M. Gordon, former treasurer of A.B.C.F.M. Anticipating a pleasant trip, I am yours sincerely, Frances Willard."
Dates: 1877 December 22; 1879 May 14; undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 1
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Women's rights--United States
- Women--Suffrage--United States
Personal Names
- Willard, Frances E. (Frances Elizabeth), 1839-1898--Correspondence
