LETTER: ALS to My Dear Young Friend.
“It is to the rising generation, that we older workers are now looking...”
Anthony, Susan B. Autograph letter signed, “Susan B. Anthony,” to “My dear young friend,” October 24, [1880], Tenafly, N.J.; 1 bifolium of National Woman Suffrage Association, 1880 letterhead, 4 pp.; manuscript emendations to letterhead; 3 chips to fold with no loss of text.
A letter from the elder stateswoman of the suffrage movement, Susan B. Anthony, to a woman of a younger generation, advising her on how she can become involved in the cause. Remarkable for its candor, generosity, and directness, the letter shows why Anthony was an effective leader for so many decades, and provides a glimpse into the daily work of the woman suffrage campaign. Composed while Anthony was the Vice President at Large of the NWSA, the letter is rich in content related to the movement; in it, Anthony provides several concrete ways in which her addressee – who had evidently written to Anthony asking how she could get involved with the movement – could contribute to the cause. Addressed to “my dear young friend,” the letter warrants quoting at length. After explaining that her letter of July 12th had been mislaid, Anthony writes,
1st you should attend the N.Y. City W[omen]. Suffrage meetings held in Dr. Clemence S. Loziers Parlors the 2nd Thursday of every Month – of which Mrs. Lozier is the President – I have sent your note to Mrs. Lozier – and she will have you notified of the next meeting –
The special N.Y. State work now, is circulating a petition for what is termed the Andrew’s Bill – to be presented to the next Legislature – and for the nation – it is circulating petitions to Congress for a 16th Amendment to forbid the disfranchisement of women in the several states.
I know nothing of your capabilities as to intellect or purse – else I might be able to discover other directions in which you could aid our work for the emancipation of women – If you have money – a liberal contribution to our N.W.S. Association would be a most acceptable service and a most needed one – What we most need – is a weekly newspaper published in New York City. We lack only the money to enable us to have it – We have only a monthly paper – at Syracuse N.Y. – The Ballot Box – published and edited by Matilda Joslyn Gage – price – $1 – for which I would advice you to subscribe, at once, as it will open up to you ways and work to be done.
I shall hope to hear from you again to learn more of you and of the means you have of aiding our work. Your letter is so beautiful – that I know you must be possessed of powers to help on our good movement – and it is to the rising generation, that we older workers are now looking to carry forward to success our demand for woman’s enfranchisement.
Most sincerely yours
Susan B. Anthony
In addition to being President of the Suffrage association in New York, Clemence Sophia Lozier (1813 - 1888) was the founder, in 1863, of the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women. In Volume Two of their History of Woman Suffrage, Anthony, Stanton, and Gage recall that, at the end of the annual NAWSA conference in New York in 1873, “a large reception was given to the friends of woman suffrage by Dr. Clemence Lozier at her hospitable home in 34th street, New York. Her spacious parlors were crowded until a late hour. The occasion was enlivened with music, readings, and short, spicy speeches” (p. 537).
In the letterhead, Anthony has crossed out Sara Andrews Spencer as the Corresponding Secretary, and added “Cor.ding” beside Ellen H. Sheldon’s title of “Recording Secretary.”
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