Anna Jarvis
Encyclopedia
Anna Marie Jarvis is the founder of the Mother's Day
holiday in the United States
.
. Her birthplace, known as the Anna Jarvis House
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979. She was the daughter of Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis
. The family moved to nearby Grafton, West Virginia
in her childhood. She graduated from what is now Mary Baldwin College
in 1883.
Anna's mother Ann Jarvis had founded Mothers' Day Work Clubs in five cities to improve sanitary and health conditions. The Mothers' Day Work Clubs also treated wounds, fed, and clothed both Union and Confederate soldiers with neutrality.
On May 12, 1907, two years after her mother's death, Anna held a memorial to her mother and thereafter embarked upon a campaign to make "Mother's Day" a recognized holiday. She succeeded in making this nationally recognized in 1914. The International Mother's Day Shrine was established in Grafton to commemorate her accomplishment.
By the 1920s, Anna Jarvis had become soured by the commercialization of the holiday. She incorporated herself as the Mother’s Day International Association, trademarked the phrases "second Sunday in May" and "Mother's Day", and was once arrested for disturbing the peace. She and her sister Ellsinore spent their family inheritance campaigning against what the holiday had become. Both died in poverty. According to her New York Times obituary, Jarvis became embittered because too many people sent their mothers a printed greeting card
. As she said,
Anna Marie Jarvis never married and had no children. She died in West Chester, Pennsylvania
, and is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery
, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
.
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May...
holiday in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
Anna Jarvis was born in the tiny town of Webster, West VirginiaWebster, West Virginia
Webster is an unincorporated community in Taylor County, West Virginia, United States. It lies four miles south of Grafton. Its elevation is 1,019 feet above sea level.- History :...
. Her birthplace, known as the Anna Jarvis House
Anna Jarvis House
Anna Jarvis House is a historic home located at Webster, Taylor County, West Virginia. It was built in 1854, and is a two story, frame "I house" plan dwelling. It is notable as the birthplace of Anna Jarvis, founder of Mother's Day, and as General George B...
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979. She was the daughter of Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis
Ann Jarvis
Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis was a social activist and organizer during and after the American Civil War...
. The family moved to nearby Grafton, West Virginia
Grafton, West Virginia
Grafton is a city in, and county seat of, Taylor County, West Virginia, USA. The population was 5,489 at the 2000 census. The only two national cemeteries in West Virginia are located in Grafton. Mother's Day was founded in Grafton on May 10, 1908; the city is the home to the International Mother's...
in her childhood. She graduated from what is now Mary Baldwin College
Mary Baldwin College
Mary Baldwin College is a private, independent, and comprehensive four-year liberal arts women's college in Staunton, Virginia. It was ranked in 2008 by US News & World Report as a top-tier, master's level university in the South. Mary Baldwin offers pre-professional programs in law, medicine,...
in 1883.
Anna's mother Ann Jarvis had founded Mothers' Day Work Clubs in five cities to improve sanitary and health conditions. The Mothers' Day Work Clubs also treated wounds, fed, and clothed both Union and Confederate soldiers with neutrality.
On May 12, 1907, two years after her mother's death, Anna held a memorial to her mother and thereafter embarked upon a campaign to make "Mother's Day" a recognized holiday. She succeeded in making this nationally recognized in 1914. The International Mother's Day Shrine was established in Grafton to commemorate her accomplishment.
By the 1920s, Anna Jarvis had become soured by the commercialization of the holiday. She incorporated herself as the Mother’s Day International Association, trademarked the phrases "second Sunday in May" and "Mother's Day", and was once arrested for disturbing the peace. She and her sister Ellsinore spent their family inheritance campaigning against what the holiday had become. Both died in poverty. According to her New York Times obituary, Jarvis became embittered because too many people sent their mothers a printed greeting card
Greeting card
A greeting card is an illustrated, folded card featuring an expression of friendship or other sentiment. Although greeting cards are usually given on special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas or other holidays, they are also sent to convey thanks or express other feeling. Greeting cards,...
. As she said,
Anna Marie Jarvis never married and had no children. She died in West Chester, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
, and is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery
West Laurel Hill Cemetery
West Laurel Hill Cemetery is a cemetery located in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the site of many notable burials, and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1992...
, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
Bala Cynwyd is a community in Lower Merion Township which is located on the Main Line in southeastern Pennsylvania, bordering the western edge of Philadelphia at US Route 1 . It was originally two separate towns, Bala and Cynwyd, but is commonly treated as a single community...
.
Other sources
- Kendall, Norman F. (1937), Mothers Day, A History of its Founding and its Founder
- Wolfe, Howard H. (1962), Mothers Day and the Mothers Day Church
- http://www.wvculture.org/history/jarvis.html