Elisabeth Gilman
Encyclopedia
Elisabeth Coit Gilman was an American socialist and civil libertarian.
on December 25, 1867 to Daniel Coit Gilman
and Mary Ketcham Gilman. Elisabeth was the second child, and had an older sister named Alice. Their mother, Mary, died in 1869 and, as a result, were cared for by Daniel's sister Louise.
At the age of seven, Elisabeth's father took the post as the first president of Johns Hopkins University
and the family moved to Baltimore
, Maryland. She was cared for by a governess until her father remarried. In 1877, Daniel married Elisabeth Dwight Woolsey (1838–1910) of the New England Dwight family
, with whom Elisabeth Gilman developed a close relationship.
Gilman attended Miss Hall's School
until age eleven, when due to eye trouble, she was tutored by her governess at home. When her eyesight improved, Elisabeth attended the Springside School
in Philadelphia at age seventeen. It was planned that she would attend Bryn Mawr College
.
as a representative of the National Committee on Surgical Dressings. While in France, she also worked for the YMCA
. It was at this time that she was introduced to the concepts of Socialism
. When Gilman returned to the United States at the age of twenty, she entered into social work at the request of her father. Eventually, in 1921, she earned her degree from Johns Hopkins University.
Gilman officially joined the Socialist Party of America
on March 1, 1929. She ran for Governor of Maryland in 1930. After running for Governor, she traveled to Russia
in 1931 to study the Soviet system. She returned and ran for the United States Senate
in 1934 and 1938, Mayor of Baltimore in 1935, and Sheriff of Baltimore in 1942.
, and racial equality. In 1921, Elisabeth helped to form The Maryland Civil Liberties Committee; this committee was a precursor to the Maryland Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union
. In 1931, the ACLU would officially establish an affiliate in the state of Maryland; the meeting was held in Gilman's home.
Gilman also hosted the first public interracial dinner in Baltimore at her home in 1928 when local hotels refused to allow the dinner on their properties.
in Pikesville, Maryland
.
Early life
Elisabeth Coit Gilman was born in New Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
on December 25, 1867 to Daniel Coit Gilman
Daniel Coit Gilman
Daniel Coit Gilman was an American educator and academician, who was instrumental in founding the Sheffield Scientific School at Yale College, and who subsequently served as one of the earliest presidents of the University of California, the first president of Johns Hopkins University, and as...
and Mary Ketcham Gilman. Elisabeth was the second child, and had an older sister named Alice. Their mother, Mary, died in 1869 and, as a result, were cared for by Daniel's sister Louise.
At the age of seven, Elisabeth's father took the post as the first president of Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
and the family moved to Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland. She was cared for by a governess until her father remarried. In 1877, Daniel married Elisabeth Dwight Woolsey (1838–1910) of the New England Dwight family
New England Dwight family
The New England Dwight family had many members who were military leaders, educators, jurists, authors, businessmen and clergymen.Around 1634 John Dwight came with his wife Hannah, daughter Hannah, and sons Timothy Dwight and John Dwight, from Dedham, Essex, England to North America where the town...
, with whom Elisabeth Gilman developed a close relationship.
Gilman attended Miss Hall's School
Miss Hall's School
Miss Hall's School, located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is a highly selective independent school for girls aged 14–18. It was one of the first girls' boarding schools established in New England....
until age eleven, when due to eye trouble, she was tutored by her governess at home. When her eyesight improved, Elisabeth attended the Springside School
Springside School
Springside School is a private, all-girls school in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood, in the Northwest section of Philadelphia in the United States...
in Philadelphia at age seventeen. It was planned that she would attend Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College is a women's liberal arts college located in Bryn Mawr, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, ten miles west of Philadelphia. The name "Bryn Mawr" means "big hill" in Welsh....
.
Political life
Instead of attending Bryn Mawr, Gilman traveled to FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
as a representative of the National Committee on Surgical Dressings. While in France, she also worked for the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
. It was at this time that she was introduced to the concepts of Socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
. When Gilman returned to the United States at the age of twenty, she entered into social work at the request of her father. Eventually, in 1921, she earned her degree from Johns Hopkins University.
Gilman officially joined the Socialist Party of America
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
on March 1, 1929. She ran for Governor of Maryland in 1930. After running for Governor, she traveled to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in 1931 to study the Soviet system. She returned and ran for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1934 and 1938, Mayor of Baltimore in 1935, and Sheriff of Baltimore in 1942.
Platform
Gilman campaigned for many causes; however, she was mainly involved in workers' rights, civil libertiesCivil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
, and racial equality. In 1921, Elisabeth helped to form The Maryland Civil Liberties Committee; this committee was a precursor to the Maryland Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
. In 1931, the ACLU would officially establish an affiliate in the state of Maryland; the meeting was held in Gilman's home.
Gilman also hosted the first public interracial dinner in Baltimore at her home in 1928 when local hotels refused to allow the dinner on their properties.
Death
Elisabeth Gilman died on December 14, 1950 at the age of 82. She is buried at Druid Ridge CemeteryDruid Ridge Cemetery
Druid Ridge Cemetery is located just outside the city of Baltimore in Pikesville, Maryland at 7900 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore Co., MD 21208. Among its monuments and graves are several noted sculptures by Hans Schuler and the final resting places of:...
in Pikesville, Maryland
Pikesville, Maryland
Pikesville is a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. Pikesville is just northwest of the Baltimore city limits. It is the northwestern suburb closest to Baltimore.The population was 29,123 at the 2000 census...
.
External links
- http://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/maryland/index.aspx
- http://www.aclu-md.org/