Josephine Sophia White Griffing
Encyclopedia
Josephine Sophia White Griffing (1814–1872) was an American reformer who campaigned against slavery
and for women's rights
. She was born in Hebron, Connecticut
on December 18, 1814 but later settled in Litchfield, Ohio
. There she worked for the Western Anti-Slavery Society and Ohio Woman's Rights Association. At the end of the Civil War
she moved to Washington, D.C.
, to help work with the unemployed freedmen. She died there on February 18, 1872.
the day of December 18, 1814. She was born into a prominent New England
family. Very little is known of her childhood and early life. Her history begins when she married Charles Stockerman Spooner Griffing in 1835.
. It was here that they became actively involved in the antislavery movement, her home being one of the stops of the Underground Railroad
.
Around 1850, Griffing became a lecturer for the antislavery movement in the states of Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. In addition to her lectures, she also wrote articles, mainly for the Anti-Slavery Bugle.
Griffing and her three daughters moved to Washington, D.C.
in 1862, while her husband remained in Ohio. In Washington, D.C., Griffing and daughters worked with those slaves who had been freed during the war. These freed slaves were coming in large amounts to Washington with no jobs, homes, or education. Griffing moved here with an organized plan to change this, gaining support from President Abraham Lincoln
and Secretary Stanton along the way.
She was also a member of the National Freemen’s Relief Association of the District of Columbia and was an active supporter of the Freedmen’s Bureau bill. She worked on a bill for the emancipation of slaves in 1863, and this bill was finally passed in 1865 by the United States House of Representatives
. Griffing was promoted to the assistant of the assistant commissioner for the District of Columbia in June 1865, only to have her position revoked five months later (November 1865) because of her public speeches in the North. Her speeches concentrated on topics such as raising funds and raising awareness of the impoverished freed slaves in Washington, D.C. at this time.
Even with this setback, Griffing continued to help better the lives of the freed slaves. Besides handing out rations, fuel, and clothing, she also established and ran an industrial school for those freed women slaves, who would be given clothes upon completing school. Griffing helped to improve the conditions of numerous slaves during her time in Washington. On government expense, freed men and women were sent to the North, including Providence, Rhode Island
. By using her contacts in the North, Griffing helped in relocating women to the North with jobs and homes. She sometimes was assisted by Sojourner Truth
. Years later, she was again rehired by the Freedmen’s Bureau but her relationship with them was strained.
Many women joined together to petition the United States Congress
to free slaves. Griffing took this further by petitioning Congress to “give women an official role in helping former slaves” (National Cyclopedia). She also believed it was the government’s job to help freed slaves acclimatize to their new life, but unfortunately many disagreed with her. In addition, during 1870 Northern interest in helping freed slaves began to decline. As a result, Griffing and women lost their voice in this matter.
She later was an active member in the Woman’s Loyal League, and its branch, the Sanitary Commission. She was also the president of the Universal Franchise Association. She continued to work for improving the lives of freedmen until her death in 1872.
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
and for women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
. She was born in Hebron, Connecticut
Hebron, Connecticut
Hebron is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,610 at the 2000 census. Hebron was incorporated May 26, 1708....
on December 18, 1814 but later settled in Litchfield, Ohio
Litchfield, Ohio
Litchfield is an unincorporated community in central Litchfield Township, Medina County, Ohio, United States. It is situated at the junction of State Routes 83 and 18, about nine miles northwest of the city of Medina. Litchfield was established in 1831....
. There she worked for the Western Anti-Slavery Society and Ohio Woman's Rights Association. At the end of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
she moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, to help work with the unemployed freedmen. She died there on February 18, 1872.
Early life
Josephine Griffing was born in Hebron, ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
the day of December 18, 1814. She was born into a prominent New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
family. Very little is known of her childhood and early life. Her history begins when she married Charles Stockerman Spooner Griffing in 1835.
Beginning her Freedmen work
In 1842, the Griffings relocated from Connecticut to Litchfield, OhioLitchfield, Ohio
Litchfield is an unincorporated community in central Litchfield Township, Medina County, Ohio, United States. It is situated at the junction of State Routes 83 and 18, about nine miles northwest of the city of Medina. Litchfield was established in 1831....
. It was here that they became actively involved in the antislavery movement, her home being one of the stops of the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
.
Around 1850, Griffing became a lecturer for the antislavery movement in the states of Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. In addition to her lectures, she also wrote articles, mainly for the Anti-Slavery Bugle.
Griffing and her three daughters moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1862, while her husband remained in Ohio. In Washington, D.C., Griffing and daughters worked with those slaves who had been freed during the war. These freed slaves were coming in large amounts to Washington with no jobs, homes, or education. Griffing moved here with an organized plan to change this, gaining support from President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
and Secretary Stanton along the way.
She was also a member of the National Freemen’s Relief Association of the District of Columbia and was an active supporter of the Freedmen’s Bureau bill. She worked on a bill for the emancipation of slaves in 1863, and this bill was finally passed in 1865 by the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. Griffing was promoted to the assistant of the assistant commissioner for the District of Columbia in June 1865, only to have her position revoked five months later (November 1865) because of her public speeches in the North. Her speeches concentrated on topics such as raising funds and raising awareness of the impoverished freed slaves in Washington, D.C. at this time.
Even with this setback, Griffing continued to help better the lives of the freed slaves. Besides handing out rations, fuel, and clothing, she also established and ran an industrial school for those freed women slaves, who would be given clothes upon completing school. Griffing helped to improve the conditions of numerous slaves during her time in Washington. On government expense, freed men and women were sent to the North, including Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. By using her contacts in the North, Griffing helped in relocating women to the North with jobs and homes. She sometimes was assisted by Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth was the self-given name, from 1843 onward, of Isabella Baumfree, an African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist. Truth was born into slavery in Swartekill, New York, but escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in 1826. After going to court to recover her son, she...
. Years later, she was again rehired by the Freedmen’s Bureau but her relationship with them was strained.
Work for women’s rights
Griffing’s involvement with women’s rights began during her work towards bettering the life of a freed slave. Upon moving to Washington, she became very interested in the women’s suffrage movement, acknowledging the rights women ought to have but did not have at the time. In 1869, she was appointed the corresponding secretary for the National Woman Suffrage Association. She even organized a large convention for the NWSA in January 1870.Many women joined together to petition the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
to free slaves. Griffing took this further by petitioning Congress to “give women an official role in helping former slaves” (National Cyclopedia). She also believed it was the government’s job to help freed slaves acclimatize to their new life, but unfortunately many disagreed with her. In addition, during 1870 Northern interest in helping freed slaves began to decline. As a result, Griffing and women lost their voice in this matter.
She later was an active member in the Woman’s Loyal League, and its branch, the Sanitary Commission. She was also the president of the Universal Franchise Association. She continued to work for improving the lives of freedmen until her death in 1872.