Olympia Brown
Encyclopedia
Olympia Brown was an American suffragist
. She is regarded as the first woman to graduate from a theological school, as well as becoming the first full time ordained minister. Brown was also one of the few first generation suffragists
who were able to vote with the passage of the 19th amendment.
. Brown was the oldest of four children. Her parents, Lephia and Asa Brown, were farmers in what was then considered frontier land. They were the great-great-aunt and -uncle, respectively, of U.S. President
Calvin Coolidge
. Lephia raised her children in a household that regarded religion and education as very important. This is evident from the building of a schoolhouse on the Brown territory.
The drive for education instilled by Olympia’s mother had compelled her to finish high school and advance to the university level. Olympia and her younger sister Oella decided to attend Mount Holyoke Female Seminary
. Mount Holyoke and a college education were what Olympia had hoped for. Her excitement was tempered by the restrictions placed on women at Mount Holyoke. These restrictions included a list of forty rules, the abolition of a literacy society founded by the Browns, and religious restrictions. Perhaps the best example of thinking were the words of a Chemistry professor, “You are not expected to remember all of this, but only enough to make you intelligent in conversation.” Olympia, who already knew she could meet the challenges of a higher education, looked elsewhere.
Putting aside her experiences at Mount Holyoke, Olympia enrolled at Antioch College
. Once Olympia began her education at Antioch, she realized she had to catch up to higher standards. Olympia also learned that despite the progressive nature at Antioch, there were still forms of discrimination. For example, in Olympia’s English class, women were not required to have speeches memorized. In a defiant act, Olympia delivered her speeches from memory, just as the men had. Perhaps the crowning achievement of Olympia’s time at Antioch was her ability to persuade her hero
, Antoinette Brown, to speak at Antioch.
Once Olympia Brown finished her schooling at Antioch, she decided her calling was to be a minister. After countless rejections, she was accepted to the Theological School of St. Lawrence University
. Once again, Brown faced opposition from many sides. This included fellow students and the wives of the faculty. Brown took it all as a challenge. After her first year, Brown had gained acceptance and finished her schooling.
. Brown traveled to nearby Malone, New York
, to present her case. Brown’s appeal was a simple plea for equality. The board, which had already heard some of Brown’s sermons, agreed with her. On June 25, 1863, Olympia Brown became the first fully ordained woman minister. She went on to pastor in churches at Marshfield and Montpelier, VT; Weymouth, MA; Bridgeport, CT; and Racine, WI.
continually sought the involvement of Brown. With the encouragement of Lucy Stone
and her husband, Henry Blackwell, Brown decided to travel to Kansas in order to speak on women’s rights. Over the course of the summer, Brown delivered more than 300 speeches despite facing many hardships. Even though this was a great experience, Brown decided to return to ministry, until a change of heart in 1887.
Now that Brown had dedicated her life to the movement, she looked to do all she could. This included forming the New England Women’s Suffrage Association, leading the Wisconsin Suffrage Association and becoming the president of the Federal Suffrage Association from 1903 to 1920.
Despite all this action, Brown saw few changes take place. Brown believed that the second generation of suffragists suffered from poor leadership and erroneously focused their efforts at the state level. It was not until 1913 when Brown was invited to join the newly formed Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage, which would later be called the National Woman's Party, by Alice Paul
and Lucy Burns
. This group looked to pass an amendment at the federal level and also vowed to use a more radical approach.
These new tactics led to the women’s right to vote amendment being presented to Congress and marches in front of the White House. President Wilson met the two marches in front of the White House with displeasure. As a result, these women were to be jailed. The mistreatment of these women coupled with the massive press exposure led to more support for the movement.
Eventually, Congress passed the bill. However, with ratification still needed, Brown along with others hit the campaign trail one last time. Olympia Brown’s last march was at the 1920 Republican National Convention
. The 19th Amendment
would finally be ratified on August 25, 1920, marking the first time that Olympia Brown along with countless other women were able to vote.
and Gwendolyn. Both of their children grew up to become teachers.
. Brown continued to support women’s rights and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
. Olympia Brown died in Baltimore on October 23, 1926.
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
. She is regarded as the first woman to graduate from a theological school, as well as becoming the first full time ordained minister. Brown was also one of the few first generation suffragists
First-wave feminism
First-wave feminism refers to a period of feminist activity during the 19th and early twentieth century in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. It focused on de jure inequalities, primarily on gaining women's suffrage .The term first-wave was coined retroactively in the 1970s...
who were able to vote with the passage of the 19th amendment.
Early life and education
Olympia Brown was born on January 5, 1835 in Prairie Ronde Township, MichiganPrairie Ronde Township, Michigan
Prairie Ronde Township is a civil township located in the extreme southwestern corner of Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,086 at the 2000 census.Prairie Ronde is the birthplace of the women's suffragist Olympia Brown....
. Brown was the oldest of four children. Her parents, Lephia and Asa Brown, were farmers in what was then considered frontier land. They were the great-great-aunt and -uncle, respectively, of U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
. Lephia raised her children in a household that regarded religion and education as very important. This is evident from the building of a schoolhouse on the Brown territory.
The drive for education instilled by Olympia’s mother had compelled her to finish high school and advance to the university level. Olympia and her younger sister Oella decided to attend Mount Holyoke Female Seminary
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
. Mount Holyoke and a college education were what Olympia had hoped for. Her excitement was tempered by the restrictions placed on women at Mount Holyoke. These restrictions included a list of forty rules, the abolition of a literacy society founded by the Browns, and religious restrictions. Perhaps the best example of thinking were the words of a Chemistry professor, “You are not expected to remember all of this, but only enough to make you intelligent in conversation.” Olympia, who already knew she could meet the challenges of a higher education, looked elsewhere.
Putting aside her experiences at Mount Holyoke, Olympia enrolled at Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
. Once Olympia began her education at Antioch, she realized she had to catch up to higher standards. Olympia also learned that despite the progressive nature at Antioch, there were still forms of discrimination. For example, in Olympia’s English class, women were not required to have speeches memorized. In a defiant act, Olympia delivered her speeches from memory, just as the men had. Perhaps the crowning achievement of Olympia’s time at Antioch was her ability to persuade her hero
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...
, Antoinette Brown, to speak at Antioch.
Once Olympia Brown finished her schooling at Antioch, she decided her calling was to be a minister. After countless rejections, she was accepted to the Theological School of St. Lawrence University
Theological School of St. Lawrence University
The Theological School of St. Lawrence University was founded in 1856 at St. Lawrence University and closed in 1965, one of the three Universalist seminaries .-Closure:...
. Once again, Brown faced opposition from many sides. This included fellow students and the wives of the faculty. Brown took it all as a challenge. After her first year, Brown had gained acceptance and finished her schooling.
Religious career
Despite finishing her schooling, Brown still met opposition to her ordination. She believed to be ordained, she needed to appeal to the Universalist CouncilUniversalist Church of America
The Universalist Church of America was a Christian Universalist religious denomination in the United States . Known from 1866 as the Universalist General Convention, the name was changed to the Universalist Church of America in 1942...
. Brown traveled to nearby Malone, New York
Malone (town), New York
Malone is a town in Franklin County, New York, United States. The population was 14,545 at the 2010 census.The Town of Malone contains a village called Malone, which is the county seat. The town is an interior town, centrally located in the county....
, to present her case. Brown’s appeal was a simple plea for equality. The board, which had already heard some of Brown’s sermons, agreed with her. On June 25, 1863, Olympia Brown became the first fully ordained woman minister. She went on to pastor in churches at Marshfield and Montpelier, VT; Weymouth, MA; Bridgeport, CT; and Racine, WI.
Women’s suffrage
From Brown’s childhood and the abolition movement to Brown’s own experiences with discrimination, Brown had always been aware of the quest for equal rights. Due to Brown’s strong speaking skills and beliefs, Susan B. AnthonySusan B. Anthony
Susan Brownell Anthony was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. She was co-founder of the first Women's Temperance Movement with Elizabeth Cady Stanton as President...
continually sought the involvement of Brown. With the encouragement of Lucy Stone
Lucy Stone
Lucy Stone was a prominent American abolitionist and suffragist, and a vocal advocate and organizer promoting rights for women. In 1847, Stone was the first woman from Massachusetts to earn a college degree. She spoke out for women's rights and against slavery at a time when women were discouraged...
and her husband, Henry Blackwell, Brown decided to travel to Kansas in order to speak on women’s rights. Over the course of the summer, Brown delivered more than 300 speeches despite facing many hardships. Even though this was a great experience, Brown decided to return to ministry, until a change of heart in 1887.
Now that Brown had dedicated her life to the movement, she looked to do all she could. This included forming the New England Women’s Suffrage Association, leading the Wisconsin Suffrage Association and becoming the president of the Federal Suffrage Association from 1903 to 1920.
Despite all this action, Brown saw few changes take place. Brown believed that the second generation of suffragists suffered from poor leadership and erroneously focused their efforts at the state level. It was not until 1913 when Brown was invited to join the newly formed Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage, which would later be called the National Woman's Party, by Alice Paul
Alice Paul
Alice Stokes Paul was an American suffragist and activist. Along with Lucy Burns and others, she led a successful campaign for women's suffrage that resulted in the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920.-Activism: Alice Paul received her undergraduate education from...
and Lucy Burns
Lucy Burns
Lucy Burns was an American suffragist and women's rights advocate. She was a passionate activist in the United States and in the United Kingdom. Burns was a close friend of Alice Paul, and together they ultimately formed the National Woman's Party.-Early life and education:Lucy Burns was born in...
. This group looked to pass an amendment at the federal level and also vowed to use a more radical approach.
These new tactics led to the women’s right to vote amendment being presented to Congress and marches in front of the White House. President Wilson met the two marches in front of the White House with displeasure. As a result, these women were to be jailed. The mistreatment of these women coupled with the massive press exposure led to more support for the movement.
Eventually, Congress passed the bill. However, with ratification still needed, Brown along with others hit the campaign trail one last time. Olympia Brown’s last march was at the 1920 Republican National Convention
1920 Republican National Convention
The 1920 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States nominated Ohio Senator Warren G. Harding for President and Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge for Vice President...
. The 19th Amendment
Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits any United States citizen to be denied the right to vote based on sex. It was ratified on August 18, 1920....
would finally be ratified on August 25, 1920, marking the first time that Olympia Brown along with countless other women were able to vote.
Marriage and children
Olympia Brown was married to John Henry Willis in 1873. Olympia, who chose to keep her maiden name, and Willis, reared two children: HenryHenry Parker Willis
Henry Parker Willis, Ph. D. was an American financial expert, born at Weymouth, Massachusetts, the son of Universalist minister and suffragist Olympia Brown. He graduated from the University of Chicago with a Ph.D in 1897....
and Gwendolyn. Both of their children grew up to become teachers.
Death
Olympia Brown spent her last years with her family in Racine, WisconsinRacine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
. Brown continued to support women’s rights and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom was established in the United States in January 1915 as the Woman's Peace Party...
. Olympia Brown died in Baltimore on October 23, 1926.
Published works
- Woman's Suffrage (1907)
- Democratic Ideals (1917)
- Suffrage and Religious Principle: Speeches and Writings of Olympia Brown (1988, posthumous)
External links
- St. Lawrence University: Olympia Brown
- Olympia Brown Papers. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.