Suffragist of the Month

Lucretia Mott: Download the PDF

Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton initiated the first women’s rights convention at Seneca Falls, New York. Mott was revered as the moral voice of the women’s rights movement.

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“Truth for authority, not authority for truth.”

– Lucretia Mott

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A prolific reformer, Mott was a founder of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Her portrait hangs in the college president’s office today.
- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College — A prolific reformer, Mott was a founder of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Her portrait hangs in the college president’s office today.
*- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College*

Raising Consciousness
Mott attended the Nine Partners Quaker Boarding School in New York where she met her future husband James. Both later taught there. She was angered to learn that, even in that setting, male teachers earned more than women.

Lucretia and husband James Mott shared common beliefs including the equality of women. Boycotting products made with slave labor, James abandoned his business as a cotton broker. The Mott’s nearly lost their home as he made the transition to the wool business.
*– Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College*

Abolitionism and Women’s Rights
To achieve abolition and women’s rights, Lucretia Mott favored moral suasion over political action at first. Her friend Elizabeth Cady Stanton helped convince Mott of the importance of voting rights for women. After the Civil War, Mott was dismayed that the suffrage movement divided over support for the 15th amendment that guaranteed the vote to black men but not women. She advised accepting the amendment, while also working for the passage of a national women’s suffrage amendment.

Early Quakers thought that oil paintings reflected vanity and wasted resources that might be put to better use. When inexpensive silhouettes became popular, many Quakers posed for them including James and Lucretia Mott.
– Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College — Early Quakers thought that oil paintings reflected vanity and wasted resources that might be put to better use. When inexpensive silhouettes became popular, many Quakers posed for them including James and Lucretia Mott.
*– Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College*

In later life Lucretia Mott
had iconic status among
women’s rights activists
but protested that she refused to be “lionized.”
This image appeared in
a National Women’s Suffrage publication in 1897.
Miller NWSA Scrapbooks
1897- 1901 Library of
Congress — In later life Lucretia Mott had iconic status among women’s rights activists but protested that she refused to be “lionized.” This image appeared in a National Women’s Suffrage publication in 1897.
*- Miller NWSA Scrapbooks 1897- 1901 Library of Congress*

Power Play
A friend and advisor of Civil War Governor John Albion Andrew, Lewis Hayden remained active in Republican politics after the war, serving one term in the legislature. Hayden and others wanted a substantial role in party politics including input on the nominee for governor. Most party leaders thought that abolition of slavery was enough. They took African-American support for granted and pushed Hayden and others to the side. The resilient Hayden worked as a messenger in the Secretary of State’s office.

Lucretia Mott . . .

Calvin Fairbank in prison attire with a shaved head, serving hard labor for aiding Lewis Hayden’s escape. Delia Webster, who also helped, had her sentence commuted. University of Kentucky Archives

All in the family . . .

Suffragist of the Month: Lucretia Mott (1793 – 1880)

Lucretia Mott: Download the PDF

Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton initiated the first women’s rights convention at Seneca Falls, New York. Mott was revered as the moral voice of the women’s rights movement.