Information on historic women in Delaware can be difficult to find, but the further you look, the more interesting the women you will discover.
Mary Wilson Thompson (1866-1947)
It seems strange to honor a woman who was against suffrage, but she worked hard fighting for what she believed in. Most of us cringe at the thought of what today might be like if Thompson’s movement had been successful nationwide (she was successful in the General Assembly). According to the Historical Society of Delaware, it wasn’t that Thompson believed women weren’t smart enough or qualified to participate, she simply believed women could be more persuasive lobbying legislatures if we didn’t have voting power. She felt if we pressured legislatures on an issue, they would be more likely to react to us based on our argument, not on whether or not they could earn our vote in the next election.
Mabel Vernon (1883-1975)
Vernon became a strong leader for the suffrage movement. The Historical Society of Delaware lists her accomplishments as everything from organizing the Congressional Union Headquarters in Wilmington to speaking at formal events and street rallies. In 1916, she even stood up during the middle of President Wilson’s speech on democracy to heckle him. She picketed the White House and was one of the first suffragists to be arrested.
Florence Bayard Hilles (1865-1954)
Hilles got involved in the suffrage movement after listening to Mabel Vernon speak. She helped Vernon set up the Congressional Union Headquarters, picket the White House, and do her time in jail for her role in the demonstrations.
Mary Ann Sorden Stuart (1828-1893)
Left widowed with five children to support, Stuart quickly learned about business and woman’s inequality. She became Delaware’s first feminist. The Historical Society reminds us this is a time when women didn’t have legal or property rights when they married – anything they had became the property of their husbands. Single and widowed women could own property, but were unable to have any say in how that property would be taxed. Stuart led the fight against this inequality, earning married women the right to their own money and property.
Annie Jump Cannon (1863-1941)
One of the first women involved in astronomy, she developed the phrase, “Oh, Be A Fine Girl – Kiss Me!” to make learning star classifications easier. It’s still used today. In addition, she discovered 300 different stars and was the first female elected as an officer of the American Astronomical Society.
Emily P. Bissell (1861-1948)
Bissell was involved in charity work by the age of 15, but it wasn’t until she got involved in the fight against tuberculosis that she made her biggest contribution. The tuberculosis sanatorium was losing funding and under the threat of being closed. To help save it, Bissell tried something Denmark was doing successfully in Europe. She sold Christmas stamps with proceeds going to the sanatorium. She borrowed money from friends, got together with an artist and a printer willing to donate their time to put together 50,000 stamps. She ended up earning enough to save the sanatorium and she sparked a nationwide movement.
For More Information on Women’s History
Important Women in Arkansas History
Historical Society of Delaware
