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Indian Rights Activist Born in Amherst

October 15, 1830
October 15, 1830

Indian Rights Activist Born in Amherst

On this day in 1830, an Amherst College professor and his wife rejoiced at the safe delivery of their second child, Helen Maria Fiske. A lifelong friend of Emily Dickinson and a talented poet in...

Lydia Maria Child Dies

October 20, 1880
October 20, 1880

Lydia Maria Child Dies

On this day in 1880, Lydia Maria Child, whom abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison called "the first woman in the Republic," was buried in Wayland. A successful novelist and magazine editor and the author of a...

First Missionaries Leave for Hawaii

October 23, 1819
October 23, 1819

First Missionaries Leave for Hawaii

On this day in 1819, a crowd gathered on a Boston wharf to bid farewell to the first Protestant missionaries bound for Hawaii. Among them were seven Massachusetts couples, four of them recently married. After...

First National Woman's Rights Convention Ends in Worcester

October 24, 1850
October 24, 1850

First National Woman's Rights Convention Ends in Worcester

On this day in 1850, the first national convention for woman's rights concluded in Worcester. For two days, more than 1,000 delegates from 11 different states had filled Brinley Hall to overflowing. Speakers, most of...

Voters Deny Massachusetts Women the Vote

November 2, 1915
November 2, 1915

Voters Deny Massachusetts Women the Vote

On this day in 1915, a referendum to give Massachusetts women the vote failed at the polls. In spite of its leading role in the nineteenth-century woman's rights movement, Massachusetts was the first state to...

First Students Arrive at Mt. Holyoke Seminary

November 8, 1837
November 8, 1837

First Students Arrive at Mt. Holyoke Seminary

On this day in 1837, 80 students arrived at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in the Connecticut Valley village of South Hadley. Many had traveled for days to reach what would become the first of the...

Sculptor Edmonia Lewis Displays Work in Boston

November 11, 1864
November 11, 1864

Sculptor Edmonia Lewis Displays Work in Boston

On this day in 1864, sculptor Edmonia Lewis exhibited two of her early pieces at the Colored Soldiers' Fair in Boston. The daughter of a Native American woman and a black man, Lewis was the...

Mercy Otis Marries James Warren

November 14, 1754
November 14, 1754

Mercy Otis Marries James Warren

On this day in 1754, Mercy Otis of Barnstable and James Warren of Plymouth began their remarkable 54-year partnership. When she married into a family active in public affairs, Mercy embraced the chance to be...

"Richest Woman in America" Born in New Bedford

November 21, 1834
November 21, 1834

"Richest Woman in America" Born in New Bedford

On this day in 1834, the wealthiest whaling family in New Bedford celebrated the birth of their only daughter. This little girl would grow up to be the richest — and, according to legend, the...

Elizabeth Porter Phelps Born

November 24, 1747
November 24, 1747

Elizabeth Porter Phelps Born

On this day in 1747, Elizabeth Porter was born in the Connecticut River Valley village of Hadley. Five years later, her father built the first house outside the town center. He called it "Forty Acres."...

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