Anna Jarvis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anna Jarvis
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| Born |
Anna Maria Jarvis
May 1, 1864 |
| Died | November 24, 1948 (aged 84) |
| Resting place | West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Known for | Founder of American Mother's Day |
Anna Maria Jarvis (born May 1, 1864 – died November 24, 1948) was the person who started Mother's Day in the United States. Her mother had always wanted a special day to honor mothers. After her mother passed away, Anna Jarvis worked hard to make this holiday happen.
However, as Mother's Day became more popular, it also became very commercial. Anna Jarvis was not happy about this. She felt the true meaning of the day was being lost. She even tried to stop Mother's Day from being celebrated.
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Anna Jarvis's Early Life
Anna Maria Jarvis was born on May 1, 1864. Her parents were Granville E. and Ann Maria Jarvis. She was born in Webster, West Virginia. Anna was the ninth of eleven children in her family. Sadly, seven of her brothers and sisters died when they were very young.
Her childhood home is now called the Anna Jarvis House. It is a special historical place. Later, her family moved to Grafton, West Virginia.
Anna's mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, was a social activist. This means she worked to make society better. She started "Mothers' Day Work Clubs." These clubs helped mothers learn how to care for their families. Ann was also very active in her church.
In 1876, Anna's mother gave a Sunday school lesson. She ended it with a prayer. She said she hoped someone would create a day to remember mothers. This prayer gave Anna the idea for Mother's Day.
Anna Jarvis went to college with her mother's support. She studied at Augusta Female Seminary. Today, this school is known as Mary Baldwin University. After college, Anna returned to Grafton. She worked as a teacher in the public schools. She also joined her mother as an active church member.
Later, Anna moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. She worked there as a bank teller. The next year, she moved again to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She lived with her brother there. Anna did well in Philadelphia. She became the first female editor for an insurance company. She also became a part-owner in her brother's taxi business.
Anna stayed in close touch with her mother through letters. Her mother was very proud of Anna's achievements. In 1902, Anna's father, Granville, died. Anna asked her mother to move to Philadelphia to live with her. Her mother agreed in 1904 because of her heart problems. Anna spent most of her time caring for her mother. Ann Reeves Jarvis passed away on May 9, 1905.
Starting Mother's Day
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On May 10, 1908, Anna Jarvis held a special ceremony. It was three years after her mother's death. The ceremony honored her mother and all mothers. It took place at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia. This was the first official Mother's Day celebration. Today, this church is called the International Mother's Day Shrine. It is a very important historical place.
Anna Jarvis did not attend this service in person. But she sent a telegram explaining why the day was important. She also sent 500 white carnations. These flowers were for everyone who attended the service. Anna also gave a powerful speech in Philadelphia that day.
Mother's Day Changes and Anna's Later Life
Mother's Day became a national holiday. This meant her hard work was recognized. But Anna Jarvis always believed she was the leader of the day. She wanted Mother's Day to be about love and feelings. She felt it should honor mothers and motherhood.
Anna loved the symbol of the white carnation. She said its white color meant truth and purity. Its sweet smell reminded her of mothers' prayers. She said the carnation holds its petals close as it dies. This reminded her of how mothers hold their children close. She chose this flower because her mother loved white "pinks" (a type of carnation).
Anna Jarvis died on November 24, 1948. She was buried next to her mother, sister, and brother. This was at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. A group called the Anna M. Jarvis Committee supported her. They helped continue her work as she got older. Anna Jarvis never married or had children. Her grandniece took care of her family's gravesite.
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