Catharine A. F. Stebbins facts for kids

Catharine A. F. Stebbins was a brave activist.

Catharine A. Fish Stebbins (born August 17, 1823 – died 1904) was an important American activist. She worked hard to end slavery and to gain voting rights for women. She gave many speeches and fought for these rights in New York and Michigan.

Who Was Catharine Stebbins?

Catharine A. Fish was born in Farmington, New York on August 17, 1823. Her family were Quakers, a religious group known for believing in equality. When Catharine was five, her family moved to Rochester, New York.

Her parents were strong supporters of ending slavery. They even started a group in Rochester to fight against it. Catharine joined their efforts when she was just twelve years old. She helped by gathering signatures for petitions against slavery.

Helping the Underground Railroad

Catharine and her family also played a big part in the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. Their home in Rochester was one of the first safe places, or "waystations," in the city.

Fighting for Change

Catharine became a teacher in Rochester. In 1842, she joined the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society. This group worked to end slavery in the western part of New York.

In August 1846, she married Giles Badger Stebbins. He was also an activist who wanted to end slavery. Together, they traveled and gave speeches. They spoke out for women's right to vote and for ending slavery.

A Voice for Women's Rights

In 1848, Catharine attended the very first Seneca Falls Convention. This was a major meeting for women's rights in the United States. She was an active participant and even helped write one of the important statements at the convention.

In the early 1850s, Catharine and Giles moved to Michigan. They continued their work there.

Continuing the Fight

When the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) started in 1861, Catharine joined it. This group worked to get women the right to vote across the country. In the same year, she and her husband spoke at the Michigan State Anti-Slavery Society.

Catharine was also against war. She did not want her brother to join the Union Army during the American Civil War. She also helped people who had to leave their homes because of the war.

Trying to Vote

In 1871, Catharine tried to register to vote in Michigan. However, she was not allowed to. She went with another woman, Nannette B. Gardner, who was a widow and paid taxes. Nannette was given the right to vote, but Catharine was never able to register.

In 1880, Catharine was in charge of the NWSA convention in Detroit. She also served on a committee that worked on The Woman's Bible. This book looked at the Bible from a woman's point of view.

Catharine A. Fish Stebbins passed away in 1904, after a lifetime of fighting for important causes.