Eliza Kennedy Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eliza Kennedy Smith
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Eliza Kennedy, 1915
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Eliza Jane Kennedy
December 11, 1889 Latrobe, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | October 23, 1964 (aged 74) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Other names | Eliza Kennedy, Mrs. R. Templeton Smith |
| Occupation | Suffragist, women's rights activist, and government reformer |
| Spouse(s) | R. Templeton Smith |
| Parent(s) | Julian Kennedy and Jennie E. Kennedy |
Eliza Kennedy Smith (born December 11, 1889 – died October 23, 1964) was an important American activist in the 20th century. She fought for women's right to vote and worked to improve government in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. People knew her as a "watchdog" who carefully watched how the city spent its money. She attended many budget meetings, probably more than anyone else in Pittsburgh!
Eliza worked with her sister, Lucy Kennedy Miller, and other women like Jennie Bradley Roessing and Mary Flinn Lawrence. Together, they helped start the Allegheny County Equal Rights Association. This group later became the Allegheny County League of Women Voters. Eliza was the president of this League from the early 1920s until she passed away in 1964. She also worked with her sister Lucy to find out about corruption in the Pittsburgh city government. Their efforts led to the mayor, Charles H. Kline, being found guilty of wrongdoing in 1932.
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Early Life and Education
Eliza Jane Kennedy was born on December 11, 1889, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Her parents, Jennie E. Kennedy and Julian Kennedy, were also strong supporters of women's rights. When Eliza was three years old, her family moved to Pittsburgh. She had several siblings, including her sister Lucy Kennedy Miller, who became a very important suffragist herself.
Eliza graduated from the Winchester Thurston School in Pittsburgh in 1908. She then went on to study economics and political science at Vassar College, finishing her studies in 1912.
In 1915, Eliza got engaged to Raymond Templeton Smith. He was a graduate of Cornell and later became a leader at the Pittsburgh Coal Company. Her engagement party was special because her sister, Lucy Kennedy Miller, used it as a chance to talk about women's right to vote! Eliza married R. Templeton Smith later that year. They had two sons: Templeton Smith, who became one of America's first environmental lawyers, and Kennedy Smith.
Fighting for Women's Rights
Around 1910, Eliza, her sister Lucy, and their mother Jennie all took part in training to become suffrage advocates. This training was led by Carrie Chapman Catt, a famous leader in the suffrage movement. After their training, they became very active. They marched in parades, held events for young women, and worked to convince state lawmakers to approve the Nineteenth Amendment. This amendment gave women the right to vote.
Eliza, her sister Lucy, and other suffragists helped create the Allegheny County Equal Rights Association. Eliza served as the treasurer for this group. After the Nineteenth Amendment was passed in 1919, suffrage groups changed their names to reflect their new goals. In 1920, the Equal Franchise Federation of Western Pennsylvania officially became the Allegheny County League of Women Voters. Eliza Kennedy Smith became the president of this important organization in 1924 and held that position until she died in 1964.
A Watchdog for Good Government
From the 1930s to the 1950s, Eliza worked with her sister Lucy Kennedy Miller to expose wrongdoing in the Pittsburgh city government. They uncovered how Mayor Charles H. Kline was spending too much money and giving out city contracts unfairly. Their investigation led to Mayor Kline being found guilty of many wrong actions. He was sentenced to prison in 1932.
The Pittsburgh Press newspaper called Eliza a "relentless, tenacious watchdog of the City's purse strings." She was known for attending more budget meetings than almost anyone else in Pittsburgh. Eliza pushed for investigations into various problems and even alleged vote frauds. She kept a close eye on almost every part of the city government, from bridge painters to garbage collectors. She did this without caring if the officials were Republican or Democratic.
In 1932, Mayor William N. McNair appointed her as his budget advisor. However, she found it hard to get information. During one of her investigations, she noticed that garbage collectors were adding water to trash to make it weigh more, so they could get paid more! In the 1940s, she also led the effort to create a new, modern communications center for the police department, which opened in 1950.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1964, Eliza was photographed with her granddaughter, Eliza Smith, and Admiral Ben Moreell. They were supporting U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater for president. Eliza and Moreell were trying to become delegates for the Republican National Convention that year, promising to vote for Goldwater.
Eliza and her husband lived for many years in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. She passed away on October 23, 1964, at the age of 74. She was buried at the Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh. Eliza Kennedy Smith is remembered as a dedicated activist who worked tirelessly for women's rights and honest government.
Images for kids
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Eliza Kennedy, 1915
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Eliza Kennedy's Suffrage Angel Cake recipe, 1915.
