Elizabeth Glendower Evans facts for kids
Elizabeth Glendower Evans (1856–1937) was an American woman who worked hard to make society better. She fought for important changes, especially for women's rights and fair working conditions. She was known as a social reformer and a suffragist. This means she wanted to improve society and helped women get the right to vote.
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Early Life and Discoveries
Elizabeth Gardiner was born on February 28, 1856, in New Rochelle, New York. When she turned 26, she received a large amount of money. In 1882, she married Glendower Evans. Sadly, her husband died just four years later, in 1886.
In 1908, Evans traveled to England. There, she saw how difficult life was for many people in cities. She learned about dangerous factory jobs and how many people couldn't find work. She also learned about a way of thinking called socialism. This idea suggests that society should be more fair for everyone, especially workers.
Working for Change
When Evans returned to the United States, she used what she learned to help others. She strongly supported women's suffrage, which was the movement to give women the right to vote. She believed that if women could vote, they could help fix problems like poor housing and bad factory conditions.
Evans worked in many different roles to bring about social change. She helped improve schools and protect people's rights.
Helping Others in Massachusetts
From 1886 to 1914, Evans was a trustee for the Massachusetts State Reform Schools. This meant she helped guide and improve schools for young people.
She was also a member of several important groups in Boston:
- The Women's Educational and Industrial Union: This group helped women get an education and find jobs.
- The Boston Women's Trade Union League: This group worked to improve conditions for women who worked in factories and other jobs.
Evans also served on the Massachusetts Minimum Wage Commission. This group helped make sure workers were paid a fair amount for their labor. She was also part of the Massachusetts Consumers' League, which worked to protect people who bought goods.
Working for Peace and Rights
In 1915, Evans traveled to the Netherlands as a delegate to the International Congress of Women at the Hague. This was a big meeting where women from different countries talked about peace. She was also the first National Organizer for the Woman's Peace Party, a group that worked to prevent wars.
From 1920 until she passed away, Evans was a national director of the American Civil Liberties Union. This organization works to protect the rights and freedoms of all Americans.
Later Life
Elizabeth Glendower Evans died on December 12, 1937, in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Legacy
Elizabeth Glendower Evans's important papers and writings are kept at the Schlesinger Library in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They help us remember her work and dedication to making the world a better place.