Julia Archibald Holmes facts for kids
Julia Annie Archibald Holmes (born February 15, 1838 – died January 19, 1887) was an amazing American woman. She fought for important causes. Julia was a suffragist, meaning she worked for women's right to vote. She was also an abolitionist, someone who wanted to end slavery. Besides that, she was a mountaineer and a journalist, writing for newspapers.
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Julia Holmes: A Pioneer in American History
Julia Archibald Holmes was born in 1838 in Noel, Nova Scotia, Canada. Her family moved to Massachusetts in 1848. Her father, James Archibald, was an abolitionist. Her mother, Julia, strongly supported women's right to vote.
Moving to Kansas for Freedom
In 1854, the Archibald family moved to Lawrence, Kansas. They wanted to help end slavery there. This was a time called "Bleeding Kansas" because of fights over slavery. Their home in Kansas was part of the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom.
Marriage and a Big Adventure
In 1857, Julia married James H. Holmes. He was also an abolitionist. She met him through her father's friend, John Brown, a famous abolitionist. In 1858, Julia and James traveled to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. They went with a group of gold miners.
First Woman to Climb Pikes Peak
When they reached the base of Pikes Peak, the Holmeses decided to climb it. They went with two other people, J. D. Miller and George Peck. On August 5, 1858, they reached the top! This made Julia Holmes the first woman to climb Pikes Peak.
From the mountain top, she wrote a letter to her mother. She said, "Nearly everyone tried to discourage me from attempting it. But I believed that I should succeed. And now here I am, and I feel that I would not have missed this glorious sight for anything at all."
Life as a Journalist and Government Worker
After climbing Pikes Peak, Julia and James moved to Taos, New Mexico. There, Julia worked as a writer for the New York Herald Tribune newspaper. She wrote about important events.
Later, she moved to Washington, D.C.. She worked for the Bureau of Education. She was the first woman to join this division. She eventually became the chief of her division.
Fighting for Women's Rights
Julia Holmes was very active in the women's suffrage movement. This movement worked to get women the right to vote. She was a secretary for the National Woman Suffrage Association. She also spoke at their first big meeting in 1869.
Julia helped set up groups for the movement in Washington, D.C. In 1871, she even tried to register to vote herself. She was a good friend of Susan B. Anthony, another very famous leader for women's rights.
Julia Holmes's Legacy
Julia Holmes passed away in 1887. Her amazing achievements were recognized later. In March 2014, she was added to the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. She is remembered as a brave pioneer who broke barriers for women.
See also
In Spanish: Julia Archibald Holmes para niños