Julia Dorsey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julia Dorsey
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| Born | 1850 Maryland
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| Died | February 1919 (68 years old) Washington, D.C.
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Homemaker |
| Known for | African American suffragism |
Julia Dorsey (1850–1919) was an important African American woman. She worked to help women gain the right to vote. People who support women's right to vote are called suffragists.
Julia Dorsey and her husband, Ignatius Dorsey, signed a special paper in 1877. This paper asked for women to have the right to vote in Washington D.C. Other famous people who signed it included Frederick Douglass, Jr. and his wife. His sister, Rosetta Douglass Sprague, and her husband also signed.
Julia Dorsey's Early Life
Julia Dorsey was born in Maryland in 1850. We do not know her maiden name. She married Ignatius Dorsey. They lived in a place called Hillsdale in Washington, D.C.
The Dorseys were among the first people to settle in Barry Farm. They had a piece of land on Sumner Avenue. In 1880, Ignatius Dorsey bought more land nearby. He paid $200 for it and built a two-story house. Julia Dorsey was a homemaker, meaning she took care of the house. Her husband worked as a laborer. They did not have children at that time.
Becoming a Supporter of Women's Rights
The Dorseys became friends with the famous Douglass family. The Douglass family also lived in the Hillsdale area, which is now called Anacostia. Through this friendship, Julia and Ignatius began to support the woman suffrage movement. This movement worked to give women the right to vote.
A group called the National Woman Suffrage Association helped organize this effort. They asked for a change to the country's main law, the Constitution. This change would make sure women everywhere could vote. Julia Dorsey was proud to be part of this important cause.
Julia Dorsey's Later Years
Julia and Ignatius Dorsey are not listed in the 1900 census. However, in 1910, Julia Dorsey was a widow. She was 62 years old and still living in Washington, D.C. She rented out rooms in her home to five Black lodgers.
Julia Dorsey passed away in February 1919. She was 68 years old. She died at her home on 569 Stanton Road in Anacostia. Her work helped pave the way for women's voting rights.
