Lucy Kennedy Miller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lucy Kennedy Miller
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Lucy Kennedy Miller and children, 1919
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| Born |
Lucy B. Kennedy
October 11, 1880 |
| Died | June 30, 1962 |
| Other names | Lucy K. Miller, Mrs. John O. Miller |
| Occupation | Suffragist, women's rights activist, and government reformer |
| Spouse(s) | John Oliver Miller (m. 1907) |
| Parent(s) | Julian Kennedy and Jennie E. Kennedy |
Lucy Kennedy Miller (1880–1962) was an important American activist. She worked hard to get women the right to vote. People called her a "suffragist." She led groups like the Equal Franchise Federation of Pittsburgh. She also became the first president of the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters.
In 1919, a group called the League of Women Citizens of Pennsylvania said she was key. They believed she was the person who helped women get the right to vote in Pennsylvania more than anyone else. Lucy Kennedy Miller also worked with her sister, Eliza Kennedy Smith. They helped show that the Pittsburgh city government was doing wrong things. This led to the mayor being found guilty in 1932.
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Early Life and Education
Lucy B. Kennedy was born on October 11, 1880. Her hometown was Braddock, Pennsylvania. Her parents, Jennie E. Kennedy and Julian Kennedy, also supported women's rights. Lucy had five siblings. Around 1892, her family moved to Pittsburgh.
Lucy went to the Winchester Thurston School in Pittsburgh. She then studied at Vassar College. She finished college in 1902.
On May 1, 1907, she married John Oliver Miller. The wedding was at her family's home in Pittsburgh. They had three children together. Their daughter, Eliza Jane Miller, later became a famous artist.
Fighting for Women's Vote
Two years after getting married, Lucy Kennedy Miller joined the suffrage movement in Pittsburgh. This movement worked to give women the right to vote. She started by going to meetings. Soon, she began holding events to teach young women about suffrage.
She helped create the Allegheny County Equal Rights Association. This group later became the Equal Franchise Federation of Western Pennsylvania. Lucy became the treasurer and then the president of this group in 1912.
In 1912, she even helped run a newspaper for a day! She and 15 other suffragists worked on the Pittsburgh Post. They wrote news stories and interviews. They showed what women could do in art, music, and drama. This special "Women's Suffrage Edition" helped spread their message.
Lucy Kennedy Miller later became president of the Pennsylvania Equal Franchise Federation. This made her a very important person for reporters. They often asked her about the suffrage movement.
In 1913, she explained why she joined the movement. She said, "We have been trying to get a children's labor law in Pennsylvania for 14 years. The only way we will get it is to get the vote." She believed voting would help women make important changes.
She also helped start a school for suffragists. Teachers from the University of Pittsburgh taught there. In 1914, she organized a big parade for Suffrage Day. In 1915, she wrote a message to voters in Pennsylvania. She asked them to support the 19th Amendment. This amendment would give women the right to vote across the country.
When the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was approved in Pennsylvania in June 1919, Lucy made history. She was the first woman to speak to the Pennsylvania State Legislature. She talked about how important this moment was. She said Pennsylvania's support would help other states approve the amendment quickly.
After this big win, Lucy Kennedy Miller and other leaders decided to change their group's name. In December 1919, the Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association became the League of Women Citizens of Pennsylvania. Lucy became its first president. This group was the start of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania.
Fighting Government Corruption
Between the 1930s and 1950s, Lucy Kennedy Miller worked with her sister, Eliza Kennedy Smith. They looked into problems with the Pittsburgh city government. They found that Mayor Charles H. Kline was spending too much money. They also found that he was giving city contracts unfairly.
Their investigation showed many wrongdoings. This led to the mayor being charged with 48 counts of bad behavior. He was found guilty in 1932 and went to prison for six months.
Later Life and Legacy
Lucy Kennedy Miller passed away on June 30, 1962, at age 81. She had been living in McDaniel, Maryland. Her funeral was held in Pittsburgh.
In December 1919, a special fund was created in her honor. It was called the Lucy Kennedy Miller Fund. This fund was set up by the League of Women Citizens of Pennsylvania. It recognized her huge role in helping women get the right to vote in Pennsylvania. The money from this fund was used for education and to spread information. It helped the League of Women Citizens continue their important work.
Images for kids
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Lucy Kennedy Miller and children, 1919
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Lucy Kennedy Miller, around 1900.
