Mary Barr Clay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Barr Clay
|
|
|---|---|
Mary Barr Clay, photo from Elizabeth Cady Stanton, et al, eds. "History of Woman Suffrage, Vol. III," 1886: 816
|
|
| Born | October 13, 1839 |
| Died | October 12, 1924 (aged 84) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | suffragist and farmer |
| Known for | leader of the American women's suffrage movement |
| Spouse(s) | John Francis "Frank" Herrick (married 1860; divorced 1872) |
Mary Barr Clay (born October 13, 1839 – died October 12, 1924) was an important leader in the American movement for women's right to vote. This movement is called the women's suffrage movement. She was also known as Mary B. Clay or Mrs. J. Frank Herrick.
Early Life and Family
Mary Barr Clay was born on October 13, 1839, in Lexington, Kentucky. Her parents were Cassius Marcellus Clay and Mary Jane Warfield. Mary was their oldest daughter.
In 1866, Mary Clay married John Francis "Frank" Herrick. They had three sons together. Later, in 1872, Mary and John divorced. After her divorce, Mary went back to using her family name, Clay. She also changed her two youngest sons' last names to Clay.
In 1878, Mary's parents also divorced. Her mother, Mary Jane Warfield Clay, had managed their family home, White Hall, for 45 years. After the divorce, she was left without a home. This unfair situation made Mary Barr Clay want to join the women's rights movement. She soon brought her three younger sisters into the movement with her. Her youngest sister, Laura Clay, became very active in fighting for women's rights too.
Working for Women's Rights
In May 1879, Mary B. Clay traveled to St. Louis, Missouri. She went to a big meeting for the National Woman Suffrage Association. Soon after, she became a representative for Kentucky in this group. She also served as a vice-president. She was already a Vice President for another group, the American Woman Suffrage Association.
At these meetings, she met Susan B. Anthony, a famous leader for women's right to vote. Mary arranged for Susan B. Anthony to speak in Richmond, Kentucky. When Mary returned home, she started the Fayette County Equal Suffrage Association in 1879. The next year, she created the Madison County Equal Rights Association.
Later, Mary lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, so her two younger sons could go to school there. While in Michigan, she started a suffrage club. She also became a temporary president for the Michigan State Suffrage Association's meeting in Flint. Mary wrote a column in the Ann Arbor "Register" newspaper. She also gave a speech to law students at the University of Michigan. Her speech was about "The Constitutional Right of Women to Vote." She also wrote the report for Kentucky in a book called "History of Woman Suffrage."
In 1883, Mary B. Clay became the first person from Kentucky to be president of a national women's group. This was the American Woman Suffrage Association. She was also the first woman from Kentucky to speak publicly about women's rights.
Mary kept in touch with other important suffragists like Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, and Alice Stone Blackwell. She is known for encouraging her younger sister, Laura Clay, to join the women's rights movement. Laura Clay later became even more famous for her work in women's rights.
Later Life and Death
Mary Barr Clay mostly stopped her public work around 1902. This was because she had health problems and family duties. She died on October 12, 1924, just one day before her 85th birthday. She is buried in Lexington Cemetery.
