Mary Newbury Adams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Newbury Adams
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| Born |
Mary Newbury
October 17, 1837 Peru, Indiana
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| Died | August 5, 1901 (aged 63) Dubuque, Iowa
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Troy Female Seminary |
| Occupation | Suffragist, Social Advocate |
| Spouse(s) | Austin Adams |
| Relatives | Eunice Gibbs Allyn (niece) |
Mary Newbury Adams (October 17, 1837 – August 5, 1901) was an American woman who worked hard for women's right to vote and better education. She was a big social and political activist. She helped start important groups like the Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs and the Northern Iowa Suffrage Association. In 1981, she was honored by being added to the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame.
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Mary Newbury Adams' Early Life
Mary Newbury Adams was born in Peru, Indiana, on October 17, 1837. Her parents, Mary Ann Sergeant and Samuel Newbury, were missionaries who were against slavery. Her father was a Presbyterian minister. He believed that boys and girls should get the same education. Because of his beliefs, Mary received more schooling than many girls at that time.
Her parents were strong abolitionists, meaning they wanted to end slavery. Because of their views, her family had to move several times. They looked for churches that shared their beliefs. As a child, Adams lived in Peru, Indiana; White Pigeon, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; and Jackson, Michigan. In 1853, her family finally settled in Dubuque, Iowa. However, Mary was sent to the Troy Female Seminary in Troy, New York, to finish her education.
Mary Adams: A Champion for Learning
Mary Newbury Adams loved to learn throughout her life. She worked to create places where people could discuss ideas and learn together. Much of her work focused on improving education and opportunities for women. She did not believe that women should only be defined by their family roles. She thought women had played a key part in history and were equal to men. She joined other feminists and suffragists to fight for gender equality.
Starting the Conversational Club
In 1868, Mary Adams started the Conversational Club of Dubuque. This was a study group where members could teach each other about many different topics. Meetings were held in members' homes. This made it easier for women with young children to attend and learn.
Joining the Advancement of Women
Many similar clubs were forming across the country. In 1873, the Association for the Advancement of Women was started by Maria Mitchell. These clubs helped women learn and gain confidence. They became places where women felt brave enough to speak in public and share their ideas.
Adams became a vice president of this organization in 1875. She became very active, writing papers for meetings and talking with other local clubs.
Speaking Up for Women
Mary Adams began giving public speeches in 1867. Her talks focused on the important contributions and strengths of women throughout history. She believed that knowing about the women who came before them would empower women. In 1868, she gave the graduation speech at Lombard College. This might have been the first time a woman was asked to speak at a college graduation.
Fighting for Women's Rights
In 1869, the Dubuque Times newspaper asked Adams to report on a women's suffrage meeting. This meeting in Galena, Illinois, was led by famous suffragists Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. Mary was very impressed by their message. Soon after, she helped start the Northern Iowa Suffrage Association.
Through this group, Adams connected with other women in Iowa who wanted the right to vote. She also joined the national movement. She became a council member of the National Council of Women of the United States. She continued to give speeches and travel a lot in her later years. She spoke at Stanton's 80th birthday party in New York City in 1895. She also spoke at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. She attended a meeting of the National American Women's Suffrage Association.
Mary Adams and other women of her time helped create a path for future generations. These new women believed in and fought for gender equality and the right to vote. At first, Adams thought educating women was more important than giving them the right to vote. She believed that without education, women might just follow others' opinions. However, working with other suffragists changed her mind. She began to believe that the right to vote was a basic human right. In her later years, she traveled, spoke, and wrote a lot about equality.
Mary Adams' Family Life
Mary Adams met Austin Adams, a lawyer and teacher, in 1853 in Dubuque. They decided to get married after she finished her education. Austin Adams later became a judge and then the chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. They had five children together, but four survived: Annabel (born 1858), Eugene (born 1861), Herbart (born 1863), and Cecilia (born 1865).
Later Years and Passing
Mary Newbury Adams passed away from cancer in 1901 in Dubuque, Iowa. At her funeral, the minister mentioned a special Bible her father had given her. Inside, Mary had written the names of all the important women from the Bible.
