Sarah Burger Stearns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarah Burger Stearns
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Sarah Burger
November 30, 1836 New York City, New York
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| Died | October 26, 1904 (aged 67) Los Angeles, California
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| Spouse(s) | Ozora P. Stearns |
Sarah Burger Stearns (born November 30, 1836 – died October 26, 1904) was an important leader who worked to make society better. She was a key figure in the movement for women's right to vote in Minnesota. Sarah helped start the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association and was its very first president.
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Sarah Burger Stearns: A Champion for Women's Rights
Sarah Burger Stearns was a brave woman who fought for equal rights for women. She believed that women should have the same opportunities and rights as men, especially the right to vote. Her work helped change laws and inspired many others.
Early Life and Learning
Sarah Burger was born in New York City on November 30, 1836. When she was nine, her family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Later, they moved to Cleveland, Ohio.
When Sarah was just 14, she showed an early interest in women's rights. She went to a big meeting in Cleveland where she heard famous leaders like Lucretia Mott and Lucy Stone speak about women's right to vote.
In 1858, Sarah and twelve other young women tried to be the first women admitted to the University of Michigan. The university said it was "inexpedient" (not a good idea) at that time. Women were finally allowed into the university in 1869, but Sarah had already moved on.
Sarah became a teacher of Greek and Latin. After a year, she tried again to get into the University of Michigan, but was refused once more. She then studied and graduated from the State Normal School in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
In 1863, she married Lieutenant Ozora P. Stearns. While her husband was serving in the army, Sarah worked as a teacher for young women in Monroe, Michigan. She also gave speeches to help groups that supported soldiers and their families. She even taught formerly enslaved people (called Freedmen) where her husband was stationed.
Fighting for Women's Votes in Minnesota
In 1866, Sarah and her husband moved to Rochester, Minnesota. Sarah continued to give speeches about women's roles in society and wrote articles for newspapers about education.
Sarah Stearns and Mary Colburn worked together to ask the Minnesota government to change the state's constitution. They wanted to remove the word male from the part that said only men could vote. In 1867, they spoke to a group of lawmakers, but their idea was voted down.
In 1869, a famous women's rights leader, Susan B. Anthony, visited the Midwest. She encouraged women to start local groups to support women's right to vote. After her visit, Sarah Stearns started the first women's suffrage (voting rights) group in Rochester, with 50 members.
The Stearns family moved to Duluth, Minnesota, in 1872. Sarah quickly started another suffrage group there, called the Duluth Woman Suffrage Circle. She led this group for many years, from 1881 to 1893. She also supported efforts to limit alcohol and served on the Duluth school board for three years. People in Duluth saw her as a very powerful and important person in their community and in the state.
Winning the Right to Vote in School Elections
In 1875, the Minnesota constitution was changed to allow women aged 21 or older to vote in school elections. This meant women could vote for school officers and on issues related to schools. They could also hold school-related jobs.
Sarah and her supporters were very smart about this change. They didn't campaign too loudly because they didn't want to make people who opposed women's voting rights angry. Just before the election, Sarah contacted a newspaper editor to ask for his support. He had actually forgotten about the amendment! Sarah and her friends convinced both political parties to make the ballot say, "For the amendment of Article VII relating to electors–Yes." To vote against it, people had to cross out 'Yes' and write 'No'.
The amendment passed with 24,340 votes for and 19,468 against. Sarah later said that even their strongest opponents forgot to vote against it, and people who didn't read their ballots carefully voted for it by accident. After this victory, Sarah spoke at meetings, telling women about their new rights and encouraging them to vote for female candidates.
Sarah Stearns was also the vice-president for Minnesota in the National Woman Suffrage Association for several years. She even hosted Susan B. Anthony when she visited Duluth.
Forming a Statewide Organization
In 1877, an effort to let women vote on alcohol prohibition issues failed. This made Sarah and other leaders realize they needed a bigger, statewide organization. In 1881, fourteen women met in Hastings, Minnesota, and formed the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association (MWSA). Sarah Stearns was chosen as its first president. The group grew quickly, reaching 124 members in its first year and doubling in its second year.
In 1882, Sarah was re-elected president of the MWSA. However, in 1883, she stepped down due to poor health. She still remained active, accepting the presidency of the Equal Rights League in Duluth.
Other Important Work
Sarah Stearns played a big part in starting a home for women and children who needed help in 1885. This home later became the Duluth Children's Home. She led the group that ran the home. After a few years, a new home was built with land donated by two judges, including Sarah's husband. Money to build the home came from members of the society.
Last Years and Lasting Impact
In 1894, Sarah and Ozora Stearns moved to California because of Ozora's health. Sarah continued her work for women's rights. In 1900, she was the head of the Los Angeles Suffrage League. She kept fighting for women's rights until she passed away on October 26, 1904. Her obituary (a notice about her death) called her "one of the most prominent platform orators" (speakers) for women's right to vote and temperance.
In 1996, a special memorial garden was built at the Minnesota State Capitol. It was created to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the women's suffrage movement. The garden is called Garden of Time: Landscape of Change. It has native flowers and grasses. A monument in the garden lists the names of 25 women who were important in the movement, and Sarah Burger Stearns is one of them.
