Sarah Tarleton Colvin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarah Tarleton Colvin
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| Born |
Sarah Lightfoot Tarleton
September 12, 1865 |
| Died | April 22, 1949 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Sarah Lightfoot Colvin, Sarah T. Colvin |
| Occupation | Nurse, suffragist |
| Years active | 1892–1944 |
Sarah Tarleton Colvin (born September 12, 1865 – died April 22, 1949) was an American nurse and a strong supporter of women's rights. She became the national president of the National Woman's Party in 1933. Sarah Colvin was known for her activism, including protesting at the White House. She later wrote a book about her experiences in the movement for women's right to vote and her career as a nurse.
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Who Was Sarah Colvin?
Sarah Lightfoot Tarleton was born on September 12, 1865, in Greene County, Alabama. She was the oldest child of Sallie Bernard and Robert Tarleton. Her father was a doctor who had served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Her mother's family had a history of serving in the American Revolution.
After the Civil War, her family lived in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, for a short time. Then they moved to Mobile, Alabama. Sadly, Sarah's father passed away when she was only three years old. He died from health problems related to his time in the war.
Growing Up and Moving Around
After her father's death, Sarah's family moved often. They lived in different places in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. In 1878, they finally settled in Baltimore, Maryland.
Sarah went to nursing school at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She graduated in 1892 after completing a two-year program.
Sarah Colvin's Nursing Career
After finishing her studies, Sarah became the head nurse at Johns Hopkins for six months. She then worked as a private nurse in New York City. Later, she moved to Montreal, Canada. There, she worked as an operating-room nurse at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
While in Montreal, she met Dr. Alexander R. Colvin. They got married in Baltimore on June 1, 1897. After their wedding, the couple made their home in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Improving Nursing Education
In those days, it was not common for married women to continue working as nurses. So, Sarah Colvin focused on making nursing education better for women. She joined the board of the Deaconess Home in 1897. In 1906, she became the first president of the Minnesota State Graduate Nurses' Association.
She also worked with other community groups. She was a director for the Civic League and helped start the YWCA. She also served as president of the Anti-Tuberculosis Society.
Fighting for Women's Rights
In 1915, Sarah Colvin helped start the Minnesota branch of the National Woman's Party. She led this group until 1920. She became a key leader for women's rights in Minnesota. She traveled to places like Kansas and Washington, D.C., to push for women's suffrage, which is the right for women to vote.
During World War I, Sarah also worked as a nurse for the American Red Cross and the army. She was given the rank of major and was the Acting Surgical Chief of Nursing at Fort McHenry.
Protesting for Change
Sarah Colvin was part of a group called the Silent Sentinels. These women protested peacefully outside the White House in 1918 and 1919. She was arrested twice for her part in these protests. Sarah described her time in custody as difficult. After her first time, she went on a hunger strike, which led to her second arrest.
After the war, Sarah joined the movement for disarmament, which means reducing weapons. She also joined the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Once women won the right to vote, she joined the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party. She worked to teach people about important issues and to support the Equal Rights Amendment.
In 1933, Sarah Colvin was elected the national president of the National Woman's Party. She then focused on getting equal pay for women. In 1935, she was elected to the state Board of Education. She continued to work for better nursing practices and equal pay for nurses in both America and Canada. In 1944, she published her autobiography, A Rebel in Thought. In her book, she shared her experiences in the movement for women's right to vote.
Legacy of Sarah Colvin
Sarah Colvin passed away on April 22, 1949, in Ramsey, Minnesota. She is remembered as an important figure in the women's suffrage movement. She is honored at the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Memorial.
