Virginia Hewlett Douglass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Virginia Hewlett Douglass
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Virginia L. Molyneaux Hewlett Douglass, c. 1869. Photographed by G.H. Loomis, Boston
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| Born | June 1, 1849 Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Died | December 14, 1889 (aged 40) United States
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| Spouse(s) | Frederick Douglass, Jr. |
| Children | 7 |
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Virginia Hewlett Douglass (born June 1, 1849 – died December 14, 1889) was an important African-American woman. She worked hard for women's right to vote. People also knew her as Virginia Lewis Molyneaux Hewlett Douglass. She was married to Frederick Douglass, Jr..
Biography
Early Life
Virginia Lewis Molyneaux Hewlett was born on June 1, 1849. Her birthplace was Cambridge, in Massachusetts. Her father was Aaron Molyneaux Hewlett. He was the first African-American teacher at Harvard University. Her mother was Virginia Josephine Lewis Molyneaux Hewlett. She taught physical education.
Family and Children
On August 4, 1869, Virginia Hewlett Douglass married Frederick Douglass, Jr. They got married in Cambridge. They had seven children together. Their children were Fredrick Aaron, Virginia Anna, Lewis Emmanuel, Maud Ardell, Gertrude Pearl, Robert Smalls, and Charles Paul.
In 1879, Virginia's sister-in-law, Mary Elizabeth Murphy, passed away. Mary was married to Charles Remond Douglass. Virginia and Frederick then took care of Mary's two young children. Their names were Charles Frederick and Joseph Henry.
Standing Up for Rights
Virginia Hewlett Douglass was a suffragist. This means she believed women should have the right to vote. In 1877, she signed a special paper called a petition. This petition asked for women's right to vote. Many African-American people in Washington, D.C., supported this idea. Her husband, Frederick Douglass, Jr., and others also signed it. This effort was part of a bigger movement. It was organized by the National Woman Suffrage Association.
Virginia also spoke out against unfairness. On September 21, 1881, she wrote a letter to a newspaper. It was called the Washington Sunday Item. In her letter, she wrote against school segregation. School segregation meant that Black and white students were kept separate. She believed this was wrong and unfair.
Her Legacy
Virginia Hewlett Douglass passed away on December 14, 1889. She was 41 years old. Her death was caused by a serious illness called tuberculosis. She was first buried in Graceland Cemetery. Later, her grave was moved to Woodlawn Cemetery in Washington, D.C. After she died, her brother, Emanuel D. Molyneaux Hewlett, took care of her two youngest children.
