Basic Information
Alice Stone Blackwell was born in Orange, New Jersey on September 14, 1857 to Henry Browne Blackwell and Lucy Stone. She worked most of her life as an editor for the official magazine for the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) called “Woman’s Journal.” The magazine, as well as the association it corresponded with, was founded by her parents who were both activists for the feminist movement. She not only played a vital role in the union of the two largest suffragist associations, but she also endlessly fought for minorities from any country. Blackwell died at the age of 92 in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1950 due to heart disease (“Alice Stone Blackwell”, 1905-1917; “Blackwell, Alice Stone,” 2019).
Background Information
Alice Stone Blackwell’s life was undoubtedly influenced by her family, and interestingly, mostly by the women in her family. Her mother was the first woman to earn a college degree in Massachusetts, first woman to keep her maiden name after marrying, first woman to speak full-time for woman’s rights, and later on, the first resident of New England to be cremated. Her mother is also credited for introducing the woman’s rights movement to Susan B. Anthony, a highly influential feminist activist during the First Wave of feminism. Blackwell’s aunt was the first woman to graduate from medical school in the United States and she founded the Women’s Medical College (Hoosgasian, n.d.). Another aunt of Blackwell’s was the first woman in the United States to become an ordained minister. This sea of influence did not solely come from the women in her family, however. Blackwell’s father was also a big supporter of his wife’s beliefs and was an activist for the feminist movement alongside the rest of his family. Together, Blackwell’s parents founded the American Women Suffrage Association (AWSA) and the newspaper “Woman’s Journal” where Blackwell would later publish some of her most influential work (James, Wilson-James, & Samuel-Boyer, 1971). Coming from such an accomplished family who was enveloped in the particulars of the feminism movement, it is not surprising that Blackwell also became an integral part in the movement for women’s rights.
Blackwell grew up in Boston where her parents founded AWSA and went to Chauncy Hall School. She did very well, especially in literature, despite having headache and eyesight troubles. She was such a good writer at such a young age, her mother included one of her poems in the suffragist newspaper. Blackwell was more embarrassed and upset by this than she was flattered. At the time, she wrote in her diary she would not be a part of the suffragist movement like the rest of her family (Stone Blackwell, 1930, p. 271). Most analysts believe this resistance was due to feeling neglected by her parents for the ‘greater good’ of the movement. Between her father’s time taken up by business as a hardware merchant, her mother busy running a newspaper and organizing a political overhaul, and entertaining renowned guests such as William Lloyd Garrison and Julia Ward Howe, there was no time for Blackwell to be a child. Over time, however, she grew passionate for her parent’s cause, and after graduating from Boston University as class president with honors, she went to work for her mother’s newspaper as an assistant editor (James, et al.,1971). Here she would spend the rest of her life continuing the work of her family before her.
Contributions to the First Wave
Alice Blackwell started her contribution journey in 1881 right out of college. Working for her mother’s suffragist newspaper as an editor gave the nation a chance to learn her name (“Blackwell, Alice Stone,” 2019). It took only three years before her name was alongside her parent’s on the paper’s masthead (Keeney, 2000). In another three years, Blackwell had also become an editor and distributor for a periodical called the “Woman’s Column” which collected suffrage news articles and distributed them for free across the country (“Alice Stone Blackwell,” 2019). Feeney (2000) wrote, “In both publications Blackwell’s columns were noted by allies and opponents for the boldness, eloquence, and clarity” (n.p.). During this time, Blackwell was also bringing about big change behind the scenes. Her parents, being the head of the American Woman Suffrage Association, decided that though women’s rights were important to fight for, civil rights should not be left behind either. On the other hand, her parent’s old friends running the National Woman Suffrage Association felt that woman’s suffrage should be the sole focus of the women’s rights movement or any movement. Despite the associations having bitter differences, Blackwell was pivotal in negotiating each group’s opinion so they could work together as a stronger, unified team. It was in 1890 that this new association was born, and it was called the National American Woman Suffrage Association. Blackwell served as the organization’s recording secretary for the next 20 years (Hoosgasian, n.d.).
In 1893, Lucy Stone died, and Blackwell took position as editor-in-chief for the “Woman’s Journal” (Hoosgasian, n.d.). That same year, Blackwell became interested in what was known as the “Armenian Question” (“Alice Stone Blackwell,” 1905-1917). Some recall him as just a friend while others know him to be Blackwell’s only love, but either way, it was Johannes Chatschumian that introduced Blackwell into the world of the Armenian tragedy. From then on, Blackwell was engrossed in the Armenian refugee community. She sold her possessions to feed the Armenian children, secured employment for the adults, and translated volumes of poems from Armenian, Russian, Yiddish, Hungarian, and Mexican poets (Keeney, 2000; James, et al., 1971). Some of her works include Armenian Poems (1896), Songs of Russia (1906), and Songs of Grief and Gladness (1907) (“Alice Stone Blackwell,” 1905-1917).
During this time, Blackwell also became engaged in several activist groups. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, the Women’s Trade Union League, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Anti-Vivisection Society, and the American Peace Society to name a few. Furthermore, she founded the Massachusetts League of Women Voters, supported Senator Robert M. La Follette’s progressive presidential campaign in 1924 and the Midwestern Non-Partisan League, and wrote frequent letters to editors of newspapers in Boston about racial discrimination, repression of freedom of speech for radicals, and suppression of civil liberties (“Alice Stone Blackwell,” 2019; Keeney, 2000). During this time, the world famous court case of Sacco and Vanzetti was also taking place. Sacco and Vanzetti were two Italian immigrants accused of murder though the evidence against them was flimsy. In fact, most people believed they were innocent and were being prosecuted simply for their race and political beliefs. Blackwell could be found amongst many rallies fighting for their release. In fact, Blackwell was “one of Vanzetti’s most voluminous and dedicated correspondents during his years in jail” (James, et al, 1971). Though most of her life was over by this point, Blackwell had yet to achieve her greatest accomplishment: a biography of her mother. This book was a culmination of years of hard work and a memorialization of the women who inspired all of it.
In my childhood, I heard so much about woman suffrage that I was bored by it and thought I hated it, until one day I came across a magazine article on the other side and found myself bristling up like a hen in defense of her chickens. This happened when I was about twelve years old. After that I never had any doubt as to whether I believed in it
~ Alice Stone Blackwell (Blackwell, 1930, pg. 271)
Analysis and Conclusion
Alice Stone Blackwell may not have been the loudest voice or the most free-willed radical, but she was a celebrated author whose hard work changed the lives of many men and women. She was the background, the foundation, and ever-present participator that helped the woman’s rights movement become the success that it is today. Her strength was her writing where even her opponents had to admit her talent. Her weakness was simply physical deterioration after a lifetime of hard work and overcoming barriers. For example, growing up, her peers would make snide comments about women and the suffrage movement just to get a rise out of her. Furthermore, as an adult, some newspapers would not even publish her articles on account of them being too harsh and controversial (Keeney, 2000). Her parent’s values shaped the paradigm in which Blackwell viewed the world, but after her mother died and Blackwell had free reign of the “Woman’s Journal” as well as her own life, she was able to expand her horizons and help resolve injustices for people from all over the world. This is also what makes Blackwell’s contribution to the First Wave so unique. She really was the backbone of the movement though not in the spotlight as her mother was. What’s more is her passion for the rights of others. Not only did the African American community gain her support, but minority peoples across the seas can be grateful for her efforts. Her heart for justice is what makes Alice Stone Blackwell a truly inspirational woman’s rights activist.
References
“Alice Stone Blackwell.” (2019). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved October 24, 2019, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alice-Stone-Blackwell
“Alice Stone Blackwell.” Brooklyn Museum. Retrieved from https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/heritage_floor/alice_stone_bla ckwell
“Blackwell, Alice Stone.” (2019) American women writers: A critical reference guide from colonial times to the present. Retrieved October 24, 2019 from https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/blackwell-alice-stone
Feeney, K. (2000). Blackwell, Alice Stone. American National Biography. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1500063
Hoosgasian, M. M., (n.d.) Alice Stone Blackwell. ArmenianHouse. Retrieved from http://www.armenianhouse.org/blackwell/biography-en.html
James, E. T., Wilson-James, J., Samuel-Boyer, P. (Eds.) (1971) Notable american women, 1607-1950, Volume 1:A-F. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Retrieved from https://search.alexanderstreet.com/preview/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cbibliographic_details%7C2514460#search/stone
Stone Blackwell, A. (1930). Lucy Stone: Pioneer of woman’s rights. Charlottesville and London: University Press of Virginia.
Unknown artist. (created between 1905-1917) Alice Stone Blackwell, half-length portrait, seated, facing right, holding copy of Woman’s Journal, of which she was editor. Library of Congress, Washington D.C. Retrieved October, 4, 2019 from https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/97500094/