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Basic Information
Grace Julian Clarke was born on September 11, 1865, in Centerville, Indiana. She was a well-known civil leader who participated in many women’s clubs and was a key factor in the suffrage movement. Additionally, Clarke was a very well-known speaker and writer. During this period, she spoke out about women, the world’s civil duties, and abolition. Due to her influence, she was a featured author in The Indianapolis Star, as well as authoring two books about her father, George W. Julian, and his policies and principles (Wright, 1994).
Background Information
Clarke came from an activist household. Her father, George W. Julian, was a congressman in Indiana who was part of the abolition movement. George fought for reform, abolition, and equal rights. He was known as “The leader of the Free Soldiers in Indiana” (Indiana Historical Bureau, 2013). George helped establish the abolitionist movement in Indiana by writing and delivering speeches on the previously mentioned topics. Even from a young age, Clarke was inspired to be a push for change; it was her father’s legacy (Clarke, 1906).
While Clarke was too young to remember her father’s direct contributions, she deeply valued his efforts and his character. Clarke described her father’s life as “increasing in value with the years” (Clarke, 1906, p. 57). After George retired from Congress in 1873, the family moved to Irvington, Indiana. Clarke attended college in Irvington, where she received both her bachelor’s and master’s in philosophy in 1885. After her education, she married Charles B. Clarke, an attorney, in 1887. Clarke then shifted her focus onto advocacy and civil service. She joined The City Plan Commission, The Marion County Board of Charities, and became highly active in local, state, and national women’s clubs (Wright, 1994).
Contributions to the First Wave
Grace Julian Clarke was an active member of the suffrage movement and various women’s clubs. As a natural leader, she served in many significant roles. Clarke founded the Irvington Woman’s Club, organized the 7th District Indiana Federation of Clubs, and strongly advocated for women’s rights to form and participate in public clubs. She served as a board member of the Federation of Women’s Clubs and was appointed national press chairperson due to her impactful writing skills. Additionally, Clarke served as the president of the local Council of Women in Irvington, Indiana. In every club she joined or founded, Clarke used her strong will and excellent education to lead and support each and every cause. She often took on the responsibility of speaking and/or writing for the clubs she participated in. Her leadership consistently came with responsibilities and advocacy efforts which she gladly rose up to (Wright, 1994).
Clarke fought for women’s rights and, eventually, for the rights of African Americans at large. Her writing was crucial in advancing these causes. She authored an article called “Burnt District,” in which she expressed her views on a politically significant area in Indiana known for its Quaker and abolitionist roots. In this article, she referenced her father’s work as a congressman and made a persuasive argument. Clarke was a talented and respected writer, as shown by her other publications. Through her writings, she helped amplify women’s voices and encouraged them to gain more knowledge (Clarke, 1931).
Clarke was also a featured author and editor for The Indianapolis Star, where she had her own section titled “Devoted to Woman and Her Domain.” In this section, she regularly shared her opinions and kept the public informed. She wrote about “Women on School Boards,” “Medical Inspections,” and “Teaching Children Idealism,” (Indianapolis Star, 1912). Clarke discussed the importance of women in educational leadership roles, the treatment of women in medical contexts, and parenting values. Grace Julian Clarke was highly respected and was often referred to as “one of the highest types of femininity, a woman of broad culture, and a leader in all movements” (Clarke, 1912–1914).
After women gained suffrage, Clarke focused on supporting women in the workforce during and after World War I. She quickly rose to a leadership position in this effort and became a public speaker at churches, clubs, and societies. Clarke particularly targeted the topic of food conservation. Her quote below displays her passion towards empowering women and supporting all the causes she stood for (Swihart, 2021).
“More depend on us in this matter than many persons realize, and it is a work that only women can perform”
~ Grace Julian Clarke (as cited in Swihart (2021))
Analysis and Conclusion
Grace Julian Clarke was an effective advocate for women’s rights and abolition. Exposed to activism from an early age, she chose to follow in her father’s footprints and advocate for women’s rights. She grew up watching her father, George W. Julian, serve in Congress and advocate for controversial rights and stand by his principles. Her upbringing strongly influenced her decision to become involved in the women’s rights movement. She wrote many articles highlighting the importance of women’s rights. She used her education to help strengthen her advocacy skills. Grace Julian Clarke was a crucial member in the women’s rights and suffrage movement.
References
Clarke, G. J. (1906). GEORGE W. JULIAN: SOME IMPRESSIONS. The Indiana Quarterly Magazine of History, 2(2), 57–69. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27785439
Clarke, G. J. (1931). The Burnt District. Indiana Magazine of History, 27(2), 119–124. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27786490
Clarke, G. J. (1912-1914). Women’s clubs and suffrage scrapbook (ISL_RBM_V422-07_038) [Scrapbook page]. Indiana State Library. https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16066coll48/id/5705/rec/2
(Image) Internet Archive Book Images. (1914). Beauty for ashes [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beauty_for_ashes_(1914)_(14761047026)_(cropped).jpg
Indiana Historical Bureau. (2013). George Washington Julian [State historical marker]. Indiana Historical Bureau. https://www.in.gov/history/state-historical-markers/find-a-marker/george-washington-julian/
Indianapolis Star. (1912, March 16). Woman’s page [Newspaper page]. Indianapolis Star. Indiana State Library. https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16066coll48/id/5300
Swihart, J. (2021, July 1). The intersection of war work & women’s enfranchisement. The Indiana History Blog. https://blog.history.in.gov/the-intersection-of-war-work-womens-enfranchisement/
Wright, M. (1994). Grace Giddings Julian Clarke. Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Retrieved May 15, 2025, from https://indyencyclopedia.org/grace-giddings-julian-clarke/. Revised in 2021.