Isabella Beecher Hooker | Digital Collections

Description

The University of Rochester’s Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation is well known for our in-depth holdings relating to women’s suffrage. And it is through our national and international reputation in this collecting area that our collections continue to grow. The acquisition of the Isabella Beecher Hooker archive exemplifies the beauty of knowing and sharing our strengths, and becoming, in the hearts and minds of others, the place where certain collections belong. The story of the cache of letters and other materials found in a barn in Connecticut is something that archivists and special collections librarians dream about. Because we have built our collections documenting women’s suffrage over many decades, and have that reputation in the community, it was natural that those materials come to our collections as well. The Isabella Beecher Hooker materials that we added to our collections, which already included other Isabella and John Hooker materials, was announced and publicized beginning in March of 2017. These materials represent new insights, new information, and new stories relating to the day-to-day struggles of women like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and many others who worked tirelessly on this issue. The collection captures aspects of the movement at a particularly complex and turbulent time, from around 1869-1880. Isabella Beecher Hooker was a fascinating and important activist both in Connecticut and on the national front. Her story is less known than others like Stanton and Anthony, but her role as a central mediator, coordinator, and leader has always been clear, and now is open to further exploration through this new acquisition. The items included here are a selection of this new trove of suffrage materials – letters and documents that help to further tell the story of the tireless, complex, fraught, and sometimes fruitless efforts to gain voting rights for women in the United States. The discovery of these manuscripts reminds us, too, that there are still important historical materials out there – whether it be in a barn, or an attic, or right under our noses – and that it takes an aware and engaged community to recognize and share these materials with archival repositories. Preserving, documenting, and making accessible the “stuff” of history is a beautiful partnership. We should all consider ourselves deputies in preserving our shared cultural heritage.

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: Letter from Henry Ward Beecher to Isabella Beecher Hooker, March 12, 1874; Letter from Henry Ward Beecher to Isabella Beecher Hooker, March 12, 1874, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Henry Ward Beecher to Isabella Beecher Hooker, May 6, 1873; Letter from Henry Ward Beecher to Isabella Beecher Hooker, May 6, 1873, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, December 8, 1873; Blackwell writes that he must "decline to publish your letter relative to Miss Anthony, because it is based upon a misapprehension of the facts, and [obliterated] judgment, would do injustice both to Miss A. & to the Congress." Blackwell encourages Hooker to form a Woman Suffrage Political Club, based on the example of the Massachusetts Society., Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, December 8, 1873, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, June 10, 1872; Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, June 10, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Henry Browne Blackwell to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, July 11, 1872; Blackwell encourages Stanton to rally support for Ulysses S. Grant and Henry Wilson running on the Republican ticket, as a next step after the Democrats refused to support a women's suffrage plank in their platform at their convention., Henry Browne Blackwell to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, July 11, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, May 26, 1871; Blackwell encourages Hooker to speak at the upcoming Massachusetts convention, and encloses a free pass to the meeting., Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, May 26, 1871, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Henry Browne Blackwell to John Hooker, January 24, 1870; Blackwell suggests that Hooker have his wife's tracts stereotyped so they can be produced whenever an order comes in. Blackwell continues: “My wife Lucy Stone asks me to invite yourself & Mrs. Hooker to come to Boston on the 28th (next Friday) to participate in our meeting to form a Mass [achusetts] W.[oman] S.[uffrage] Assn. I shall be heartily glad to have from you both the same cordial sympathy & cooperation which you have with that in N.Y.”, In this letter Blackwell may be referring to growing divide in the women's suffrage movement, as Anthony and Stanton focus on a national campaign, while Blackwell and Stone focus on state-wide efforts. , Henry Browne Blackwell to John Hooker, January 24, 1870, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, January 21, 1871; Blackwell encourages Hooker to write a letter for publication in The Woman's Journal describing the suffrage activities of the Connecticut association., Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, January 21, 1871, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, May 31, 1872; Blackwell continues to advocate for finding allies within the Republican Party. He concludes the letter: "I am not [sanguine?] of success in Phil.[delphia] We have been too deeply compromised by Mrs. Woodhull's extravagances to command sufficient public confidence & respect at present, I fear. But we must do our best. I am glad you see the necessity of obeying 'elective affinities' in regard to organizations...", Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, May 31, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, May 23, 1872; Blackwell acknowledges Hooker's "suggestion for a conference between the 'Nationals' & 'Americans' with a view to concerted action in the Fall Campaign is both timely and important.... I wish that you, Mrs. Stanton & Miss Anthony could meet Mrs. Livermore, Lucy Stone & myself at some central point... and compare views in advance of the Philadelphia Convention." Blackwell goes on to share his strategy for how to develop influence with the Republican Party. He shares with Hooker his opinion that the only way to obtain women's suffrage is to make "women a power in politics," and approach the Republican Party about making suffrage a plank in their platform. He writes: "Now that Horace Greeley, Murat Halsted Horace White & other bitter opponents of Woman Suffrage have drawn off and the Republican party threatened with serious disintegration, I think there is a Providential opportunity .", Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, May 23, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, January 2, 1874; Blackwell writes about turning fifty years old and nearing the end of his life. He mentions hosting Susan [B. Anthony] and the "stirring" lecture she gave over the holidays., Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, January 2, 1874, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, January 15, 1870; Blackwell writes about orders for Hooker’s tracts on the Bible and woman suffrage. He asks for Harriet Beecher Stowe’s address so he can send her a sample copy of The Woman’s Journal., Henry Browne Blackwell (1825 –1909) was an American advocate for social and economic reform. He was one of the founders of the Republican Party and the American Woman Suffrage Association. He was married to Lucy Stone. Together they founded The Woman's Journal in 1870 in Boston, Massachusetts, as a weekly newspaper. The new paper incorporated Mary A. Livermore's The Agitator , as well as a lesser known periodical called The Woman's Advocate . Contributors included Stone, Blackwell, Mary Livermore, Julia Ward Howe, and Thomas Wentworth Higginson. , Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, January 15, 1870, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, July 11, 1872; Blackwell responds to news from Hooker and reflects: "I am sorry but not disappointed at the silence of the Democrats on the Woman question- If you had known them as well as I do, you would have realized that, with some honorable exception, they are a century behind the Republicans." Rather than continue with pursuing that strategy, Blackwell advises Hooker: "the only policy that can carry woman suffrage is a policy of conciliation and an uncompromising fidelity to the party that has pledged itself to a respectful consideration of woman's rights.", Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, July 11, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, July 2, 1872; Blackwell offers advice to Hooker for appealing to the Democrats at their upcoming convention in Baltimore. Blackwell suggests that the "Kansas & Iowa Democrats more likely to help you than any others.", Henry Browne Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, July 2, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Sarah Ellen Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker; Blackwell writes about not having time to distribute the circulars that she is now forwarding to Hooker. She also recommends that Hooker read the newspaper Voice of Angels, which she describes as a spirit newspaper. Blackwell also recommends a recent book by Emmett Densmore., Sarah Ellen was one of Henry's sisters. , Sarah Ellen Blackwell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Lillie Devereux Blake to Isabella Beecher Hooker, February 14, 1880; The letter was written on the letterhead of the New York City Suffrage Society. Blake hopes Hooker will be at the next meeting, and that she receives at her home on Friday evenings, and would very much like to see her and any friends Hooker wants to bring., Lillie Devereux Blake to Isabella Beecher Hooker, February 14, 1880, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, February 12, 1876; Browne writes in response to Hooker's ideas about the upcoming exposition. Browne writes: "it seems to me that in soliciting subscriptions it would be well to present the subject as a great educational work that we are intending to do in Phil. without dwelling especially on the fact that it is to be done by the national association. Few people outside a very narrow circle know the difference between the associations, all interested in suffrage must see the great opportunity which next summer affords to educate the people on this subject, our work in Phil can be nothing more than educational & in this all parties are alike, interested, there is no difference between the associations in ideas or methods while the work is purely educational, it is when we come to legislation &c that the difference comes in.", Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, February 12, 1876, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Olympia Brown to Frances Ellen Burr, July 6, 1876; Browne resigns from executive committee of the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association, and from all associations as her tenure at a Bridgeport church has ended., Olympia Brown to Frances Ellen Burr, July 6, 1876, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, January 9, 1874; Browne writes of the travel plans of Stanton and Anthony to go to Washington, D.C. and her hopes for the upcoming convention in Connecticut. Browne encloses a letter written by a Mr. Chapin to her about possibly bringing Anthony to Connecticut to lecture. His letter is dated, January 13, 1874., Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, January 9, 1874, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, February 9, 1876; Browne writes about her thoughts for how to have the most impact at the upcoming "exposition." This likely refers to the 1876 celebration of the country's centennial, held in Philadelphia., Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, February 9, 1876, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, November 12, 1873; Browne explains her view that conventions should be open to all who support women's rights, and not just for women., Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, November 12, 1873, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker; Browne writes of a recent sermon share gave with a women's suffrage theme. She expresses interest in having Anthony come to Bridgeport, and possibly her church, to give a lecture., Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Olympia Brown to John Hooker, September 11, 1874; Letter from Olympia Brown to John Hooker, September 11, 1874, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, February 15, 1876; Browne writes about recent activities of Connecticut suffragists, and her church., Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, February 15, 1876, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, February 4, 1873; Browne thanks Hooker for the salubrious effect her recent visit had. Browne shares the positive impression that area teachers had of Hooker when she attended their recent meetings., Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, February 4, 1873, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Olympia Brown to John Hooker, April 8, 1874; Browne alludes to a letter that Hooker sent his wife. Isabella and Olympia are together at the time of Browne's response. The exact details of Hooker's letter are not described here. Browne writes: "I am astonished at what Mrs. Hooker has told me of Mr. Burton's course: to me it seems simply impertinent, but if it draws you nearer to Mrs. Hooker or arouses you to a new interest in reform I shall see in it the Providence of God leading you on through dreary deserts of disappointment & sorrow to the promised land of light & liberty and love.", Olympia Brown to John Hooker, April 8, 1874, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, November 12, 1873; Browne shares her displeasure at receiving a letter from Hooker the same day as she sent out the letter described above. Browne chastises Hooker: "as to casting the responsibility of getting up the meeting on me it is absurd, you say you are nearly & are only ^waiting^ till spring to leave the continent & go to Europe well I am weary & I have my household & my parish two sermons every week to be got & meetings three evenings in the week & no sort of hopes of resting in Europe but must stand at my post year after year, now if there is any meeting at New Haven it is evident that you will just have to put your hand to the work." Browne alludes to the Tilton-Beecher scandal as a possible reason why Hooker may not want to plan the upcoming convention. She advises: "just let your brothers affairs rest and attend to this meeting our cause is more important than ten thousand Beechers besides you can do nothing about his affairs he must work out his own salvation or condemnation & we must do likewise & we had better begin it by making this N.[ew] H.[ampshire] meeting a success.", Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, November 12, 1873, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, May 2, 1876; Browne writes about recent activities of Connecticut suffragists, and her church., Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, May 2, 1876, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, September 28, 1874; Olympia Brown to Isabella Beecher Hooker, September 28, 1874, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Ellen Buer to Isabella Beecher Hooker, April 21, 1879; In this signed letter, Buer shares the latest gossip about, Julia Smith’s recent marriage at an older age., Ellen Buer to Isabella Beecher Hooker, April 21, 1879, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: William F. Channing to Isabella Beecher Hooker, October 10, 1880; Found in The Revolution envelope with the calling card of Ruth C. Denison. He writes that the “woman suffrage movement in New England is in a decadent condition generally...The Boston (American) Society is without life or influence. All the work of any importance is being done by the National Society.", William F. Channing to Isabella Beecher Hooker, October 10, 1880, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Miriam Cole to Isabella Beecher Hooker, December 27, [18--]; The letter states that Cole she must decline Hooker’s invitation to speak at the Washington convention. She also speaks against the union of the two societies (likely the NWSA and the AWSA), and states that Hooker “stands aloof from the contending centers.”, Miriam Cole to Isabella Beecher Hooker, December 27, [18--], Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Hannah Comstock to Isabella Beecher Hooker, November 7, 1872; Comstock expresses her views on the developments in the Tilton-Beecher scandal: "I feel much for your brother, but if these charges are true & he attempts to escape under Mrs. Woodhull's skirts all the more dreadful will his fall be in the end. Have you anything to say to ^me^ about it, any advise [sic] to give or any light and I would add any work. I am ready for work on this great social question & care but little what is said if I may only see & do my duty. As it was in the day of Adam, the woman who had done the wrong, so now in this last day the woman must bear the blame., Hannah Comstock to Isabella Beecher Hooker, November 7, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Hannah Comstock to Isabella Beecher Hooker, March 17, 1874; Hannah Comstock to Isabella Beecher Hooker, March 17, 1874, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Hannah Comstock to Isabella Beecher Hooker, December 19, 1871; Comstock expresses her remorse at Hooker's ill health. She advises: "I have been a great sufferer myself at different time from the same trouble & know just how bad it make you feel. Let me mention two simple remedies, that are said to be good. I have used them freely for years. Crab apple jelly, & cubebs, use the former freely with your meals, the latter always by you & taken several in the course of the day-" Comstock goes on to report about a recent suffrage meeting held. She explains: "your letter proved a perfect God send to us. I read parts of it, and it would have done your soul good to see the interest manifested, all here ready for work, and said just as soon as they had the petitions they would go to work, men & women talked freely- and for the first time in my life I spoke out loud in meeting. My husband was Chairman & I sat beside him & together we performed wonders. I spoke of the call for the national convention at Washington, and they asked me to read it, which I accordingly did... It was like the Bugle blast to arms of the old Scottish Chiefs in the days of Bruce & Wallace.", Cubebs, which is mentioned in this letter, consist of the dried unripe fruit of the plant Cubeba officinalis, which is cultivated in Java. Cubeb is listed in the Compendium as a Diuretic that is also slightly purgative. It can be used in the treatment of "gonorrhoea, gleets, fluor albus, urinary irritations, and gravel." , Hannah Comstock to Isabella Beecher Hooker, December 19, 1871, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Hannah Comstock to Isabella Beecher Hooker, January 31, 1877; Hannah Comstock to Isabella Beecher Hooker, January 31, 1877, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Hannah Comstock to Unknown, May 28, 18[7?]; Comstock writes from Kobe, Japan about a mission she is participating in. Many of the members of her group have returned to the United States due to illness., Hannah Comstock to Unknown, May 28, 18[7?], Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Hannah Comstock to Isabella Beecher Hooker, December 21, 18[7?]; Comstock writes about the stroke her brother has suffered that has left him without the ability to speak and paralyzed., Hannah Comstock to Isabella Beecher Hooker, December 21, 18[7?], Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Hannah Comstock to Isabella Beecher Hooker, October 6, 1875; Hannah Comstock to Isabella Beecher Hooker, October 6, 1875, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Hannah Comstock to Isabella Beecher Hooker, December 5, 1871; Comstock writes about a recent suffrage meeting in which Mrs. Brown, likely Olympia Brown, spoke. She also shares her views about Victoria Woodhull, and says: "I want to know her better. I am more & more interested in her. And sometimes wonder why I am so strongly attracted towards her. It is a mystery to me, far from the views I have always entertained on those points she is so radical on I should have supposed I should have been one who would have joined the hue & cry against her Thank God I am not- I somehow seem impressed with the belief that she is right, and that we shall some day see the truth in her as it is.", Hannah Comstock to Isabella Beecher Hooker, December 5, 1871, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

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