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 Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 13, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 13, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, November 9, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, November 9, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Isabella Beecher Hooker to Ned Hooker, March 16, 1872; Hooker describes two recent speaking engagements, the first in Bridgeport, which was her first political talk., Isabella Beecher Hooker to Ned Hooker, March 16, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 16, 1872; Enclosed with this letter is a newspaper article: "Forty-Second Congress. Second Session. Yesterday's Proceedings." National Republican, January 16, 1872., Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 16, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Isabella Beecher Hooker to William Wallace Eaton, May 23, 1873; Hooker asks for Eaton's support in the campaign for women's suffrage. She expresses frustration that women are taxed, but cannot vote. She reports: "I have heard that there is a black woman in N.[ew] Haven worth $20,000 who to her utter astonishment was called upon for her taxes the moment the 15th Amend to the Nat. Const. was ratified by 'the people' although only black men were considered to have been made voters by that act.", Eaton was a Member of the House of Representatives for Connecticut. , Isabella Beecher Hooker to William Wallace Eaton, May 23, 1873, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 23, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 23, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 10, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 10, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 14, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 14, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 13, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 13, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, December 4, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, December 4, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 24, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 24, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to Elizabeth Tilton, January 7, 1873; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to Elizabeth Tilton, January 7, 1873, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Isabella Beecher Hooker to Caroline M. Severance, ca., August 1869; Hooker writes that Davis and Anthony should speak for themselves at the upcoming convention. Or Stanton should be the representative, and not her in their place. Hooker goes on to discuss key issues and states: "Whether I can go as far as she [Stanton?] in their support will depend on Miss Stanton's position in the matter of dress & divorce. I care nothing for the 15th Amend[ment] anyway. That whole discussion will either be set aside by its passage or become the order of the day by its failure & then, we shall all have to take it up in earnest as a political issue & then I think it will never pass without the 16th.", Isabella Beecher Hooker to Caroline M. Severance, ca., August 1869, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 30, 1872; Enclosed with this letter is a broadsheet: "To the Editors of the United States.", Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 30, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 2, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 2, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 8, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 8, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 27, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 27, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 15, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 15, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 10, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 10, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, August 20, 1874; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, August 20, 1874, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 15, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 15, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 14, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 14, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 26, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 26, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 11, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 11, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 29, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 29, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 20, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 20, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 4, 1872; Enclosed with this letter is a newspaper article: "Washington...The Strong Minded Women Coalescing with the 'Liberal Republicans.'" New York Herald, January 30, 1872., Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 4, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 28, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, January 28, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, September 10, 1874; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, September 10, 1874, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 18, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 18, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 1, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to John Hooker, February 1, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to Victoria Woodhull, August 5, 1872; Letter from Isabella Beecher Hooker to Victoria Woodhull, August 5, 1872, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from John Hooker to Francis Moulton, September 7, 1874; Letter from John Hooker to Francis Moulton, September 7, 1874, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Letter from Susan T. Howard to Isabella Beecher Hooker, October 24, 1874; Letter from Susan T. Howard to Isabella Beecher Hooker, October 24, 1874, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Esther Prader Hunt to Unknown, October 19, [18--]; The letter was written while at the Sublime Payostral [sic] Lodge of the Plienes. The statement details how suffrage would benefit women and also suggests that certain astrological signs may be more advantageous for their work than others., Esther Prader Hunt to Unknown, October 19, [18--], Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Esther Jewell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, April 25, 1878; Jewell describes her feelings about Spiritualism: I am so glad you saw Mrs. R. and could have a sitting with her. She is the best and most reliable clairvoyant I have ever seen or known. She is truly honest, and greatly respected by everyone here and elsewhere that she is known. I always feel drawn to her as you say. I have known her four years and have often had sittings with her and received much comfort through her mediumship, and whatever Whitefeather says is reliable. I act on her advice, and find it always right, she has always told me of the changes we were to make some months before they took place. She gives me such sweet communications from my dear little Lucy as you say I have not been able to keep from tears. I seemed to feel her presence so near as if it were her lips that spoke, and not through another, when I get the opportunity I go to see Mrs. R. and have a little chat as she is the only Spiritualist I know here, and it does my heart good. I am not surprised that Whitefeather should give your name and speak of me. She so often gives such good tests to me and to others. I know it is not mind reading as she speaks of things I never knew before, and of things to come. I consider Mrs. R. a dear friend to have, and one that will have a beautiful crown in the next life for her love and faithfullness to others here. I am glad she thinks your brother a good medium. I do hope he will be brought to see that it is best to show his light here for who? could carry such an influence, such a mighty power with the people as he could. I read his sermons often, and see little by little he is bringing out the Spiritual truth. I hope yet he will come out boldly, and do what no other man in the world at this time can, and what a rich blessing he would get in the next.", Esther Jewell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, April 25, 1878, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Esther Jewell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, May 2, 1874; Jewell describes the details of her upcoming travels to Europe, where she hopes to meet up with Hooker. Jewell also shares her thoughts about a case in Glastonbury: "I have watched the Glastonbury case very carefully, and although I do not think anything can ever be gained by resisting a law, still they have undoubtedly done something for the cause by calling direct attention to the injustice of the law, and a great deal is accomplished when people can be brought to think seriously upon a subject. I think you & Susan have done nobly: and you certainly deserve a rest after so busy a winter.", Esther Jewell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, May 2, 1874, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Esther Jewell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, May 19, 1874; Esther Jewell to Isabella Beecher Hooker, May 19, 1874, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Esther Jewell to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, October 9, [1870]; Jewell invites Stanton to stay with her during the upcoming Connecticut women's rights convention., [Item title, item date], Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Box D.292, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

: Elizabeth B. Johnston to Isabella Beecher Hooker, October 8, 1880; Letter is on The Aberdeen hotel's letterhead. She includes newspaper clippings regarding President Grant., Elizabeth B. Johnston to Isabella Beecher Hooker, October 8, 1880, Isabella Beecher Hooker and John Hooker Papers, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.

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