Letter, Susan B. Anthony to Evangeline O’Connor
A letter from Susan B. Anthony to her friend and fellow women’s rights activist, Evangeline O’Connor, president of the newly formed Rochester Council of Women. Anthony suggests holding a meeting where the president of each women’s group in the Council can explain to the others the goals and achievements of her organization. Anthony explains that this is what the National Council will do when it meets in Washington, DC. She shares her desire to make Rochester’s Council “a tremendous power for good” and expresses her confidence in O’Connor’s leadership.
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[Letterhead: National American Woman Suffrage Association]
Rochester, N.Y. Feb 9, 1899.
My Dear Council President,
I forgot to suggest to
you yesterday a thought that has
come to me several times – that is
that there should be a public meeting
in the Y.W.C.A. Hall – very soon – and
the president of each society – & club in membership,
should make a brief statement of the
aim & object & achievements of her organization – say
5 or 8 minutes in length – this would make
each one acquainted with all of the
others – and so bring all into a kinship
feeling – That is what we shall do in the
National Council at Washington – each
National Society will report its work done
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in the past three years – I wish
you were going to meet me at the
station at 6.45 tomorrow A.M – so
we could talk & plan ways &
means to make our local council
a tremendous power for good in
our goodly Rochester – but I
know you are studying how to
do all this – and my faith
in you grows apace – I shall hope
to hear from you at the Arlington
and shall hope, too, that many
other women will finally decide
to go on to the Council –
Very sincerely & gratefully
Susan B. Anthony