USA > Ohio > Women of Ohio; a record of their achievements in the history of the state, Volume I > Part 24
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WOMEN OF OHIO
ARAVILLE MEEK TAYLOR
ARAVILLE MEEK TAYLOR, professor and head of the department of biology, Lake Erie College, was born at Andes, N. Y., the daughter of James and Jane Taylor. She took her A. B. at Alleghany College, then took up gradu- ate work at the University of Chicago, where she was awarded her B. S., M. S., and Ph. D. (magna cum laude). Miss Taylor began teaching biology in high school, then at Francis Shimer Junior College and later taught at Milwaukee Downer College, at Oregon State Agricultural College and at New- comb College, Tulane University. She is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Genetics Association, the American Association of University Professors and of other important organizations, has done much research and has written leading articles for scientific papers.
MARY REBECCA THAYER
MARY REBECCA THAYER, professor of English at Wooster College, was born at Oakland, Maryland, the daughter of Frederick and Maggie Thayer. She took her A. B. at Cornell University, also her M. A. and Ph. D. and was awarded an English fellowship by Cornell. Miss Thayer is author of articles and monographs on the classics, also on English poets and literature.
BERTHA E. TITSWORTH
BERTHA E. TITSWORTH, head of the department of home economics, Ohio Wesleyan University, was born at Farina, Ill., the daughter of Benjamin and Genevra Titsworth. She received her teachers diploma at Pratt Institute, took her B. S. at Cornell University, her M. A. at Teachers College, Columbia University and did graduate work at the University of Chicago. Miss Tits- worth taught formerly at Alfred University, Cornell University and at the University of New Hampshire. She is a branch president of the American Association of University Women and is a council member of the Ohio Home Economics Association. She lives at 138 N. Sandusky St., Delaware.
BLANCHE AVALINE VERDER
BLANCHE AVALINE VERDER, dean of women of Kent State College, was born at Rutland, Vt., the daughter of George Henry and Salome Verder. She took her B. S. at Middlebury College, attended Oxford University, Eng- land and was accorded her M. A. by Columbia University.
Miss Verder formerly taught English, civics and directed vocational guidance. She is an interested member of the National Association of Deans of Women, of the Ohio State Association of Deans of Women, of the D. A. R., the National Education Association and of other important organizations.
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IRMA ELIZABETH VOIGHT
IRMA ELIZABETH VOIGHT has been dean of women of Ohio University since 1913. She was born at Quincy, Ill., and took her A. B. at the University of Illinois in 1910. In 1913 the degree of Ph. D. was conferred by the same university on this outstanding educator and college administrator. Until the past year she was president of the National Association of Deans of Women. Dean Voight is a past president of the Ohio Association of Deans of Women and a life member of the National Education Association. Among her pub- lished writings have been "The Life and Works of Mrs. Robinson", "Deans at Work" and articles in various periodicals.
LUCY JEANETTE WATT
LUCY JEANETTE WATT, associate professor of biology, Western Col- lege, was born at Oak Park, Ill., the daughter of Frederick and Theresa Watt. She took her A.B. at Western College, her M.A. at Syracuse University, attended Leland Stanford University, Woods Hole Marine Biological Labora- tories, Chicago University and Wisconsin University. Miss Watt was formerly an instructor at Woodhull High School, at Syracuse University and at Wells College. She is active in the American Association of University Professors, the American Association of University Women and other professional or- ganizations.
AUDREY KENYON WILDER
Although she was born at Albion, Michigan, AUDREY KENYON WILDER, dean of women and assistant professor of English at Ohio Northern University, has been so identified with education and educational interests of Ohio that she may be regarded as an adopted daughter.
She was graduated in 1921. For the past 10 years she has been active in the American Association of University Women and in the National Asso- ciation of Deans of Women.
EDITH ARMSTRONG WRAY
EDITH ARMSTRONG WRAY, associate professor of English at Ohio University, was previously on the faculty of Stanford University and instructor of English at the University of Wisconsin. She is international chairman of the Athens League of Women Voters, a member of the American Poetry Society and was delegate to the 1932 convention, held at Edinburgh, Scotland, of the International Federation of University Women.
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ELLEN WRIGHT
The 1907 year book of Wilmington College was dedicated to ELLEN C. WRIGHT in the following words-
"If the history of Wilmington College can be compared to a book, Miss Wright is the binding; if to a tapestry, Miss Wright is the warp; if to a painting, Miss Wright is the background."
The admiration thus expressed was not confined, however, to this par- ticular class at Wilmington. In fact, even after her retirement in 1920, from the college faculty, and right up to the time of her death, in 1937, the fairly general concensus of opinion seemed to be that Ellen Wright WAS Wilmington College, as nearly as one person could be.
She was born in Wilmington, the daughter of Joseph Wright, graduated from the college in 1875 and at once became a member of the staff. With the exception of a year of graduate study at Bryn Mawr, Ellen Wright devoted 45 years to service at her beloved college. She specialized in Latin and headed that department for many years. She was for a time librarian, sec- retary to the faculty. She sponsored literary clubs, worked with the YWCA. She was a charter member of the original "Douglas Society" which finally became the Dorian Society.
One of the labors of love which always fell to her lot was to tie the diplomas of the graduates with the college colors. Ellen Wright had chosen these colors-green and white.
On her retirement the College Board of Trustees conferred on Miss Wright the title of "Professor of Latin Emeritus." But even then Ellen did not really retire. She taught her favorite classics at home-and continued to be closely identified with the college. She was "Teacher Ellen Wright" to the last.
GRACE S. M. ZORBAUGH
GRACE S. M. ZORBAUGH, associate dean of women and associate professor of economics, Ohio State University, attended Western Reserve University, took her M.A. at Harvard University and her Ph.D. at the Uni- versity of Wisconsin. She was previously associate professor of economics of the University of Iowa and research specialist of the National League of Women Voters. Miss Zorbaugh is author of important articles in educational journals.
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WOMEN IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
MARY ADELAIDE EASLEY
MARY ADELAIDE EASLEY, research physicist of the General Electric Company at Cleveland, O., was born at Denver, Col., received her A.B. from Colorado College and her M.A., also a fellowship, from Northwestern Uni- versity. She was formerly instructor in physics at Northwestern and has done important writing in this field.
MRS. ALFRED FRIEDLANDER
MRS. ALFRED FRIEDLANDER, widely known for her social service, gives her full time as a laboratory technician at General Hospital.
Educated at Winchester and at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, where she was born, Jane Klee Friedlander has been active in Cincinnati since 1927.
She served the Woman's Symphony organization as vice president, 1936-1937, and was a member of the Needlework Guild Board, 1936-1938, and of the Council of Jewish Woman's Board, 1937-1939. She also worked for the Charter Committee.
She is the daughter of William B. Klee of Pittsburgh and Blanche Westheimer Klee. Her marriage to Alfred Friedlander took place in 1927 and she is the mother of two children, Nancy and William. The Friedlanders live at 2708 Johnstone Place, Cincinnati.
NORMA CATHERINE FURTOS
NORMA CATHERINE FURTOS was born at Cleveland, the daughter of August and Grace Elizabeth Furtos. She took her B.A. at Flora Stone Mather College, her M.A. at Western Reserve and her Ph.D. at Ohio State University. She is the author of many bulletins and monographs on micro- scopic curstacea and is also deeply interested in ornithology. Her home is at 2300 Delaware Ave., Cleveland Heights.
HELEN NORRIS MOORE
HELEN NORRIS MOORE (Mrs. E. Kenneth Moore) is instructor in bacteriology department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, and the wife of a well known research chemist.
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She was born in Cincinnati and took her M.A. degree at the University of Cincinnati in 1925. Mrs. Moore has a growing reputation in her field of science.
MARGARET MORSE NICE
MARGARET MORSE NICE (Mrs. Leonard R. Nice), ornithologist, of Columbus, was born at Amherst, Mass., and took her A.B. at Mt. Holyoke College, and her M.A. at Clark University.
She is vice president of the Columbus Audubon Society and an advisory councilor of the National Association of Audubon Societies.
Mrs. Nice has written numerous authoritative articles on birds and has translated many foreign books and monographs on this subject. She was a delegate to the Eighth International Ornithological Congress held at Oxford, England, and is vice-chairman of Section III of this important organization of scientists.
AMY FARLEY ROWLAND
AMY FARLEY ROWLAND, research worker and editor, of Cleveland, took her B.S. and her M.A. degrees at Mount Holyoke College and did graduate work at Columbia University. She is at present editor and associate in biophysical research of the Research Division of the Cleveland Hospital and was formerly American representative at the International Institute for Girls, in Spain.
Miss Rowland is a past president of the Cleveland branch of the Women's Protective Association, president of the Cleveland College Club, and a trustee of Mount Holyoke College. Among her highly important tasks in recent years has been the editing of fifteen scientific books, of which Dr. George W. Crile, of Cleveland, is the author.
ELSE LOUISE SCHULZE
ELSE LOUISE SCHULZE, librarian chemist, Proctor and Gamble Co., Cincinnati, O., took her A.B. and M.A. at the University of Cincinnati and two years later her Ph.D. Other honors accorded this brilliant young chemist by the University of Cincinnati included the Twitchell Fellowship in Chem- istry, the Thoms Scholarship, and the Fleischmann Scholarship. Miss Schulze is a former president of the Cincinnati branch of the Special Librarians Asso- ciation and is the author of articles on chemical subjects featured in pro- fessional journals. Her home is at 4008 Floral Ave., Norwood, O.
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WOMEN OF OHIO
DOROTHY E. SHANK
DOROTHY E. SHANK, of Cleveland, research director, received her B.S. and M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University and for a number of years was teacher at Lasell Seminary, Auburndale, Mass., then at the New Jersey College for Women and later at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is at present in charge of the research department of the American Stove Company. Miss Shank is a former treasurer of the Ohio Home Economics Association, a member of the American Home Economics Association, and is author of articles on related subjects published in leading American magazines.
CHAPTER SIX
Women Crusade for Temperance
CHAPTER SIX
WOMEN CRUSADE FOR TEMPERANCE
By VIOLA D. ROMANS, President of Ohio W.C.T.U.
The Woman's Temperance Crusade of 1873 and 1874 was inspired by Dr. Dio Lewis of Boston, Massachusetts, at the time of his visit to Hillsboro, Ohio, in December of 1873. He came as a lyceum lecturer and was the guest of Mrs. E. J. Thompson, an influential woman, the daughter of a former Governor of Ohio, and the wife of Judge Thompson of Hillsboro. He greatly enthused the women, telling them how his own mother had prayed with and for the saloon keepers of his native town until many of them had given up their soul-destroying business, and then he appealed to the women present to do the same thing.
Almost fifty women arose in response and the following morning marched forth two by two from the Presbyterian Church, led by "Mother" Thompson, as we afterward learned to call her, singing "Give to the Winds Thy Fears."
God's hour struck for the beginning of the end of the legalized liquor traffic in our liberty loving republic.
One writer says, "The message of Dr. Lewis was a seed thought planted by the Holy Spirit, a message given by God by which the world was set aflame-with gospel temperance influence through women; and through that message, woman came to the fuller discovery of herself."
He not only greatly enthused the women of Hillsboro but also those of Washington Court House and other Ohio towns and they too were moved to concerted action against the saloon. It is said that Hillsboro was the "Cradle" and Washington Court House was the "Crown" of the Crusade.
The movement spread to twenty-three states. In fifty days this whirlwind of the Lord had swept the liquor traffic out of two hundred and fifty towns and villages.
On February 24th, 1873, pursuant to a call issued by Dr. Lewis, the first state convention of the woman's temperance movement assembled at Columbus, in the City Hall, and initiated the organization, out of which evolved a few months later the Ohio Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
A state bureau of information was created, and Mrs. H. C. MeCabe of Delaware, Ohio, was elected president. Other officers were added and an executive committee was formed.
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A call for a national convention of temperance women was issued, Cleve- land was chosen as the convention city and November 18 and 19, 1874, as the time for holding it. The thought had sprung from the heart and brain of Mrs. Mattie McClelland Brown, then of Alliance, Ohio, while at Chautauqua, New York. Women of every state were requested to send one delegate from each congressional district.
A national organization was effected, a constitution was adopted and officers were elected; viz: President, Mrs. Annie Wittenmeyer, Philadelphia ; Corresponding Secretary, Miss Frances E. Willard, Chicago; Recording Sec- retary, Mrs. Mary C. Johnson; Brooklyn, New York; Treasurer, Mrs. Mary C. Ingham, Cleveland.
The name adopted by the Ohio state organization became also the name of the National-and thus was evolved the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
Following the vision of Frances E. Willard, the WORLD'S Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized, bringing together the women of many countries under one great banner. As a result, there are branches in fifty-four countries affiliated with the World's W.C.T.U.
The original Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Cincinnati was organized in 1874 under the name of "The City League." At a meeting held Dec. 14, 1882, at the home of MRS. P. R. WARMAN, the name of the organi- zation was changed to the Central W.C.T.U. of Cincinnati with Mrs. Warman as president; MRS. L. M. McKNIGHT, MRS. D. E. TAYLOR, MRS. M. E. MYGATT and MRS. E. S. COLEMAN, Vice-Presidents; MRS. L. M. Mc- KENZIE, Corresponding Secretary; MRS. GEORGIA HILL, Recording Sec- retary and MISS ANNA B. MORGAN, Treasurer.
In 1884 the name was abbreviated to "Central W.C.T.U." and in 1891 the society was incorporated under that name, with the following names signed to the articles of incorporation-ANNA B. MORGAN, MARTHA J. SKINNER, LIDA C. ISGRIGG, ROSETTA MERCER, JEANETTE T. HART, LUCINDA S. PARKER, and AMELIA C. HAMMELL. Mrs. Martha J. Skinner was president. At this time we find the names of MRS. VIOLA D. ROMANS, now state president of Ohio W.C.T.U., MISS J. A. MARTHA LEBENS, MRS. HAMPTON, M.D., and BELLE LINKMEYER, M.D.
In 1906 there was an enrollment of 108 members. Sept. 26, 1906, Mrs. John Robertson was elected president and served until 1912. Mrs. Barton White came next as president and was followed by Mrs. Mary Reeves, a crusader of '73. In 1915 Mrs. Hattie Mckinstry filled the office to be followed by Mrs. George Geis in 1917.
September, 1921, Mrs. Berta Mckinney was chosen as the president and has been re-elected each year to date, 1939.
Crusaders who were members of Central were MRS. MARY REEVES, MRS. D. R. WHITE, MRS. EMMA BLACK WEAVER, MRS. S. KYLE
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STEPHENS, MRS. C. C. SMITH, MISS GERTRUDE SMITH, MISS MARY RENNICK, MRS. E. S. SWORMSTADT, and (still living) MRS. ANGIE PUTERBAUGH.
The Women's Crusade is a unique and highly picturesque chapter in the history of Ohio. It is here outlined as such. But to misinterpret this story of the women's temperance crusade as in any way representative of or related to the viewpoint of this history on a problem as complex as it is controversial, would be to misunderstand both purpose and purport of the chapter.
Advocacy of the moral principle of temperance needs no apology.
The evils of intemperance are too conspicuous today to require any elaboration of this fact.
But the picture has changed, undoubtedly, from that which caused the women of yesterday-women of all classes, the women of privilege and culture and the women lacking virtually all opportunity-to enlist in the Women's Crusade.
Drunkenness, confined at that time almost entirely to men, was none the less a habit so general that it threatened the very existence of the home, especially in communities not far removed from the privations and hardships of early settlement.
Men sought, apparently, to escape through excessive drinking from the toil and burdens of pioneer life. This vice was accompanied by another habit which must have been, to women, scarcely less endurable.
It is still the custom to resent, more or less, the criticism so frankly made by Charles Dickens and Frances Trollope of American manners. They took cognizance, and in no weazle words, of the crude procedure whereby was in those days obtained the solace of tobacco. The American habit of utterly unrestrained expectoration utterly disgusted these famous English Writers and they did not hesitate to say so-why should they ?
Without question, here was another heavy trial to which the woman of yesterday was subjected. Doubtless it had part in her righteous rebellion against the drunkeness with which it was so often allied. Utter irritation added to deep anxiety, topped off with religious fervor-no, it is not hard to understand the Women's Crusade.
It was, when it began, a religious, economic and social movement and, as such, for a time quite successful.
But presently it took on new motivation. More and more, it became a political movement. What had been "temperance" grew into the "Tem- perance Party," then into the "Anti Saloon Party" and finally into a great drive for prohibition to which strong moral and financial support was given by millions of intelligent men and women unable, however, to visualize the quaint reaction of human nature when exposed to fairly safe opportunity of flaunting the forces of the law.
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Outstanding women of Ohio agitated, toward the last, as earnestly and as energetically to end the iniquitiously inefficient prohibition period as had the women who crusaded for temperance.
Among Ohio leaders who worked zealously for prohibition repeal were BETTY FLEISCHMANN HOLMES (Mrs. Christian R. Holmes), born and reared in Cincinnati; MRS. GEORGE HOADLY and MRS. EDWARD PAR- SONS, also of that city.
PHOEBE ALLEN
PHOEBE ALLEN of Cincinnati, crusader, religious and social worker, was born in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, of a lineage of ministers and exhorters and was reared by a maternal grandmother who was an evangelist and a slave, going from one plantation to another, doing missionary work, spread- ing the gospel among the slaves and their owners. Phoebe, then a very young girl, felt the urge to serve in the same capacity, and presently began to assist her cousin, a minister, in his evangelistic services, held in the hills of Kentucky. Later she would hold services alone. Rough mountaineers would drive for miles to the woods, where these meetings were held, to hear the exhortations of "that woman of God." She continued in this work after her marriage and establishment of her home at Covington, Kentucky.
After her husband's death, Mrs. Allen moved to Cincinnati, and realizing the need of work among the underprivileged and lawless who frequented the bottom lands and especially the river front, she spent all of the time she could spare from earning her livelihood in trying to redeem the lives of those people.
She was able to organize a Sunday School for the benefit of neglected children right in the heart of the slums and with the aid of the toughest youths of the neighborhood, whom she converted into colleagues, her ex- tensive Sabbath School developed.
The little Sunday School grew until, by its influence, a mission was born.
Phoebe accompanied the Cincinnati crusaders on their mission of praying in the streets and saloons against the liquor evil.
She was a leading representative of her race in the Women's Christian Temperance Union organized in Cincinnati and afterwards became affiliated with the Ohio State W.C.T.U. Phoebe Allen organized and conducted the children's clubs, known as "The Boys Temperance Union" over the state. She was the first and only superintendent of the State Juvenile Court De- partment of the work among both white and colored women. She held this position for several years, until the merging of several departments.
She was chairman of the Board of Superintendents. Mrs. Allen was made the Superintendent of work among colored people, but because of her
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declining health, she served only one year. She was also an associate member of the National Department of Work among colored people.
Because of her loyalty and faithful services, Mrs. Allen was made a life member of the Ohio Women's Temperance Union in 1912 and later her name was placed on the Book of Remembrance at Rest Cottage, the National W.C.T.U. Headquarters at Evanston, Illinois. This honor was conferred by the Ohio State Women's Christian Temperance Union.
Mrs. Allen had the assistance of others, who took charge of the mission work. This work continued for a number of years and out of this small be- ginning developed a church which is, at present, the New Unity Baptist Church on East Sixth Street, Cincinnati.
Later her work spread out into larger areas until she established classes and clubs among children, all over the city, and in this fashion was begun a social service said to be unparalleled in its effectiveness and importance. Two ministers deeply interested in the Juvenile Court, Hamilton County, then in its infancy, urged Mrs. Allen to enlist as a volunteer staff worker in order to help the colored children of the community. Phoebe Allen was, at first, reluctant. But she "prayed over the matter" and presently assented.
This work was fascinating but very hard. Mrs. Allen, fearless where the welfare of a human being was concerned, would go unaccompanied into dives and hovels to rescue a child. Police said that she could enter places where they feared to go alone.
Mrs. Allen served the Court for four years without compensation, the first woman worker in the Hamilton County Juvenile Court. Later another woman was appointed to handle the white children.
When the State required that probation officers take Civil Service exam- inations, Phoebe qualified and was one of the first to receive official appoint- ment. She served faithfully and long, working under adverse conditions, handling thousands of boys and girls, often working far into the night, cov- ering the county, answering any call, serving to the best of her ability.
She was the first colored social worker, not only of Hamilton County but of the entire country. She strove to meet the needs of the entire social field of work among the colored people in Hamilton County, not only within the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court but for other agencies as well.
Phoebe Allen organized the "Big Sisters" who assisted with delinquent girls. She aroused interest among the women over the State in her talks on the Juvenile Court. She was instrumental in bringing many erring parents to realize their responsibilities toward their children and adjusted many cases without prosecution.
Mrs. Allen was both feared and respected by the rough element of people, who admired her courage. Prostitutes fled when she approached, but when brought in to her presence, they poured out their life's stories and oftimes reformed their lives under her instructions.
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She was also loved and respected by the City Officials, the Court and County Attaches, because she was true and earnest in her dealings with her fellow-man. Many men and women will attest to the efforts she made in reclaiming their lives, when they erred in their youth.
Mrs. Allen spent twelve consecutive years as a probation officer of the Juvenile Court. Even after resigning her post, because of ill health, she served when she was able, because of her intensive interest in the children. Besides her work for the court, she assisted in many other fields of welfare and civic service, notably in the cause of temperance, in which special chapter her contribution is duly listed.
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