Abby Kelley Foster Inducted Into the National Abolition Hall of Fame And
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W ORCESTER W OMEN’S H ISTORY P ROJECT We remember our past . to better shape our future. WWHP VOLUME 12, NO. 1 SPRING 2012 Abby Kelley Foster inducted into the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum By Carolyn Howe, past WWHP President The dual inductions of Abby Kelley of all women; and in every effort for Foster into the National Women’s Hall an improvement in our civilization, of Fame (October 2, 2011) and the Na- we will bear in our heart of hearts tional Abolition Hall of Fame and Mu- the memory of the trampled woman- seum (October 22, 2011) underscore hood of the plantation, and omit no the two driving moral causes that moti- effort to raise it to a share in the vated Abby’s life: equality between the rights we claim for ourselves. sexes and the abolition of slavery – For me, going to Peterboro, New York, with full racial equality. was a poignant finale to our work begun National Abolition Hall of Fame It was the combination of these is- in 1994 and a fitting beginning of re- Peterboro, New York sues, gender equality and racial equali- newed commitment; it was like coming ty, that inspired me, and many others, full-circle. In the 1990s, I, along with eve- to join in creating the Worcester Wom- ryone else, had a lot to learn about Abby en’s History Project in 1994, with the Kelley Foster, the abolitionist movement, INSIDE THIS ISSUE goal of commemorating, “in the year and the woman’s rights movement. The 2000,” the 150th anniversary of the very more I learned, the more I was drawn to President’s Message 2 first National Woman’s Rights Conven- Abby, a woman who viewed the liberation NAHOF cont’d from p1 3 tion, which was held in Worcester in of slave women (and men) as having October, 1850. At that first national greater moral urgency than did her own 4 convention, a suffrage resolution was and her daughter’s moral claim to full Clara Fish Roberts 5 passed, declaring that banners should equality with men. Now here I was, going proclaim “equality before the law, with- with a small group of WWHP members to Penny Colman’s book 6 out distinction of sex or color.” These Peterboro, New York, to help induct Abby WOMEN IN PRINT 2012 7 words became a motto for the WWHP. into the National Abolition Hall of Fame Abby is …. 8 and Museum (NAHOF). She had just A second resolution was a powerful been inducted into the National Women’s NO EVIL PROJECT 9 inspiration for all the hard work that Hall of Fame, after more than a decade of lay ahead as we planned for the 150th Pencil shavings... 10 advocacy by WWHP members. A white anniversary commemoration of the Annual Meeting 2011 11 abolitionist in the women’s hall of fame! only national woman’s rights conven- And now, a staunch women’s rights advo- Chamber of Commerce 11 tion that called for women’s rights cate in the abolition hall of fame! without distinction of color. MARCH IS... On Friday, October 21, 2011, Doreen MEMBERSHIP MONTH Resolved , That the cause we are Velnich drove Fran Langille and me, and met to advocate, — the claim for once we got through Albany, we drove on RENEW OR JOIN! woman of all her natural and civil a state highway over hills, into valleys, using the form on the rights, — bids us remember the mil- through little towns, and past small farms last page. lion and a half of slave women at — a landscape Abby would have travelled Thank you. the South, the most grossly many times. We connected with Mary wronged and foully outraged (Cont’d on p3) Page 2 President’s Message WORCESTER WOMEN’S HISTORY PROJECT Dear Friends of Worcester Women’s History Project (WWHPers), 30 Elm Street • Worcester, MA 01609 Spring is nearly upon us. I think it’s great timing that the first Telephone: 508-767-1852 day of spring falls in the middle of women’s history month – it’s a Website: wwhp.org • Email: [email protected] time for renewed energy and growth, taking a fresh look at your STEERING COMMITTEE surroundings, emerging from your winter shell. We’ve got plenty Dianne Bruce going on to tap into that positive energy and help you flourish as a Maureen Ryan Doyle woman making history here in Worcester. I’m honored to be taking Regina Edmonds the reins as president this year, and pleased to be able to share with Hayley Gleason you here a bit of the excitement being generated by the marvelous Louise Gleason women on our steering committee and working groups. Will this Beth Harding be the spring you get more involved? Carol Harvey This year the theme for Women’s History Month is “Women’s Kayla Haveles Education– Women’s Empowerment.” This theme resonates strongly Barbara Kohin with the vision of WWHP “to celebrate and document women’s con- Charlene Martin tributions to the history, social fabric, and culture of Worcester and C.J. Posk Barbara J. Sinnott beyond.” Hanna Solska Through programs and initiatives, we work to shine a light on Susan R. Vogel the amazing stories of local women’s involvement in work, educa- tion, health and political/community engagement — looking at EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE women of the past like Abby Kelley Foster, but also women of the Heather-Lyn Haley, President present, as highlighted in the terrific new compilation of excerpts Doreen Velnich, Vice President Mary Plummer, Clerk from some of the 200+ oral histories we’ve collected through the Kathleen Comer, Treasurer Worcester Women’s Oral History Project (WWOHP) initiative. We’re so grateful to and proud of the WWOHP co-chairs, Charlene Martin Executive Assistant: Nancy Avila and Maureen Ryan Doyle, for the success of their book in bringing [email protected] attention to these powerful stories. Be sure to read the article in this Newsletter Committee: Kara Wilson, newsletter describing the book launch event at the Library last De- Barbara J. Sinnott, Mary Plummer, cember. The WWOHP group are also planning a public workshop Hayley Gleason, Dianne Bruce for May 9 – see details on page 4. ————————————————— WWHP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable and We kick off Women’s History Month with the 9th annual educational organization incorporated in 1995 WOMEN IN PRINT event on March 7. This event is featured on with a vision “to celebrate and document page 7 with the design by new Steering Committee member Hayley women’s contributions to the history, social Gleason. Come early if you want a seat, as we’ve been known to fabric, and culture of Worcester and beyond.” pack the place! Its mission is to March is also MEMBERSHIP MONTH, so it’s time to renew your own raise awareness of the rich history of membership and think about getting one for a friend. Membership women in the Worcester area in WWHP is a terrific choice for thoughtful women on your gift create national recognition of lists – whether to celebrate a birthday, Mother’s Day, Administrative Worcester’s role in the history of the Professionals Day, Easter, or Equinox – especially when presented in women’s rights movement combination with the Voices of Worcester Women book. (See form advance the ideals put forth in the on back page.) 1850 convention that there should There’s plenty more on tap this spring. We’ve been invited to be “equality before the law, without join Abby Kelley Foster at Liberty Farm on Sat., May 19 to celebrate distinction of sex or color,” or her daughter Alla’s birthday. Watch the website for details. Abby’s ethnicity. been trailblazing on the national level this year, so you’ll want to see her while she’s here and catch up on the news of her www.wwhp.org travels far and near, including a performance in the Connecticut (Cont’d on p11) WWHP VOLUME 12, NO. 1 In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women's History Month in perpetuity. Page 3 Abby … (Cont’d from p1) Above photo: LYNNE McKENNEY LYDICK; Gregg Tripoli, Executive Director Onondaga Historical Associa- Unveiling of Abby Kelley Foster portrait tion, Syracuse NY; Jean Cooper, great grand-daughter of George created by artist Joseph Flores Gavin Ritchie, Newtown PA; FRAN LANGILLE and Bruce Plummer at our motel in Oneida, then drove into Hamilton for dinner and to Colgate Univer- Top: WWHP VP Doreen Velnich, WWHP Pres. Fran Langille, WWHP Clerk sity’s planetarium, where we sat surrounded by a film Mary Plummer. Seated: Carolyn Howe, who nominated AKF, and Lynne about the Mayan people’s temples and astrological McKenney Lydick, who accepted the award and who portrayed Abby Kel- ley Foster in Yours for Humanity—Abby. predictions. On induction day, we met up with Tom and Lynne George Gavin Ritchie), the format included a presentation to McKenney Lydick at Colgate University. A large ex- represent the life and contributions of the nominee followed hibit on anti-slavery history filled the hall where the by formal nominations; at the end of the program, nomina- NAHOF hosted a morning reception. It gave me chills tors stood by sheet-draped frames and then ceremoniously to realize that everybody there was committed to pre- unveiled black and white portraits of each inductee. serving the memory of the inductees and the thou- Abby was first on the agenda, so the evening began with sands of unnamed people who dedicated and sacrificed one of the best performances I have ever seen of Lynne por- their lives to end the heinous atrocity of slavery.