Portrait of Frances E. Willard
Photo: Adam Cuerden · Wikimedia Commons

Author

Frances E. Willard

American temperance activist and suffragist (1839–1898)

Born
September 28, 1839, Churchville
Died
February 17, 1898, New York City
Nationality
United States
Occupation
Suffragist, writer, temperance worker, lecturer and missionary
Notable works
A Woman of the Century

Life and work

Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard (September 28, 1839 – February 17, 1898) was an American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist. Willard became the national president of Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) in 1879 and remained president until her death in 1898. Her influence continued in the next decades, as the Eighteenth (on Prohibition) and Nineteenth (on women's suffrage) Amendments to the United States Constitution were adopted. Willard developed the slogan "Do Everything" for the WCTU and encouraged members to engage in a broad array of social reforms by lobbying, petitioning, preaching, publishing, and education.

Willard's accomplishments include raising the age of consent in many states and passing labor reforms, most notably including the eight-hour work day. She also advocated for prison reform, scientific temperance instruction, Christian socialism, and the global expansion of women's rights.

Text: “Frances Willard”, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under the license CC BY-SA 4.0. Dates and facts: Wikidata.

Collection

Books by Frances E. Willard

1 book