1007375
Susan B. Anthony
The "the day will come when man will recognize woman as his peer,
not only at the fireside, but in the councils of the nation"
Susan Brownell Anthony, 1820–1906. Women's rights activist. Magazine article reprint, boldly signed With best wishes / Susan B. Anthony / Rochester and dated in her hand Dec. 25 / 97.
This is an eight-page reprint of Anthony's article ”The Status of Woman, Past, Present, and Future” from the May 1897 issue of The Arena. The article traces the advancement of women over the course of 50 years.
Anthony writes that there ”has been a radical revolution in the legal status of woman." She points out that women had entered professions such as law, medicine, and theology, so that the ”close of this nineteenth century finds every trade, vocation, and profession open to women, and every opportunity at their command for preparing themselves to follow these occupations.” With ”but few exceptions," she writes, "the highest institutions of learning in the land are as freely opened to girls as to boys.”
Yet, Anthony says, the ”department of politics” had been ”slowest to give admission to women,” although women had achieved the limited right to vote in a number of states and ”full suffrage, local, State, and national,” in four states. "Until woman has obtained ‘that right protective of all other rights—the ballot,'" she declares, " . . . agitation must still go on, absorbing the time and the energy of our best and strongest women. Who can measure the advantages that would result if the magnificent abilities of these women could be devoted to the needs of government, society, home, instead of being consumed in the struggle to obtain their birthright of individual freedom? Until this be gained we can never know, we cannot even prophesy, the capacity and power of woman for the uplifting of humanity.”
She concludes by predicting that ”the day will come when man will recognize woman as his peer, not only at the fireside, but in the councils of the nation.”
Anthony has penned her sentiment and signature in black fountain pen in the top margin of the first page. The first page shows a bit of foxing, not affecting Anthony's handwriting. There are light glue stains in the right margin on the last page from prior mounting in an album, but the stains do not affect the text and do not bleed through to the first page. The piece is in fine condition overall.
This is an outstanding piece of history from the women's rights movement.
Unframed.
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