Rachel Foster Avery

File:Rachel Foster Avery and Susan Brownell Anthony.jpg

Rachel Foster Avery (right) and Susan B. Anthony

A NAWSA check payable to Avery, written by their treasurer Harriet Taylor Upton and signed by Susan B. Anthony and Alice Stone Blackwell.

Rachel Foster Avery (December 30, 1858–October 26, 1919) was a corresponding secretary of the National American Woman Suffrage Association during the late 19th century.

Biography

Rachel Foster was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 30, 1858 to Julia Manuel Foster and J. Heron Foster, the editor of the Pittsburgh Dispatch.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a prominent social activist and advocate of women's rights, held suffrage meetings at the Fosters' home, and Rachel's mother became vice president of the local suffrage society. After J. Heron Foster's death in 1868, Rachel, her sister, and mother moved to Philadelphia, where they joined the Citizens' Suffrage Association. Rachel began writing for newspapers at about age 17. At 21, she attended the eleventh convention of the National Woman Suffrage Association, and became actively involved in the organization by planning and organizing the association's meetings across the country in 1880 and 1881.

In 1882, she conducted the Nebraska Amendment campaign. Later, she published throughout the state of Pennsylvania the lecture of Governor John W. Hoyt of Wyoming, entitled "The Good Results of Thirteen Years' Experience of Women's Voting in Wyoming". In 1883, Rachel traveled through Europe with Susan B. Anthony.

In February 1888, Rachel organized the International Council of Women in Washington, D. C., under the auspices of the National Woman Suffrage Association.

On November 8, 1888, she married Cyrus Miller Avery.

Rachel later held the office of corresponding secretary of the National Woman Suffrage Association, and of the National and the International Council of Women.

External links

• Works by or about Rachel Foster Avery in libraries (WorldCat catalog)