By Janet Olson, The Center for Women’s History and Leadership Speaking at a Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) meeting in Evanston in 1883, Mrs. Jennette Hauser posed the title question. It was a logical question—after all, Evanston had been dry since 1855, thanks to Northwestern University’s charter, which stated that no alcohol could be sold […]
By Janet Olson, Archivist at WCTU Archives 150 years ago this June Frances Willard became the first Dean of Women at Northwestern University. The story of her taking on this position is interesting and illuminates the broader story of women’s education in Evanston and the U.S. in this time period. Our Educated Women series is
Educated Women – Part Three Read More »
There are several ways you can connect with women’s stories in March for Women’s History Month. Edith: the Rogue Rockefeller McCormick On Thursday March 9th at 7 pm, the Evanston History Center is hosting an in-person presentation by Andrea Friederici Ross, Author of Edith: the Rogue Rockefeller McCormick, the first biography of a woman who
Women’s History Month 2023 Read More »
The EWHP is excited to announce three great programs with a women’s history angle at the Evanston History Center. Pre-Civil War Quilts: Secret Codes to Freedom on the Underground Railroad™ Thursday, February 2, 2023, at 7 pmIn-person event at the Evanston History Center, 225 Greenwood St, Evanston, ILSeating is limited. Registration Required. Click here for
Upcoming 2023 Programs! Read More »
By Lori Osborne, Evanston Women’s History Project Director See Part 1 here for the beginning of the story. North Western Female College thrived in its early years, despite the setbacks of losing its first building to a fire and the multi-year absence of founder William Jones for health issues. It established Evanston as a place
Educated Women – Part Two Read More »
By Lori Osborne, Evanston Women’s History Project Director 150 years ago, Evanston was at the center of an experiment in education that would define it for generations. Though Northwestern University is the best known today, it was two small women’s colleges that established Evanston as “a paradise for women.”1 As we start the school year
Educated Women – Part One Read More »
By Lauren Dain, EWHP Summer 2022 Intern My name is Lauren Dain. I am a recent graduate of Evanston Township High School (ETHS) and a freshman at Northwestern University. This past summer, I spent a second summer interning at the Evanston History Center (EHC). Along with Meg Houseworth, a senior at ETHS and an EHC
A Rich and Complicated History Read More »
Women’s Equality Day is a good day to recognize the nearly 70 year battle American women waged for full citizenship rights. Occuring on August 26th, Women’s Equality Day marks the passage of the 19th Amendment on this date in 1920. The 19th amendment stated: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be
Women’s Equality Day 2022 Read More »
Even the 4th of July has a women’s history connection in Evanston. Visit the Frances Willard House and Northwestern University Library websites for more of this important story! https://www.northwestern.edu/150-years-of-women/learn/library-exhibit/fireworks-and-fire.html Happy 4th!
The Woman’s 4th of July Read More »
Liu-Wang Liming was born in Anhui Province, China. Her mother was president of the local Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) in the community, which connected her to Evanston where the WCTU was headquartered. Liu-Wang came to Evanston to attend Northwestern University in 1916 and graduated in 1920. While in school, she went by the name
