Alice Moore Hubbard

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In: 20th Century Women, Activists, Women's Rights

A bold feminist, suffragette, and writer, Alice Moore Hubbard (1861 – 1915) considered herself one of the “New Women” at the turn of the century. Early Life Born on a small farm in Wales, New York, Alice Hubbard desperately wanted to be a teacher. Through effort and economizing, she attended the State Normal School in Buffalo, New York, followed by the New Thought Emerson College of Oratory in Boston. Following her graduation she taught at East Aurora College in New York. In 1885, Elbert Hubbard founded the William-Morris-inspired Roycraft, an Arts and Crafts community and publishing company, in East Aurora, where Alice met him. TheRead More →

Nannie Helen Burroughs

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In: 20th Century Women, Activists, Education, Women's Rights

Nannie Helen Burroughs (May 2, 1879 – May 20, 1961) was an educator, public speaker, and civil rights activist. Early Life Raised by her widowed mother, she grew up in Washington D.C. where she attended the M Street High School along with Anna J. Cooper and Mary Church Terrell. She graduated with honors in 1886 and applied to teach in the District of Columbia public schools. However, she was rejected because of her dark skin color. From 1898-1909, she worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for the Foreign Mission Board of the Baptist Convention. While there, she founded the Women’s Convention where she served asRead More →

Dorothy Levitt

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In: 19th Century Women, 20th Century Women, Authors, Sports

Called the “Fastest Girl on Earth”‘ and the “Champion Lady Motorist of the World, Dorothy Levitt (1882-1922) was Britain’s first female racing car driver. At a time when women were supposed to marry and stay at home, the unmarried Levitt offered a role model for the new independent Edwardian woman. Her opportunity to race came in 1902 when she was a secretary for the car-maker Napier and Son. The director, Selwyn Edge had a car salesman teach her to drive as a publicity stunt. But he didn’t reckon on her success as a race car driver. With her petite figure and stylish feminine dress, sheRead More →

Maud Allan Dancer

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In: 20th Century Women, Actresses, Artists, Women's Rights

I am sure you have heard of the Dance of the Seven Veils, but do you know who created it? Dancer Maud Elizabeth Allan (c.1873- 1956), born Ulla Maud Durrant in Toronto, Canada, was raised in San Francisco. Musically talented on the piano, she went to Germany to study. While she studied there, her brother committed a brutal murder in San Francisco. Unable to return, she changed her name, and encouraged by the director of the Meister-schüle, gave up the piano and took up dancing professionally. For five years, she toured Europe dancing to classical music. In 1906, she performed the dance Salome based onRead More →