JANE GREY SWISSHELM (December 6, 1815 -July 22, 1884) was a journalist, abolitionist, publisher, and advocate for women’s rights.
Early Life
Born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, she was raised by her widowed mother. Bright and energetic, she began as a teacher, but was drawn to journalism. After a difficult marriage to a farmer and a subsequent divorce, she moved to Minnesota and became editor and publisher of the St. Cloud Visiter.
She was outspoken in her support of abolition, women’s rights, and against capital punishment. She was known to be full of righteous fury. For example, she hounded a Southerner who had moved to Minnesota with his slaves and sought political office. In retaliation, he had her press destroyed–though it was soon replace by donations from her supporters.
Accomplishments
In 1850, she was one of the first women hired by Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, to write articles about events surrounding the Compromise of 1850. During the Civil War, she served as a nurse, and then was appointed to a government clerkship. After the war, she started the newspaper The Reconstructionist.
Her aggressive attacks on President Andrew Johnson, lost her the government position and forced the closing of the newspaper. She is particularly known for being the first woman to sit in the Congressional reporter’s gallery.
Here is her description of the event from her autobiography, A Half Century, pp. 130-131.
“There was yet one innovation I wanted to make, although my stay in Washington would necessarily be short. No woman had ever had a place in the Congressional reporter’s gallery. This door I wanted to open to them, (I) called on Vice-President Fillmore and asked him to assign me a seat in the Senate gallery. He was much surprised and tried to dissuade me. The place would be very unpleasant for a lady, would attract attention, I would not like it; but he gave me the seat.
I occupied it one day, greatly to the surprise of the Senators, the reporters, and others on the floor and in the galleries; but felt that the novelty would soon wear off, and that women would work there and win bread without annoyance.
But the Senate had another sensation that day, for Foot, in a speech alluded to ”the gentleman from Missouri.”
Benton sprang to his feet, and started toward him, but a dozen members rushed up to hold him, and he roared: “Stand off, gentlemen! Unhand me! Let me reach the scoundrel!”
Everyone stamped, and ran, and shouted “Order!”
The speaker pounded with his mallet, and Foot ran down the aisle to the chair, drawing out a great horse pistol and cocking it, cried:” Let him come on, gentlemen! let him come on!” while he increased the distance between them as fast as time and space would permit. After the hubbub had subsided. Foot explained: ” Mr. Speaker, I saw the gentleman coming, and I advanced toward the chair.”
I have never seen a well-whipped rooster run from his foe, without thinking of Foot’s advance.”
Jane Swisshelm’s Writings
1880 A Half Century (Her autobiography)
Learn More About Jane Swisshelm
1889 “Swisshelm, Jane Grey” . Wilson, J. G.; Fiske, J. eds., Appletons’ Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton.
1971 Female Persuasion: Six Strong Minded Women by Margaret Farrand Thorp
2004 Jane Grey Swisshelm: An Unconventional Life. by Sylvia D. Hoffert, Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
People cannot look well unless they are well; and no one can be very well long who does not try to take care of herself.
JANE GREY SWISSHELM Letters to Country Girls p.19
Thanks for a fascinating glimpse of an early Progressive I had never heard of. Huzzah for Jane Swisshelm!