Charlotte M. Beebe Wilbour

(1833–1914) Educated at Wilbraham Academy, Charlotte was associated with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton as a worker for suffrage for women, and became known as an eloquent and forceful public speaker.

She was a founder of the culture-shifting Sorosis Club – the preeminent all-women’s club in the United States that was closed to men – was elected its president in 1870 and re-elected five times. She devoted much time and effort to securing a permanent foundation for that organization, and was instrumental in organizing the Association for the Advancement of Women that was formed by it in 1873.

Charlotte instituted lectures on health and dress reform, suggested and aided in preparing entertainments for various purposes, and assisted many women in obtaining public recognition. She lived abroad with her husband in 1875-1900, but despite living outside America, she maintained her interest in the elevation of her sex and sought every opportunity to labour for it. Originally she had been buried in Rhode Island and then later was moved to Woodlawn Cemetery in New York.