Jessica (Judy) McCullough Weis (1901–1963) “Judy” was Rochester’s first Congresswoman. She served as a representative from 1959 to 1963. She began her work in Republican party affairs in the 1930s, serving successively as a local fundraiser and campaigner, then as a county committeewoman, and finally as a member of the state executive committee. In the ‘40s she began attending national conventions and seconded Thomas Dewey’s nomination in 1948. Though her career in Congress was tragically cut short by illness, she was well respected in national circles. She served for a time on the new House Committee on Space and Aeronautics. Once, she refused her $600 “stationery allowance,” arguing that Congressional expenses were becoming bloated. Mount Hope Cemetery Section W, Lot E 1/2 142 1133 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620 Monroe County Learn More

Maritcha Remond Lyons (1848–1929) Maritcha was an American educator, civic leader, suffragist, and public speaker. In 1892, she founded the Women’s Loyal Union of New York and Brooklyn. one of the first women's rights and racial justice organizations in the United States. The organization helped fund the printing of Ida B. Wells’ anti-lynching pamphlet, "Southern Horrors: Lynch Laws in All Its Phases." In 1897, Victoria Earle Matthews, a journalist for the New York Age, and Maritcha Remond Lyons founded the White Rose Association, a social settlement that provided assistance to southern, black women migrants in Manhattan. She was also a member of the Colored Women's Equal Suffrage League of Brooklyn, an organization dedicated to voting rights for African-American women. Maritcha was a dedicated teacher for 50 years and rose to the position of assistant principal of an integrated public school. She was the second African-American to hold such a position. Cypress Hills Cemetery ​ 833 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208 USA Kings County Learn More

Frances (Fannie) Brunson (1871–1956) Frances was born in East Bloomfield, NY and served as a local school teacher in 1894. She was an original member of the Fortnightly Club of East Bloomfield, which was founded in 1896. Fortnightly clubs were organized to bring together women for intellectual pursuits and community service. From 1898 to 1909, Frances was the assistant editor of the Ontario County Times Journal. In 1915, she wrote a suffrage farce entitled “Sam’s Surrender,” which was performed in several Upstate NY communities to raise funds in support of suffrage work. If you know more about Frances, you can help us tell her story. Please use our Add a Suffragist form to submit your information. East Bloomfield Cemetery ​ 6 Park Place, Bloomfield, NY 14469 Ontario County Learn More

Lydia Hammond Strowbridge, MD (1830–1904) Dr. Lydia was a physician, suffragist, abolitionist and progressive reformer. She specialized in diseases of women and children. During the years when it was considered rare for a woman to want to be a doctor, she challenged the social conventions of the day, opening doors for other women. Despite her own serious health issues, Dr. Lydia studied with local doctors in NYC ”one of the earliest women to do so." She brought attention to many social issues, including abolition of enslavement, women's suffrage, the temperance movement and women's dress reform. Dr. Lydia was a speaker at the first New York State women's convention held at Congress Hall in Saratoga Springs. Cortland Rural Cemetery Section S, Lot 40 110 Tompkins Street Cortland, NY 13045 Cortland County Learn More

Helen Pitts Douglass (1838–1903) Helen was born in Honeoye, Ontario County, to abolitionists and suffragists parents. She went to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary in Lima, NY, and graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1859. She taught at the Hampton Institute in Virginia until poor health forced her to return home. In 1882, Helen moved to Washington D.C. where she was active in the women's rights movement and co-edited the Moral Education Society's paper, The Alpha. Helen was hired as a clerk in the recorder of deeds office, run by Frederick Douglass. They were married on Jan. 24, 1884. He was 66 and she, 46. Neither his children nor her family approved. When asked about her marriage, she responded, "Love came to me, and I was not afraid to marry the man I loved because of his color." Helen and Frederick traveled extensively and lived in Haiti when Douglass was appointed Minister by President Benjamin Harrison. After Frederick's death in 1895, Helen worked to save their home in Washington, named Cedar Hill, as a memorial to her husband's legacy. She died there in 1903. No services were held and her remains were interred in the Douglass family plot in Mount Hope. (Bio by the Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery) Mount Hope Cemetery Section T Lot 26 1133 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620 Monroe County Learn More

Susan M. Chesebrough Bain (1854–1937) Susan was one of the powerhouse Glens Falls women behind the first local study club, Friends in Council (1884) and the first suffrage club in Warren County, the Political Equality Club of Glens Falls (1893). She was elected vice president of the PECGF in 1901, and later served as president hosting many meetings in her home on South Street. In 1914, she became the Warren County Suffrage leader, and served on the canvass committee with Lucy Wooster Chapman, and Adelen Walsh Bayle. On June 7, 1894, as Chair of the Campaign Committee of the 21th District, Susan addressed the New York Constitution Convention Committee in Albany, stating “there is one cogent reason for woman suffrage–woman herself. Womanhood and motherhood are as strong arguments for the right to vote as fatherhood and manhood. Though a woman, she is a citizen, a house-holder, a tax-payer, and ought to have, according to the accepted principles of our form of government, a voice in the expenditure of the public money she helps to pay and the making of laws she is bound to obey. As wife, mother, daughter and sister, she is a silent and uncounted unit in the State, except as she appears in the census returns. By what authority is she thus governed by proxy?” Anthony, S. B., & Sewall, M. W. (1895). Constitutional-amendment campaign year: report of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association, twenty-sixth annual convention, Ithaca, N.Y., November 12- 15. Rochester, NY: Charles Mann, printer, Elm Park. Bio by Tisha Dolton. Quaker Cemetery ​ Ridge & Cronin Roads, Queensbury, NY 12804 Warren County Learn More

Emily Townsend Peckham (1843–1901) Emily was a founding member of the Easton Political Equality Club, the first suffrage club in Washington County, NY along with her sister Chloe Peckham Sisson. Easton Rural Cemetery (also known as Quaker Cemetery) Plot Q-1 Meeting House Road, Easton, NY 12154 Washington County Learn More

Anna Elizabeth Dickinson (1842–1932) Anna was the first woman paid to campaign for political candidates, even though she couldn't vote for them. In thanks for her work getting Republicans elected in the 1860s, she was invited to address Congress. On January 16, 1864, with President Lincoln and Mary Todd present, Anna addressed a joint session of Congress. Speaking for more than an hour without notes, Dickinson critiqued Lincoln's generosity to Confederate states and his meager protection for those formerly enslaved. Grandly, she closed by endorsing Lincoln for a second term, as "the Hour" called for a steady hand. After the war, Anna toured nationally, delivering a repertoire of 22 different lectures on women's suffrage and the rights of all African-Americans. At the height of her career, she made the equivalent of approximately $400,000 annually in today's dollars. Anna was one of the most famous suffragists of the day, so the movement's leaders couldn't ignore her, but they couldn't control her either. Both the National and the American Woman Suffrage Association invited her to join their boards, but she wasn't a joiner. Anna did provide the movement with some financial support, though. Her image is the frontispiece of Volume II of the History of Woman Suffrage, with her inscription: "The world belongs to those who take it." Bio by Rachel B. Tiven. Slate Hill Cemetery ​ South Church Street, Goshen, NY, 10924 Orange County Learn More

Jessie Ashley (1861–1919) A devoted Socialist, suffragist, and feminist, Jessie was the daughter of a railroad magnate and descended from the Mayflower. She sought to use her resources to make the country more just. Jessie bridged worlds: she was national treasurer of the very mainstream National American Woman Suffrage Association while also an active member of the International Workers of the World (the Wobblies) - not a common combination. Jessie was a 1902 graduate of NYU Law School, and she encouraged the handful of elite women who were gaining traction in the clubby world of New York lawyers. At the same time she was devoted to labor: she was a mainstay of support for striking workers in New York and beyond, notably women striking in Lawrence & Lowell, Massachusetts to Patterson, New Jersey. Her suffrage and feminist activities began with leadership of the College Equal Suffrage League and continued with co-founding, with Margaret Sanger and Ida Rauh, the National Birth Control League in 1915. She was arrested for violating the Comstock Law distributing literature about birth control at a rally in Union Square. In her memoirs, Anarchist Emma Goldman called Jessie Ashley a “valiant rebel.” Jessie died of pneumonia in 1919 at age 57 or 58. Woodlawn Cemetery Section 70, Lawn Plot, Lot 1059 4199 Webster Avenue, Bronx, NY 10470 Bronx County Learn More

Adelaide Thompson Williams White (1864–1917) Adelaide was the first president of the Political Equality Club of Rome, NY. She helped raised money for the National Woman's Party. Although the club did not picket, they were part of a 50-member area women's group supporting Alice Paul and her efforts to secure the vote. In 1931 the New York State League of Women Voters presented a memorial tablet to the State of New York to hang inside the State Street entrance to the Capitol to commemorate the women foremost in the cause of women's suffrage. Four women from Oneida County appear on the tablet: Miss Lucy Carlile Watson, Miss Janet Price, Mrs. Samuel J. Bens and Adelaide William White. Forest Hill Cemetery Plot M/64 55 Lambert Avenue, Fredonia, NY 14063 Chautauqua County Learn More

Martha J. Hadley Stebbins (1837–1921) A lifelong resident of Churchville, NY and an educator, Martha was a member of the New York State Woman's Suffrage Association. Martha wrote letters of support and participated in fundraising for New York State Senators who supported the vote for women. Examples of her work are archived in letters written to Mariana Wright Chapman in 1900. Chapman then served as the president of the New York State Woman's Suffrage Association. These letters are part of the Chapman collection at Swarthmore College. Martha represented New York at the National Conventions during the 1890-1910 time period. At the 1910 state convention, Martha Stebbins was awarded a lifetime membership to this organization through the Mary Anthony Fund. Creekside Cemetery L, lot 253, grave 7 N Main St, Churchville, NY 14428 Monroe County Learn More

Mary Rodman Pell (1810–1892) Mary was noted in the History of Women's Suffrage 1886-1885 as an Honorary Vice President (among many others) of the National Women's Rights Association in 1886. In the same volume, she is also noted as having provided valuable services in a passage regarding women voting illegally in 1871. New York Marble Cemetery Vault: 141 52–74 E 2nd Street, New York, NY 10003 New York County Learn More

Theresa Stitch (Stich, Stick) (1899–1981) Theresa was born in New York City to Russian immigrants. In 1919, she was one of fourteen participants in an anti-Wilson march held in Manhattan. Organized by Alice Paul, these women protested Woodrow Wilson and the Democratic Party's inability to pass a constitutional amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote. Theresa's participation in the March 1919 demonstration is detailed in "6 Anti-Wilson Suffragists Are Arrested Here," New York Tribune, 5 March 1919, p. 4. There is no other record of Theresa's involvement with the National Women's Party or any suffrage activities. The 1940 US Census states that Theresa was then working for the city Department of Welfare as a social investigator. Perhaps this was the avenue she used to help other's obtain their rights. If you know more about her, you can help us tell her story. Please use our Add a Suffragist form to submit your information. Mount Lebanon Cemetery 13-17-REAR-1 78–00 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale, NY 11385 Queens County Learn More

Jean Brooks Greenleaf (1831–1918) In 1867, Jean and her husband, a former Civil War Colonel, moved to Rochester, NY, where he served twice as a Democrat in the U.S. Congress. She helped draft the constitution of the Woman's Educational and Industrial Union, started by Unitarian reformer Mary Gannett and Susan B. Anthony in 1893. Jean was a leader in the Women's Political Club organized by Mary Anthony and others, and addressed a suffrage hearing of the House Judiciary Committee of the U.S. Congress. When Anthony decided to return to Madison Street in 1891, Jean raised $250 through the Political Club to refurnish the house. The Greenleafs were among the few invited to the Anthony home on New Years Day, 1895, and Jean later spoke at Susan's 75th birthday and 85th birthdays. In 1907, she addressed the gathering at Rochesters A.M.E. Zion Church for the unveiling of a stained-glass window memorial for Susan B. Anthony. Mount Hope Cemetery Section C, Lot 194 1133 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620 Monroe County Learn More

Maria Louisa deBernabeu Steuart Haughton (1869–1963) Maria Louisa was born in Maryland, but came to Ilion with her husband who was a Vice-President at the Remington Arms Company, Inc. She became involved in the Women’s Political Union, founded in 1907 by Harriot Standon Blatch (daughter of Elizabeth Cady Stanton). Its purpose was to educate women on how suffrage could change their lives. Blatch focused her recruiting efforts on wealthy women, who had the time and resources to work for the suffrage movement. In 1912, Ilion hosted its first meeting of the Women’s Political Union. In 1913 Maria hosted a Women’s Political Union meeting at her home. In 1915, she was the Chairwomen on Speakers and Meetings. She was also a suffrage activist for various organizations including the Ilion Suffrage Study Club and the Herkimer County Suffrage Convention. Equally important, Maria Louisa was a principal participant in the 1915 Suffrage Torch relay. She carried the Suffrage Torch (patterned after the Statue of Liberty torch) from Little Falls to Utica. She was one of only twelve New York State women who were Suffrage Torch carriers. The Suffrage torch relay was a central component in the strategy to win support for the 1915 referendum to add a suffrage amendment to New York State’s constitution. It was the public relations brainchild of Harriot Stanton Blatch, National President of the Women’s Political Union. The Suffrage Torch car relay began on June 8 in Montauk, Long Island and finished on July 31 in Buffalo. The route included major cities and small towns including New York City, Amsterdam, Little Falls, Utica, Canastota, Cazenovia, Syracuse, Cortland, Ithaca, Olean, Salamanca, Jamestown and Buffalo. The automobile that carried the torch was decorated with banners of white, purple, and green and the words “Votes for Women and Victory on November 2,1915.” Suffrage receptions, meetings and conventions were held enroute. The Haughton family moved from Ilion to Schenectady, New York. While there she continued her leadership role in civic activities, including board member of the YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association), the county child welfare board, and the Humane Society. Maria Louisa died at the age of 93. She is featured in Part 1 of Herkimer County's documentary on Women's Suffrage. Click on Learn More below to see for yourself. Vale Cemetery Plot M-3 85 907 State Street, Schenectady County, NY 12307 Schenectady County Learn More

Regina Amy Victoria Juengling (1886–1974) Regina's activism as a suffragist began in 1916 when she became a poll watcher for the New York Suffrage Association. In the fall of 1917 she accompanied her widowed step-grandmother, Wanda Juengling, to Washington, DC. Wanda had expressed a desire to visit the National Woman's Party headquarters and to participate in a protest march. Because of her age and health Wanda was turned down. Regina was persuaded to march in Wanda's place. On November 10, 1917, Regina was among a large picket group protesting the treatment of Alice Paul and other suffrage prisoners. She was one of thirty-one pickets arrested that day. She was sentenced to thirty days at the Occoquan Workhouse in Lorton, VA, but only served one week. She also participated in the "Watchfires of Freedom" protest in 1919. Regina continued her social activism throughout her life. In 1922 she accompanied Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, on a tour overseas to learn about European birth control methods. In 1924 Regina ran for US Congress in the 42nd district of New York on the Socialist ticket "because a woman's name should be on the ticket." She received 2,778 votes to the winner's total of 28,152. Regina cared for her elderly parents and spent the remainder of her life writing numerous articles, which were never published. She wrote to everyone and anyone calling for a revision of the language in the Declaration of Independence from "All MEN are created equal" to "All men and WOMEN are created equal." *courtesy alexanderstreet.com Forest Lawn Cemetery Section 8, Lot 50-S MID PT, Space 6 1411 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14209 Erie County Learn More

Cordelia Agnes Greene, MD (1831–1905) Cordelia supported a number of reform causes throughout her life, including temperance and women’s suffrage. She was active in the Wyoming County Suffrage Image of booklet cover: Political Equality Club Association, and she served for many years as president of the local Political Equality Club. One year she refused to pay her taxes in order to protest her lack of the right to vote. She was also known as a generous financial donor to the cause of suffrage. She donated a $500 subscription, which was eventually used to help publish the History of Woman Suffrage. Grace Cemetery ​ Chapel St, Castile, NY 14427 Wyoming County Learn More

Louisine Waldren Elder Havemeyer (1855–1929) Louisine was an art collector, feminist, and philanthropist. In addition to being a patron of impressionist art, she was one of the more prominent contributors to the suffrage movement in the United States. The impressionist painter Edgar Degas and feminist Alice Paul were among the renowned recipients of the benefactor's support. After her husband's death in 1907, Mrs. Havemeyer focused her attention on the women's suffrage movement. In 1912 and 1915, Louisine she lent her artistic collection to Knoedler's Gallery and organized exhibitions of her art works in New York to raise funds to support suffrage efforts. In 1913, she founded the National Woman's Party with the radical suffragist Alice Paul. Louisine became a well-known suffragist, publishing two articles about her work for the cause in Scribner's Magazine. The first, entitled "The Prison Special: Memories of a Militant," appeared in May 1922, and the other, "The Suffrage Torch: Memories of a Militant" appeared in June the same year. Louisine participated in marches down New York's famed Fifth Avenue and addressed a standing room only audience at Carnegie Hall upon the completion of a nationwide speaking tour. A famous photograph of Louisine shows her with an electric torch, similar in design to that of the Statue of Liberty, among other prominent suffragists. Her attempt to burn an effigy of President Wilson outside the White House in 1919 drew national attention. Green-Wood Cemetery ​ 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11232 Kings County Learn More

Jeanette (Janet) S. Kilpatrick Pybus (1864–1944) Jeanette was an individual who went by many names (Janette, Janet) in the records including "Nettie". Born in Dresden, NY she lived in Gorham for most of her adult years. Jeanette was the vice president of the Gorham Political Equity Club. She was a member of the Ontario County League of Women Voters as well as the Women's Christian Temperance Union. "Janet" is found in Gorham Cemetery buried with her first husband, W. Thomas Pybus while William S Thompson, her second husband, is buried along with his first wife. Nettie and William had been married for 40 years, so were they honoring their first spouses? Had Nettie's political activities created a wedge between them? We can only wonder. If you know more about her, you can help us tell her story. Please use our Add a Suffragist form to submit your information. Gorham Cemetery ​ Rte 245, Gorham, NY 14561 Ontario County Learn More

Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm (1924–2005) The first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress, Shirley was a passionate and effective advocate for the needs of minorities, women, and children and changed the nation's perception about the capabilities of women and African Americans. Shirley spent seven terms in the NYS House of Representatives. As a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1969, Shirley championed minority education and employment opportunities. In 1972, she became the first major-party black candidate (and the second woman) to make a bid for the U.S. presidency. Shirley was one of the early members of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and active in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993. From Shirley Chisholm—Unbought and Unbossed. Forest Lawn Cemetery Birchwood Mausoleum 1411 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14209 Erie County Learn More