Helen Kendrick Johnson
Encyclopedia
Helen Kendrick Johnson was an American writer, poet, and prominent activist opposing the women's suffrage
movement.
and mother Anne Elizabeth Kendrick (born Hopkins) who died in 1851 after the birth of Helen's third sister. After the death of her mother, Helen aged 7 spent much of her childhood living with her aunt in Clinton, New York
until 1860 when she spent time in Savannah, Georgia
with her father's brothers leaving in 1861 due to the outbreak of the American civil war
. In 1863 she enrolled as a student in the Oread Institute
, in Worcester, Massachusetts
and studied there until June, 1864. After the end of the civil war she briefly returned to Savannah and spent the rest of her childhood between there, an aunt's house in Utica, New York
and her father's house in Rochester, New York
where she remained until her marriage.
in 1869 she began writing children's literature and travel articles.
and her work The Woman's Bible
linking it to radicalism and socialism
. During her time as an anti-suffragette activist she addressed several legislative committee in Albany and Washington and wrote many newspaper articles and pamphlets on the subject. In 1910 she founded the Guidon Club, an anti-suffragette organisation dedicated to the study of politics and government.
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
movement.
Early life
Helen Kendrick Johnson was born in Hamilton, New York to her father, Asahel Clark Kendrick a professor in Greek at University of RochesterUniversity of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
and mother Anne Elizabeth Kendrick (born Hopkins) who died in 1851 after the birth of Helen's third sister. After the death of her mother, Helen aged 7 spent much of her childhood living with her aunt in Clinton, New York
Clinton, Clinton County, New York
Clinton is a town in Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 737 at the 2010 census. The Town of Clinton is located in the northwest corner of the county and is northwest of Plattsburgh.- History :...
until 1860 when she spent time in Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
with her father's brothers leaving in 1861 due to the outbreak of the American civil war
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. In 1863 she enrolled as a student in the Oread Institute
Oread Institute
The Oread Institute was a women's college founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1849 by Eli Thayer. Before its closing in 1934, it was one of the oldest institutions of higher education for women in the United States...
, in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
and studied there until June, 1864. After the end of the civil war she briefly returned to Savannah and spent the rest of her childhood between there, an aunt's house in Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
and her father's house in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
where she remained until her marriage.
Marriage and writing career
After marrying newspaper editor Rossiter JohnsonRossiter Johnson
Rossiter Johnson was a United States author and editor.-Biography:Johnson received his early education in common schools, and later graduated from the University of Rochester in 1863, delivering the poem on class day. He received the degrees of Ph.D. and LL.D...
in 1869 she began writing children's literature and travel articles.
Activism
Both Helen and her husband were both active in the anti-suffrage movement. From 1894–1896 she was editor of the American Woman’s Journal and founded the Meridian Club in 1886. Rossiter was author of a pamphlet titled, Why Women Do Not Want the Ballot, and in 1897 Helen wrote what is often considered the best summary of the arguments against woman suffrage: Woman and the Republic. In which she argued that women didn't need the vote in order to establish more legal, economic and other equality and that women's role in the domestic sphere was essential for maintenance of the American republic. She was openly critical of the writing of Elizabeth Cady StantonElizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was an American social activist, abolitionist, and leading figure of the early woman's movement...
and her work The Woman's Bible
The Woman's Bible
The Woman's Bible is a two-part book, written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and a committee of 26 women, and published in 1895 and 1898 to challenge the traditional position of religious orthodoxy that woman should be subservient to man. By producing the book, Stanton wished to promote a radical...
linking it to radicalism and socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
. During her time as an anti-suffragette activist she addressed several legislative committee in Albany and Washington and wrote many newspaper articles and pamphlets on the subject. In 1910 she founded the Guidon Club, an anti-suffragette organisation dedicated to the study of politics and government.