Maud Wood Park

Maud Wood Park was a women’s rights activist who worked for the cause of suffrage. She was the first national president of the League of Women Voters.

Synopsis

Maud Wood Park was born on January 25, 1871 in Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated from Radcliffe and became active in the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association, campaigning for the 19th Amendment in Washington, D.C. In 1920, Park became the first president of the League of Women Voters. She left her post at the League in 1924 and became a popular lecturer. She died in 1955.

Profile

Women's rights activist, social reformer. Born on January 25, 1871, in Boston, Massachusetts. Maud Wood Park fought hard to win the right to vote for women and served as the first national president of the League of Women Voters. Before graduating Radcliffe College in 1898, she had married architect Charles Edward Park. One of the few students that supported women??s suffrage, she became active in the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association and the Boston Equal Suffrage Association for Good Government.

Known for her effective speeches, Maud Wood Park gave many talks to build up support for women??s suffrage. Recruited by her friend and fellow activist Carrie Chapman Catt, she campaigned vigorously for the 19th Amendment in Washington, D.C. In 1920, Park became the first president of the League of Women Voters, an organization established by Catt shortly before the amendment passed. She also formed and ran a coalition called the Women??s Joint Congressional Committee with leaders from several other women??s groups. Together they helped pass legislation that protected pregnant women and infants and gave independent citizenship to married women.

While she left her post at the League of Women Voters in 1924, Maud Wood Park dedicated the rest of her life to advancing women??s place in society and served as a popular lecturer for years. She died on May 8, 1955, in Reading, Massachusetts.

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