Lucy stone was born in West Brookfield, Massachusetts, yet lived most of her life in Boston.  She was an abolitionist, suffragist, and a creator of the Women’s Journal.
Stone has been credited with being the first woman in Massachusetts to receive a college degree. Since, she was a very gifted speaker, she began working for the American Anti-Slavery society in Boston. Stone hosted various rallies, speaking out against slavery, with great success.
In 1850, Stone rallied feminists who were planning the National Women’s Right Convention (NWRC) to put pressure on the Ohio legislators to pass a law giving women the right to vote, which lead to her involvement with the NWRC. She eventually became president of the NWRC in 1858. However, as the Civil War took off in 1860, she dedicated her energy to the Union. She also worked closely with Frederick Douglass to aid in the lobbying of the 15th Amendment.
She is attributed with helping create the groundwork for the 19th Amendment, even though she did not live to vote herself. She endured various hardship and adversaries in her quest for equality, but she continued to be an outspoken advocate for all her causes.
As we look at Lucy Stone’s life and legacy I wonder: How can we continue to grow and expand the work of the strong women that have come before us?
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Estefania Pugliese is a communications intern for the South Florida Office. She is a Mount Holyoke student, and Posse Scholar. She is currently studying Economics and International Relations.