The Congress of Women: Held in the Woman's Building, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, U. S. A., 1893, With Portraits, Biographies and Addresses. Edited by Mary Kavanaugh Oldham Eagle, 1854-1903. Chicago: Monarch Book Company, 1894.

THE WOMAN'S BUILDING.

THE CONGRESS OF WOMEN
HELD IN THE WOMAN'S BUILDING,
WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION,
CHICAGO, U. S. A., 1893.

WITH PORTRAITS, BIOGRAPHIES, AND ADDRESSES.

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS,
MRS. BERTHA M. HONORÉ PALMER, PRESIDENT.

EDITED BY
MARY KAVANAUGH OLDHAM EAGLE,
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON CONGRESSES, OF THE BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS.

OFFICIAL EDITION.

SOLD ONLY BY SUBSCRIPTION.

MONARCH BOOK COMPANY,
(Formerly L. P. Miller & Co.,)
CHICAGO, ILL. PHILADELPHIA, PA.
1894

Entered according to the Act of Congress in the year A. D. 1894, by
W. B. CONKEY COMPANY,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C.

This work being fully protected by copyright, any infringement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

COMMEMORATIVE
Of the many pleasant and profitable days spent together.
THE COMMITTEE ON CONGRESSES,
By permission, dedicate this work
to the
President
and members of the
Board of Lady Managers
of the
Columbian Exposition.

PUBLISHERS' PREFACE.

THE object of the publication of this book is to present an account of some of the most important assemblages of women the world has ever known. As a part of the Columbian Exposition, the greatest event of its kind in history, there was a daily gathering of women, who, in a great building devoted to their uses, expressed their ideas regarding the social, business and political affairs of humankind and all that pertains to making a greater future for the human race. This book reproduces the ideas advanced by these women, who represented the civilized world. It is the record of most earnest and potential and practical assemblages of women. What is in these pages indicates what women are to-day. The book contains the addresses made by those representing the more active women of two continents. It is a book every thoughtful woman and every thoughtful man should possess, and must, from its very quality and the circumstances of its production, be part of the important data of future histories. No publishers' preface will aid it much. It is a book which will retain its place because it commands a status as describing an important part of one of the most important events in history. It may be that it was even the most striking part, since among the greatest problems of the times is aggressively prominent that of the relations of men and women in the work of the world and in the division of its profits and its honors.

MRS. BERTHA M. HONORÉ PALMER.
President of the Board of Lady Managers.

PREFACE.

THE Columbian Exposition, in its unrivaled physical beauty, has culminated and vanished like the blossoms of a gorgeous Century plant, leaving only a memory of its superb efflorescence and subtle charm. In order that the efforts made in its behalf may not all be lost, and that a reminder of its aesthetic and educational influence may remain with us, Mrs. James P. Eagle, the untiring and devoted chairman, has collected in permanent form the valuable papers secured by herself and her committee for the Congresses in the Woman's Building.

Nothing could be more broadly representative than the catholic presentation given in these Congresses to many important topics from many points of view. The names contained in the list of contributors are in themselves a sufficient guaranty of the great merit of the papers, which were so warmly received at the time of their presentation.

I trust that the final and important service performed by Mrs. Eagle in placing these papers within reach of the public, may receive the indorsement which it merits.

BERTHA M. HONORE PALMER.
President of the Board of Lady Managers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

MRS. MARY K. O. EAGLE.
EDITOR.

INTRODUCTION.

THE Congresses held in the Woman's Building were inaugurated under a resolution unanimously passed by the Board of Lady Managers on September 7, 1891, which read as follows:

"Resolved, That a special committee of seven be appointed who shall have charge of arranging for Congresses to be held in the Woman's Building during the Fair."

The president of the board appointed the following committee: Mrs. James P. Eagle, Mrs. Helen M. Barker, Miss Laurette Lovell, Miss Eliza M. Russell, Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens, Mrs. Susan R. Ashley and Mrs. Jennie Sanford Lewis (now deceased). Mrs. Jno. J. Bagley and Mrs. L. Brace Shattuck were afterward added to the committee, and Mrs. Bagley was elected vice-chairman.

On August 5, 1893, the board adopted a recommendation to publish the Congress papers in book form to be sold for the benefit of the Woman's Memorial Building fund. The chairman of the committee having conducted the correspondence necessary, and arranged the entire program for the Woman's Building Congresses, having also been present and presiding at each of these daily meetings, except on three occasions, when the executive committee, of which she is a member, was in session, was regarded a suitable person to edit the work of the Congresses which is herein presented to the public: Mrs. Potter Palmer, president of the Board of Lady Managers, made the nomination, which was confirmed by the unanimous vote of the committee at a meeting held November 7, 1893, when only one member of the committee was absent.

It was considered in the interest of the Board of Lady Managers and the publisher, that this work should not be delayed longer than three months after the close of the Exposition. A contract was entered into with the publisher to that effect. No pains, or money, or diligence has been spared in our efforts to secure the complete representation in this volume of each contributor to the Congress. It is sincerely to be regretted that there are a few women, whose articles should appear in this work, that we have either been unable to reach or unable to secure contributions from on account of previous disposition having been made of their papers, proposed individual publications or the difficulty of reproducing satisfactorily addresses delivered without notes. Over one thousand letters and dozens of telegrams have been sent out in this interest since November 10th.

With much gratitude we acknowledge indebtedness to the hundreds of women with whom we have had correspondence, for their unfailing courtesy and particularly to those who appeared from time to time on the Congress platform. This intercourse has been altogether pleasant and harmonious throughout the entire Exposition, and has been a most flattering revelation of woman's attainments in grace, culture, thought and literature.

To Mrs. Potter Palmer, president of the Board of Lady Managers, and to many of the members of the board, we tender special thanks for their counsel, encouragement and co-operation in the difficult and laborious task assigned to this committee.

The plan of the committee was to have a leading address, followed by free dis- cussion whenever the nature of the subject invited debate. We publish only the addresses.

The courtesy of these pages has been extended to women who prepared papers and were prevented from appearing at the appointed time by bereavements and other good causes, and in a few instances has been accepted.

One of the objects of this work has been to mirror the women of the Columbian year—faithfully reflecting their purposes, plans and powers as they stand the chosen representatives of the various states of this Union and of the nations of the earth. As we succeeded in presenting representatives from thirty states and twenty nations we feel justified in believing that this object has been attained.

Other purposes were to provide for communion and interchange of thought between women engaged in the same and diverse lines of work and the compilation of valuable literary and historical papers to serve as stepping stones to future progress which has also, to the minds of many, been realized.

We have not assumed to direct or dictate the utterances, and will not be expected to indorse all articles admitted without discrimination.

The one thought of the president of the Board of Lady Managers and the entire membership of the board, whether acting as a whole, as individuals or committees, has been to serve well, the women of the present and the future. To the charity of the public we trust the imperfections of our work.

EDITOR.

INDEX TO AUTHORS.

INDEX TO SUBJECTS.

INDEX TO PORTRAITS.

OPENING CEREMONIES OF THE WOMAN'S BUILDING.

COMMITTEE ON CONGRESSES OF THE BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS.

[Next]