Harbert, Elizabeth Boynton, 1843-1925

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Elizabeth Boynton Harbert (pen name, Lizzie M. Boynton; April 15, 1843 - January 19, 1925) was a 19th-century American author, lecturer, reformer and philanthropist from Indiana. She was the first women to design a woman's plank and secure its adoption by a major political party in a U.S. state.

Harbert was a prolific writer, with publications such as The Golden Fleece, Out of Her Sphere, Amore, and The Illinois Chapter in the History of Woman Suffrage. Her songs included: “Arlington Heights”, “What Have You Done with the Hours?”, “The New America” (lyrics), and “The Promised Land” (lyrics). Her poems included “The Little Earth Angel” and Lines to My Anonymous Friend”. Harbart's essays and lecturers were on topics such as “Before Suffrage, What?”, “Homes of Representative Women”, “The Domestic Problem”, “Men's Rights”, “Conversation and Conversers”, “The Ideal Home”, “George Eliot”, “Lucretia Mott”, “Statesmanship of Women”, “Aims, Ideals and Methods of Women’s Clubs”, “A Woman’s Dream of Cooperation”, “The Message of the Madonna", “Lyric Poets of Russia”, and “An Hour with the Strong Minded.”

Elizabeth Morrison Boynton was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, April 15, 1843 (or 1845). She was a daughter of William H. Boynton, formerly of Nashua, New Hampshire. Her mother was Abigail Sweetser, a native of Boston.

Harbert was educated in the women's seminary in Oxford, Ohio and in the Terre Haute Female College, graduating from the latter institution with honors in 1862.

The faculty of Wabash College allowed Harbert and three other young women —Emma Hough Fairchild, Mary Krout, Mary Cumberland Jennison— to attend physics lectures taught by Prof. John Lyle Campbell. Although these lectures were substantially repetitions of those required in the college curriculum, the young men were excluded from attending the lectures being provided to the four women. Before he died, Dr. Charles White, President of Wabash College, promised Harbert a diploma upon the completion of her course of study. Not long after, the same four women, and 19 others, petitioned the faculty for permission to be admitted to the college. The faculty responded with regrets, stating that the facilities were inadequate in order to admit women, even though each of the 23 women had progressed far beyond the “preparatory” department. The first US$10.00 Harbert earned as a writer came from The New York Independent for an account of this attempt to obtain a college education.

This group of 23 women, under the leadership of the first four demonstrated their indignation and disappointment by creating a public library. For funding, they advertised the presentation of a comedy, entitled “The Coming Woman,” in which they burlesqued themselves and their unsuccessful efforts to gain admission to Wabash College. In a relentless manner, the male students issued burlesque handbills and posters. In one day, not less than five varieties were issued. The ladies were styled “the Twenty-three Sorry Sisses,” in an attempt to pun upon the word “Sorosis,” which latter organization was attracting considerable attention in the East. The adverse criticism attracted an unusually large audience, and with the considerable amount of money which was netted, they purchased the nucleus for a circulating library. Boynton was 20 years old at the time.

In 1891, Ohio Wesleyan College conferred upon Harbert the honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

During the American Civil War (1861–65), Harbert cared for Union soldiers. She published her first book, The Golden Fleece, in 1867, and delivered her first lecture, in Crawfordsville, in 1869.

In 1870, she married William Soesbe Harbert. After their marriage, they removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where Harbert published her second book, entitled Out of Her Sphere, as well as her first song, “Arlington Heights”. Harbert took an active part in the woman suffrage movement. She convinced the Republican Party of Iowa to put into their State platform a woman's plank which prepared a platform based on Harbert's presentation. In this way, Harbert became the first woman to design a woman's plank and secure its adoption by a major political party in a U.S. state.

In the winter of 1874, the Harberts removed to Evanston, Illinois. For two years, Harbert served as president of the Social Science Association of Illinois. She also served as vice-president of the Woman's Suffrage Association of Indiana, president of the Woman's Suffrage Association of Iowa, and for twelve years, president of the Illinois Woman's Suffrage Association. She was a member of the Board of Managers of the Girls' Industrial School of South Evanston, and vice-president of the Association for the Advancement of Women, known as the World's Congress of Representative Women.

As editor for seven years of the “Woman’s Kingdom,” a regular weekly department of the Chicago Inter Ocean, Harbert exerted a widespread influence. For a year, she was also the editor of The New Era, an Illinois-based suffrage newspaper. Her third book, "Amore", went to press in 1892.

Harbert was involved in the cause of woman suffrage and was also interested in philanthropic and charitable enterprises. During the year of the World's Columbian Exposition (1893), and the World's Congress, which was popularly known as the World's Parliament of Religions, Harbert served on several committees, including the Committee of the Woman's Branch of the World's Congress Auxiliary on Government Reform Congresses, and subsequently became Associate Chairman of the Government Reform Congress of the World's Congresses. Harbert and Charles C. Bonney served as Associate Chairs of The World's Unity League; after the death of Bonney, Harbert became the acting chair. Herbert was a charter member of the Illinois Woman's Press Association, a member of the Illinois Press Association, president and director of the National Household Economic Association, and vice—president for Illinois of the National Woman Suffrage Association. The Woman's Club of Evanston was organized and presided over by Harbert.

On two occasions, Harbert addressed the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. Senate, making a plea for an amendment to the Federal Constitution prohibiting the disfranchisement of US citizens on account of sex. She also addressed the New York State Assembly at a joint session of the Assembly and Senate of that State, upon the same subject. With Catherine Waugh McCulloch, of Evanston, and Helen M. Gougar, of Lafayette, Indiana, Harbert went to Springfield, Illinois, where they addressed the House and Senate in favor of the bill allowing the women of Illinois to vote upon school questions, and secured the passage of the bill. She made addresses before the Legislative Assemblies of Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. She was one of the two women appointed by the National Woman's Suffrage Committee, as delegates from the US at large to the National Republican Convention that nominated Rutherford B. Hayes, at which she made an address before the platform committee.

There were three children in the family: a son, Arthur Boynton Harbert (1861-1890), and two daughters, Corinne Boynton Harbert (born 1873) and Boynton Elizabeth Harbert (born 1875). Besides the Evanston home, the Harberts had a cottage in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, which they frequented in the summers when they lived in Illinois. In later life, the Harberts relocated to California where she served as vice-president of the Women's Civic League of Pasadena; vice-president of the Southern California Women's Press League; and was a member of the Church of the Golden Rule, a Universalist parish in Pasadena. On January 19, 1925, Harbert died in Pasadena. Her papers are held in the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, at Harvard University, and her correspondence with Susan B. Anthony is held by the Huntington Library, in San Marino, California.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Harbert, William S. (William Soesbe), 1842-1919. Papers, 1858-1870. Indiana Historical Society Library
referencedIn Stewart, Ella Jane Seass, 1871-. Series XII of the Mary Earhart Dillon Collection, 1895-1939 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn May family. Papers of the May and Goddard families, 1766-1912 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Croly, J. C. (Jane Cunningham), 1829-1901. Papers, 1876-1966 (inclusive), 1876-1901 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn May family. Papers of the May and Goddard families, 1766-1912 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Harbert, Elizabeth Boynton, 1845-1925. Papers in the Mary Earhart Dillon Collection, 1870-1939 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Harbert, Elizabeth Boynton, b. 1845. Papers of Elizabeth Boynton Harbert (Addenda), 1861-1925. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn James Russell Lowell papers, 1835-1919. Houghton Library
referencedIn Strickland, Edward F. Autograph collection, 1780-1918 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn McCulloch, Catharine Waugh, 1862-1945. Papers in the Mary Earhart Dillon Collection, 1869-1945 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn McCulloch, Catharine Waugh, 1862-1945. Papers, 1877-1983 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Stewart, Ella Jane Seass, 1871-1945. Papers in the Mary Earhart Dillon Collection, 1895-1939 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Larned, C. E. (Calista E.). [Letter to Mrs. Harbert] University of Kansas Archives / MSS / Rare Books, Kenneth Spencer Research Library
referencedIn May family. Papers of the May and Goddard families, 1766-1912 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Strickland, Edward F., 1820-1907. Autograph collection, 1780-1918 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Letter to Mrs. Harbert, July 13, 1885 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
referencedIn McCulloch, Catharine Waugh, 1862-1945. Papers, 1877-1983 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Severance, Caroline M. Seymour (Caroline Maria Seymour), 1820-1914. Papers, 1830-1980 The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens Manuscripts Department
referencedIn McCulloch, Catharine Waugh, 1862-1945. Papers in the Mary Earhart Dillon collection, 1869-1945 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Dillon, Mary Earhart,. Mary Earhart Dillon collection, 1863-1955 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Harbert, Elizabeth Boynton, b. 1845. Papers of Elizabeth Boynton Harbert, 1863-1925. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf National American Woman Suffrage Association. Suffrage collection, 1874-1911. Texas Woman's University Library, Mary Evelyn Blagg-Huey Library
creatorOf Severance, Caroline M. Seymour (Caroline Maria Seymour), 1820-1914. Papers of Caroline Maria Seymour Severance, 1830-1980 (bulk) 1860-1914. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Harbert, Elizabeth Boynton, b. 1845. Series II of the Mary Earhart Dillon Collection, 1870-1939 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Elizabeth Boynton Harbert Collection The Huntington Library
creatorOf Harbert, Elizabeth Morrison Boynton, 1845-1925. Letter, 1887. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Anthony, Susan Brownell, 1820-1906 person
associatedWith Anthony, Susan B. (Susan Brownell), 1820-1906. person
associatedWith Avery, Rachel Foster, 1858-1919. person
associatedWith Avery, Rachel G. (Foster), 1858-1919 person
associatedWith Bloomer, Amelia (Jenks), 1818-1894 person
associatedWith Bloomer, Amelia Jenks, 1818-1894. person
associatedWith Catt, Carrie Chapman, 1859-1947. person
associatedWith Catt, Carrie (Lane) Chapman, 1859-1947 person
associatedWith Colby, Clara Dorothy (Bewick), 1846-1916 person
associatedWith Colby, Clara Dorothy Bewick, 1846-1916. person
associatedWith Croly, J. C. (Jane Cunningham), 1829-1901. person
associatedWith Dillon, Mary Earhart, person
associatedWith Edward F. Strickland person
associatedWith Gage, Matilda Joslyn, 1826-1898. person
associatedWith Gougar, Helen Mar Jackson, 1843-1907. person
associatedWith Harbert, Arthur B. person
associatedWith Harbert, Corinna B. person
associatedWith Harbert, William S. person
associatedWith Harbert, William S. (William Soesbe), 1842-1919. person
associatedWith Hooker, Isabella (Beecher), 1822-1907 person
associatedWith Hooker, Isabella Beecher, 1822-1907. person
associatedWith Howe, Julia Ward, 1819-1910. person
associatedWith Illinois Equal Suffrage Association corporateBody
associatedWith Illinois Equal Suffrage Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Illinois Woman Suffrage Association corporateBody
associatedWith Illinois Woman Suffrage Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Larned, C. E. (Calista E.) person
associatedWith Larned, C. E. (Calista E.) person
associatedWith Livermore, Mary Ashton (Rice), 1820-1905 person
associatedWith Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice, 1820-1905. person
correspondedWith Lowell, James Russell, 1819-1891 person
associatedWith May family. family
associatedWith May family. family
associatedWith MAY-GODDARD FAMILY family
associatedWith McCulloch, Catharine Waugh, 1862-1945 person
associatedWith McCulloch, Catharine Waugh, b. 1862. person
associatedWith Severance, Caroline M. Seymour (Caroline Maria Seymour), 1820-1914. person
associatedWith Sewall, May Wright, 1844-1920. person
associatedWith Stanton, Elizabeth (Cady), 1815-1902 person
associatedWith Stanton, Elizabeth Cady, 1815-1902. person
associatedWith Stewart, Ella Jane Seass, 1871- person
associatedWith Stockham, Alice B. (Alice Bunker), 1833-1912. person
associatedWith Stone, Lucy, 1818-1893 person
associatedWith Stone, Lucy, 1818-1893. person
associatedWith Strickland, Edward F., person
associatedWith Thomas, Mary Frame (Myers), 1816-1888 person
associatedWith Thomas, Mary Frame Myers, 1816-1888. person
associatedWith Waite, Charles Burlingame, 1824-1909 person
associatedWith Waite, Charles Burlingame, 1824-1909. person
associatedWith Willard, Frances Elizabeth, 1839-1898 person
associatedWith Willard, Frances Elizabeth, 1839-1898. person
associatedWith Woman's Christian Temperance Union. corporateBody
associatedWith Woolson, Abba (Goold), 1838-1921 person
associatedWith Woolson, Abba Goold, 1838-1921. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Des Moines IA US
Crawfordsville IN US
Evanston IL US
Terre Haute IN US
Pasadena CA US
Subject
Feminists
Suffragists
Women
Women
Women
Women
Women's rights
Occupation
Authors
Philanthropists
Reformers
Suffragists
Women's rights activists
Activity

Person

Birth 1843-04-15

Death 1925-01-19

Birth 1845

Death 1925

Female

Americans

English

Information

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