Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born in 1815 and died in 1902. For over 50 years she was one of the driving forces toward equality for women. She is best remembered for hosting the first women’s rights convention later referred to as The Seneca Falls Convention. She worked with various other activists in her lifetime, including Lucretia Mott, Jane Hunt, and Matilda Jaslyn Gage, who helped Stanton write 2 books.

July 13, 1848
Today while I was in Seneca Falls, Lucretia Mott invited me for a visit with her and Jane Hunt. It seems she was a few towns over in Waterloo visiting her sister. We sat and discussed our thoughts about holding a women's convention over tea. They both had wonderful ideas and contributed generously to the cause. We settled on the decision to have it held in Seneca Falls, New York on the 19th and 20th of this month. Some of the issues we plan to address are female grievances in regard to property, access to education and professional careers, the lowly status accorded women in most churches and why we deserve to vote. It’s almost comical how in a 65 year old nation based on freedom of speech and equal representation, women still cannot vote while the most ignorant of men can.

July 21, 1848

The convention was every bit as successful as we had hoped it would be. Over 300 people attended, 40 of which were men. The end product was 68 women and 32 men signing the Declaration of Sentiments I had drafted. 100 out of 300 is a fairly generous result given the ongoing circumstances, however it is not enough. If we truly wish to change the current order of things we must continue to gather signatures.

July 30, 1848

I remember being a young girl, learning Greek, mathematics, and law, only to have my father tell me, "Oh Elizabeth, if only you were a boy.'' I remember watching my brother go off to college as my sisters and I stayed at home. I remember seeing husbands hit their wives to ensure ''obedience'' and hearing phrases such as that of Mr. William Blackstone that “husband and wife are one and that one is the husband.” These experiences infuriated me from a young age. The idea that the gender someone is born into can determine their worth is incomprehensible to me. Young women are taught from birth that they can master any skill, learn any topic, and they will still never be as exceptional or important as males.

August 2, 1848

My husband is quite supportive of my activism, he himself being an abolitionist and social reformer. Henry understands that the color of one’s skin or their gender should not matter, all deserve the same set of basic rights. I am very fortunate to have someone who shares my views on these topics. I can only hope everyone comes to the same conclusion eventually.