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Wells, Emmeline B. (Emmeline Blanche), 1828-1921

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1828 - 1921

Biography

Emmeline B. Wells (1828-1921) was a women's rights advocate, the fifth president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the chief editor of the journal Women's Exponent.

Emmeline B. Wells was born on February 29, 1828, at Petersham, Massachusetts to parents David Woodward and Deiadama Hare. When she was four years old her father died, which meant she and her siblings were raised mainly by their mother. In 1842, she joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a child, Wells was very well-educated and began teaching in her early teenage years. She married James Harris at age fifteen, they had one son who died shortly after his birth, but Harris deserted Wells. Wells then married Bishop Newel K. Whitney in 1849 and they had two children. When he died in 1850, Wells raised her children on her own in the Salt Lake Valley, where they had immigrated to in 1848. In 1852, she married Daniel Wells and had three more children. She continued teaching while in Utah and she also became involved in civic affairs such as suffrage and women's rights. Wells was the chief editor of the women's rights journal Women's Exponent. She was also friends with famous suffragettes Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, and in 1899 she was invited by the International Council of Women to speak at its London meeting as a United States representative. Wells served as the general president of the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1910 to 1921. She died on April 25, 1921 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Citation:
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, via WWW, March 19, 2014 (born on February 29, 1828, at Petersham, Massachusetts; parents David Woodward and Deiadama Hare; four years old her father died; raised mainly by their mother; very well-educated; began teaching in her early teenage years; m. James Harris at age fifteen; one son who died shortly after his birth; after sixteen years of marriage, Harris deserted Wells; remarried to Bishop Newel K. Whitney in 1845 and they had two children; Wells was left to raise her children on her own in Salt Lake Valley, where they had immigrated to in 1848; 1852, she married Daniel Wells and had three more children; continued teaching while in Utah; involved in civic affairs such as suffrage and women's rights; chief editor of the women's rights journal the Women's Exponent; friends with famous suffragettes Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony; 1899 she was invited by the International Council of Women to speak at its London meeting as a United States representative; general president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1910 to 1921; died on April 25, 1921 in Salt Lake City, Utah)

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Emmeline B. Wells and Annie Wells Cannon collection

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 2344
Scope and Contents

Collection contains papers and photographs from the lives of Emmeline B. Wells and Annie Wells Cannon. The papers mostly include biographies, though a pedigree chart and a medal of service are also of note. Most of the photographs are connected to Cannon, with several coming from a large scrapbook. Dated approximately 1877 to 1963.

Dates: approximately 1877-1963

Emmeline B. Wells collection

 Collection
Identifier: Vault MSS 805
Scope and Contents The collection contains correspondence of Emmeline B. Wells, 1898-1923; papers and poems either by or about Emmeline B. Wells; a certificate to the Columbian Exposition in 1893; handwritten documents written by Emmeline B. Wells or family; priesthood blessings; photocopies of photographs; original and typescript of ledger book (Emmeline B. Wells' copy with marginal notes) recording Utah Suffrage Association membership and "Relief Society Minutes, Nauvoo, 1842-1844;" diaries of Emmeline B....
Dates: 1842-1923

Filtered By

  • Subject: Salt Lake City (Utah) X

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Certificates 1
Diaries 1
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