Wells, Emmeline B. (Emmeline Blanche), 1828-1921
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 9 Collections and/or Records:
Ida Smoot Dusenberry papers
Collection includes biographical materials, correspondence, writings and notes, newspaper clippings and mementos relating mainly to her personal and family history. Includes funeral guest register and transcript of funeral.
Emmeline B. Wells and Annie Wells Cannon papers, approximately 1877-1963
Papers of Emmeline B. Wells and Annie Wells Cannon, including biographies, a pedigree chart, a medal of service, letters, poetry, and a geography coursebook. Materials dated approximately 1877 to 1963.
Emmeline B. Wells letter to Mary A. White, 1895 January 14
Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith letters
Collection includes a handwritten and signed letter dated June 15, 1904, in which Smith congratulates Jacob G. Bigler and his wife on their sixtieth wedding anniversary. Emmeline B. Wells was a scribe for the letter. Also included is a postcard from Smith to Bigler. Materials are dated 1900-1910.
Phyllis Southwick papers
Correspondence, writings, photographs, newspaper clippings, date books, and other ephemera related to the life and career of Phyllis Southwick. Materials of Margaret Cannon Clayton, Emmeline B. Wells, Elizabeth Ann "Annie" Wells Cannon, as well as the Cannon and Wells families are included and are focused on civic activism in Utah, higher education instruction, and women suffrage movements. Materials dated 1889 to 1982.
Emmeline B. Wells collection
Emmeline B. Wells letter
Handwritten and signed latter addressed to "My Very Dear Sister." Young writes of her problems with the costs relating to publication and mentions that women should have as many children as possible.
Emmeline B. Wells letter
Handwritten and signed letter thanking a Miss Grey for sending a transcript of Relief Society minutes.
Emmeline B. Wells letters to Barrymore Hillard
Materials include two letters from Emmeline B. Wells to her great-grandson Barrymore Nugent Hillard. The letters are dated November 1903 and November 1906. They contain Wells' inquiries about her family and her admonitions for Hillard to be a good boy. They also include some information about Wells' life and feelings about her life at the time. Dated 1903 and 1906.
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