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 22 Collections and/or Records:
Elvira Stevens Barney book papers
Materials that were found in a book held by the Latter-day Saint Church Historical Department. Collection includes a greeting card, love letter, copy of a quote, and a short printed biography (photocopy).
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 and Annie Wells Cannon photographs, approximately 1877-1963
Contains photographs of the family of Emmeline B. Wells and Annie Cannon Wells. Photographs are of family members, some unidentified. Also contains scrapbooks with photographs and clippings, and loose ephemera from scrapbooks. Date dapproximately 1877 to 1963.
Emmeline B. Wells and family photographs, approximately 1877-1921
Contains photographs and engravings of Emmeline B. Wells and other family members. Dated approximately 1877 to 1921.
Emmeline B. Wells letter to Mary A. White, 1895 January 14
Scrapbook and loose materials, approximately 1897-1960
Contains loose scrapbook material, such as clippings, photographs, postcards, and other ephemera. Also contains a scrapbook tited "The Ideal Scrapbook," with clippings, photographs, and other ephemera. Materials dated approximately 1897 to 1960.
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.
Souvenir of Utah / edited by Emmeline B. Wells, approximately 1893
Contains a book of 34 poems by Utah women entitled "Souvenir of Utah," edited by Emmeline B. Wells and dedicated to Margaret Blaine Salisbury. The book includes a poem by Sarah E. Russe1l [daughter of Isaac Russell [Sr.]], entitled "Hope," on page 13. The book was originally published in 1893 as "Songs and Flowers of the Wasatch," with handpainted illustrations by Edna Wells Sloane.
What it Means to be a Mormon transcription
Collection contains the handwritten transcription of Adam S. Bennion's book, What it Means to be a Mormon, pages 171-173, which tells the story of Emmeline B. Wells' conversion and early history, including when she first met the prophet Joseph Smith. The transcriber is unknown. Dated approximately 1920.
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- Type
- Collection 15
- Archival Object 7
- Subject
- Women -- Suffrage -- Utah 10
- Letters 9
- Social Life and Customs 9
- Home and Family 8
- Latter Day Saint families -- Utah 6
- Photographs 6
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 5
- Scrapbooks 4
- Biographies 3
- Diaries 3
- Religion 3
- Family histories 2
- Latter Day Saint pioneers -- United States -- Diaries 2
- Latter Day Saint women 2
- Latter Day Saint women -- Utah -- Diaries 2
- Latter Day Saint women -- Utah -- History 2
- Material Types 2
- Poetry 2
- Printed ephemera 2
- Relief Society 2
- Salt Lake City (Utah) 2
- Transcripts 2
- Account books 1
- American poetry -- 19th century 1
- Anthologies 1
- Artifacts 1
- Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences 1
- Autobiographies 1
- Books 1
- Certificates 1
- City and Town Life 1
- Civic Activism 1
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.) 1
- Correspondence 1
- Daybooks 1
- Engravings 1
- Essays 1
- Genealogies 1
- Illustrations 1
- Immigration and American Expansion 1
- Latter Day Saint women -- Biography 1
- Latter Day Saint women -- Correspondence 1
- Latter Day Saint women -- Nebraska -- Winter Quarters -- History -- Sources 1
- Latter Day Saint women -- Suffrage 1
- Latter Day Saint women -- Suffrage -- Utah 1
- Latter Day Saint women -- United States 1
- Latter Day Saint women -- Utah 1
- Latter Day Saint women -- Utah -- Correspondence 1
- Latter Day Saints -- Utah -- Nephi -- History 1
- Literature 1
- Medals 1
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- Newsletters 1
- Overland Journeys to the Western United States 1
- Overland journeys to the Pacific 1
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- Politics, Government, and Law 1
- Receipts (Financial records) 1
- Religious leaders 1
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- Utah -- Politics and government 1
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- Winter Quarters (Neb.) -- History 1
- Women 1
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- Women educators -- United States 1
- Women painters -- Utah 1
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- Women poets, American -- Nebraska -- Winter Quarters -- History -- Sources 1 + ∧ less