Date of Award

9-16-2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

First Advisor

Sidney Bolton

Abstract

In discussions about the women's rights, organizations such as the National Organization for Women or the National American Woman Suffrage Association often overshadow the contributions of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). Most know of the WCTU's efforts against alcohol but little is known about the group's work toward woman's suffrage. In fact, the Little Rock organization became one of the WCTU's strongest local unions. It worked to change the lives of women and children not only in the city, but also statewide. Members' skills and unique backgrounds helped the union reach many of its goals. During these efforts it successfully blocked a brewery from being established in Little Rock, fought for a police matron, and campaigned to get a woman physician at the insane asylum. This thesis tells the story of the Little Rock Woman's Christian Temperance Union from 1888 to 1903, its structure, prominent members, and reform efforts in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Included in

History Commons

Share

COinS