M9 Finding aid prepared by Barbara Ward Grubb, Amanda Zehnder, Elizabeth Reilly. Last updated on July, 0. Bryn Mawr College 00
Table of Contents Summary Information... Biography/History... Scope and Contents... Administrative Information... Related Materials... Controlled Access Headings...8 A note on 'FitzGerald'... 9 Collection Inventory... 0 Bryn Mawr College Years...0 Courtship... Separations Soon after Marriage... Suffrage Campaigns... Massachusetts House of Representatives... - Page -
Summary Information Repository Bryn Mawr College Creator Fitzgerald, Susan W. (Susan Walker), 8-9 Title Susan Walker FitzGerald papers Call number M9 Date [inclusive] 8-9 Extent. linear feet ( boxes) Language English Abstract Susan Walker FitzGerald (8-9) was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. While at Bryn Mawr, class of 89, she founded the Student Government Association and graduated with a degree in history/ political science. Susan W. FitzGerald is best known for her commitment to the women's suffrage movement and her involvement in progressive political organizations. The papers are arranged chronologically beginning with a few letters, postcards and memorabilia from Susan's childhood and ending with letters from the early 90's, including letters pertaining to her term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 9-9.The vast majority of letters are between Susan and Richard, many of them from Richard to Susan. Cite as: Cite as Susan Walker FitzGerald papers, Bryn Mawr College Special Collections. - Page -
Biography/History Susan Walker FitzGerald was born Susan Grimes Walker on May 9, 8 in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Rear Admiral John G. Walker, U.S.N. and Rebecca White Pickering Walker. Her father, a Boston banker, was a renowned Civil War veteran and her mother was from the prominent Pickering family of Salem, Massachusetts. Following the advice and encouragement of her cousin Alice Gould who graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 889, she enrolled at Bryn Mawr and graduated with a degree in political science and history in 89. During her time at Bryn Mawr, she founded the Student Government Association and served as her class president. Following her graduation, she worked as secretary to M. Carey Thomas - from 89 to 89 when Thomas was dean, and from 89 to 89 after Thomas became Bryn Mawr's president. Subsequently, Susan began working as the administrative head of Barnard College's first dormitory, Fiske Hall, in 898. She was engaged to Richard Y. FitzGerald in July of 900 and the couple married on August, 90. Because men were not allowed into the dormitory, she changed jobs and served as head worker at the Richmond Hill Settlement House in New York City from 90 to 90. She was a prominent member of the first New York Child Labor Committee and was involved in establishing important child labor laws and in working for a compulsory education law. Richard Y. FitzGerald was an attorney who graduated from the University of California in 89 and Harvard Law School in 898 and practiced primarily in New York and Boston. He was the son of Nancy Rose McCoy and Adolphus Leigh Fitzgerald, elected to the Supreme Court of Nevada in November of 900. Richard's family owned silver mines and a water works plant in Eureka, Nevada as well as a large ranch named Clear Creek in Redding, California. They had four children: Anne (born 90), Rebecca Pickering (90), Susan (908), and Richard Leigh (9). All three of the daughters attended Bryn Mawr. Anne received her A.B. degree in 9, Rebecca in 9, and Susan in 99. Richard attended Princeton University. Anne went on to earn a Master's degree from Radcliffe College, Rebecca earned the Ph.D. from the University of Vienna, and Susan earned an M.A. from Middlebury College. Richard and Susan lived at the Clear Creek ranch from 90 to 90. They were separated for two months when their infant daughter, Rebecca, required care in San Francisco for a serious feeding problem. Richard remained on the ranch with their older daughter during this period. Susan and Rebecca returned to the ranch four days prior to the famous San Francisco earthquake. Richard fell seriously ill with typhoid fever in 90 and the entire family returned east by train. They settled initially at her parents' home in Washington, D.C. so that Richard could recuperate. After some serious debate Richard finally agreed to stay on the east coast. Early in 90 Susan negotiated a paying job supervising Pauline Shaw's social work in Boston to tide them over while Richard established a new legal career. They moved to Hyde Park later in 90, then to Jamaica Plain, Boston in 9. Susan was active in the suffrage movement and politics, but continued her salaried work until 9 when Richard became General Counsel of the pioneering New England Power System Companies. - Page -
Susan W. FitzGerald is best known for her long commitment to the struggle for women's suffrage and her involvement in progressive political organizations. She served as Executive Secretary of the Boson Equal Suffrage Association for Good Government in 90 and the Massachusetts Woman's Suffrage Association in 9. In addition, she served as the recording secretary for the large and influential National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) from 9-9. She was respected as a public speaker and participated in numerous state suffrage campaigns. Letters in the collection reflect her participation in the 909 women's suffrage campaign in Massachusetts, the 9 Michigan campaign, the 9-9 campaigns in California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, and the 9 campaigns in Iowa, Utah and California. During this period, her by-line appeared three times a week in the Boston Evening Traveler (9-9). In 9- she ran unsuccessfully for a school board seat in Boston. In 90 Susan served as the National Committeewoman of the Women's Division of the Democratic State Committee in Massachusetts. She was elected in 9 as the first female Democrat to the enter the Massachusetts House of Representatives; Sylvia Donaldson was elected the same year as the first female Republican. Susan served for one term from 9 to 9. Susan's writings include essays titled, "Women in the Home," 908, "What is a Democracy?" 90, and "Have We a Democracy?" 9. In her later years, Susan continued to be involved in politics, but devoted much of her energy to more personal concerns, participating in Bryn Mawr alumnae activities and in the General Alliance of Unitarian and Other Liberal Christian Women. She died January 0, 9. Dates of Susan Walker FitzGerald's employment and political activities 889-89 President, Class of 89, Bryn Mawr College 89-89 Secretary to Dean/President Thomas, Bryn Mawr College 898-90 Head of Fiske Hall, Barnard College 90-90 Manager (head worker) of the Richmond Hill House of the West Side Branch of the New York University Settlement Society 90-90 Member, New York Child Labor Committee 90-90 Truant officer, New York City 90-90 Executive Secretary, Boston Equal Suffrage Association for Good Government 908-9 Trustee, Women's Educational and Industrial Union 90-98 Member, School Voters' League 9-9 Executive Secretary, Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association 9-9 Recording Secretary, National American Woman Suffrage Association 9-9 Secretary, Massachusetts Political Equality Union 9-90 Member, Executive Committee of the Women's Trade Union League 9-98 Chairwoman, Massachusetts League for Progressive Democracy 90 Chairwoman, Women's Division of the State Democratic Committee 90 Alternate Delegate-at-Large to Democratic National Convention, in San Francisco 9-9 Member, Massachusetts House of Representatives 9 Delegate-at-Large to Democratic National Convention, in New York City 9 Voting Member, First Congressional Society of Jamaica Plain (Unitarian) 9-90 Member, Massachusetts Special Commission on Necessaries of Life 99-9 Treasurer, Regional Scholarship Committee, Bryn Mawr College 9-9 President, Women's Alliance of Jamaica Plain Unitarian Church 9 Secretary- Treasurer, Shorey Chair Endowment Fund, Bryn Mawr College 90 Life Member, General Alliance of Unitarian and Other Liberal Christian Women (GAUW) 99-9 Member, Committee on Appeals, GAUW 9-9 Chairwoman, Committee on International Work of GAUW - Page -
Scope and Contents The collection includes seven boxes of correspondence compiled by Richard Leigh FitzGerald. The papers are arranged chronologically beginning with a few letters, postcards and memorabilia from Susan's childhood and ending with letters from the early 90's, including letters pertaining to her term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 9-9. The vast majority of the letters are between Susan and her husband Richard, many of them from Richard to Susan. Letters from other correspondents are filed chronologically within the same sequence. There are additional materials on Susan Walker FitzGerald in various other collections in the Bryn Mawr College Library. Bryn Mawr College Years: Family letters during Bryn Mawr years Susan's primary correspondents in her college years are her mother and father. The letters often describe daily life at the college and colorful descriptions of college traditions. Student Government Association letters dated 89 from Susan's fellow students express opinions on founding a student government. Bryn Mawr memorabilia Susan's time at Bryn Mawr is represented by examples of entrance and collegiate examination questions, school records, and other assorted items. A scrapbook (in the student scrapbook collection of the College Archives) contains further Bryn Mawr material, including photographs and postcards, theatre programs, further examinations and class notes, and personal correspondence. Correspondence between Susan and Richard: Courtship and engagement Letters from Richard to Susan during the period of their courtship from 89 to the summer of 900. During this period, Richard is usually writing from his family's ranch in Redding, California and she is on the east coast. These letters are primarily personal love letters, but there are occasional examples of letters in which Richard responds to Susan on topics such as roles of women in marriage, married women with careers, financial concerns, and having children. The couple was engaged in July of 900 and they married August, 90. Periods of separation early in the marriage Susan and Richard were separated occasionally in the first years of their marriage. Letters written by Richard in 90 and 90, while he was vacationing in New Hampshire with their first child, contain detailed descriptions of domestic routines and the care of infants. They provide a particularly interesting perspective on childcare from the perspective of a turn-of-the-century father. They were again separated for two months in 90 while their infant Rebecca was cared for in a San Francisco hospital. Letters from Susan in 90 discuss her negotiations for positions and salaries in suffrage organizations and also provide insight into her determination to pursue a career of her own on the east coast in opposition to her husband's interest in settling permanently in the west. Periods of separation while Susan was involved in women's suffrage campaigns and other political activities The first documents from Susan's travels in suffrage campaigns are the extremely detailed and descriptive letters date from July through September 909 when she was involved the in Massachusetts open-air campaign. She also reports on the famous suffrage benefit held at Marble House in Newport, Rhode Island by Mrs. Belmont. A small group of letters from Susan to Richard from July 9 to January 9 reflect the period in which she was campaigning (ultimately unsuccessfully) for a position on the school board in Boston. Six letters from March to April 9 describe her activities with the Michigan suffrage campaign. Her letters from June through mid-september 9 describe suffrage campaigns in Chicago, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey. The letters dated May to November 9 concern suffrage campaigns in Iowa, Utah and California. Often throughout her correspondence while traveling - Page -
with suffrage campaigns, Susan writes her letters on interesting and informative letterhead from suffrage organizations in the various locations, which frequently includes names of the officers and members of the different organizations. Susan in the Massachusetts House of Representatives Material relating to Susan's campaign in 9 for the Massachusetts House of Representatives and assorted documents from her term in the legislature include letters of congratulations from politicians in Massachusetts and from prominent local citizens. There are also examples of bills from both the state House and Senate which relate to Susan's interests. Administrative Information Bryn Mawr College 00 Finding aid prepared by Barbara Ward Grubb, Amanda Zehnder, Elizabeth Reilly. Access Restrictions The Susan Walker FitzGerald Papers are the physical property of the Special Collections Department, Bryn Mawr College Library. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Use Restrictions This collection is open for research. Immediate Source of Acquisition note Gift of Richard Leigh FitzGerald on 990 January 8. Related Materials Related Archival Materials note The following collections include additional material on Susan Walker FitzGerald: - Page -
Alice B. Gould papers - Alice Bache Gould (Bryn Mawr 889) was Susan FitzGerald's cousin. There are several letters to R and S from the early 90s, Gould writing from Madrid, Seville and Valladolid. Topics include political and living conditions in Spain and Gould's interest in making donations of books to Bryn Mawr and the Boston Public Library. Scrapbook collection. Scrapbook of memorabilia compiled by S during her years at Bryn Mawr. Carrie Chapman Catt albums. Photograph of S speaking for women's suffrage, c. 9. folder M. Carey Thomas papers. See Reel Guide and Index to the Microfilm Collection for the Papers of M. Carey Thomas for records of correspondence between S and M. Carey Thomas. Susan FitzGerald (A.B. 99) papers. Susan's and Richard's daughter's letters home from Bryn Mawr 9- and 98-9. In the Alumnae Small Collections. Controlled Access Headings Corporate Name(s) Boston Equal Suffrage Association for Good Government. General Alliance of Unitarian and Other Liberal Christian Women. National American Woman Suffrage Association. Personal Name(s) Fitzgerald, Richard Leigh Fitzgerald, Susan W. (Susan Walker), 8-9 Thomas, M. Carey (Martha Carey), 8-9 Subject(s) Women -- Suffrage -- United States Barnard College Bryn Mawr College-- Alumni and alumnae. Child labor--new York (State) Democratic Party (Mass.) Legislators -- Massachusetts Silver mines and mining - Page 8 -
Women -- Education Women's rights -- United States Susan Walker FitzGerald papers A note on 'FitzGerald' The capitalization of the "g" varies within the family. Richard, his mother, Susan, and the four children of Susan and Richard chose the FitzGerald version, but Richard's father (Adolphus Leigh Fitzgerald), his sister and his brother, McCoy, used Fitzgerald. - Page 9 -
Bryn Mawr College Years Collection Inventory Bryn Mawr College Years, 8-900. General note Susan Walker FitzGerald (n?e Susan Grimes Walker) is designated as S, and Richard Y. FitzGerald as R. Anne FitzGerald - daughter of S and R Adolphus L. Fitzgerald - R's father Alice Gould - Bryn Mawr class of 889, S's cousin Bertha M. Fitzgerald - R's sister-in-law, wife of McCoy Fitzgerald Evangeline H. Walker - Bryn Mawr class of 89, R's cousin Ethel McCoy Walker - Bryn Mawr class of 89, R's cousin Fred C. Johnston Henrietta G. Fitts- S's cousin John G. Walker - S's father McCoy Fitzgerald - R's brother Pauline A. Shaw - Boston suffragist Rebecca Pickering FitzGerald - daughter of S and R Rebecca White Walker - S's mother - - Page 0 -
Typed transcripts, bibliographical information, biographical information,... Typed transcripts, bibliographical information, biographical information, contents lists, misc. Documents from S's childhood ( letter, postcard, playbill, empty envelope), 8-88. S's letters to parents from Bryn Mawr ( typed transcripts of letters, photocopy of a letter), 889. S's letters to parents from Bryn Mawr ( letters, postcards, invitation), 889-89. Alice Gould (BMC889, SWF's cousin) to S ( letter, typed transcript), 889-89. Correspondence to S about forming Student Government Association at BMC ( letters), 89. S's Bryn Mawr records, examination questions, misc., 889-89. Evangeline H. Walker (BMC 89) and Ethel McCoy Walker (BMC 89) to R ( total letters, photograph, typed transcripts), 889-900. Courtship, 89-90. General note - Susan Walker FitzGerald (n?e Susan Grimes Walker) is designated as S, and Richard Y. FitzGerald as R. Anne FitzGerald - daughter of S and R Adolphus L. Fitzgerald - R's father Alice Gould - Bryn Mawr class of 889, S's cousin Bertha M. Fitzgerald - R's sister-in-law, wife of McCoy Fitzgerald Evangeline H. Walker - Bryn Mawr class of 89, R's cousin Ethel McCoy Walker - Bryn Mawr class of 89, R's cousin Fred C. Johnston Henrietta G. Fitts- S's cousin John G. Walker - S's father McCoy Fitzgerald - R's brother Pauline A. Shaw - Boston suffragist Rebecca Pickering FitzGerald - daughter of S and R Rebecca White Walker - S's mother - Page -
R to S, courtship (9 letters) R to S, courtship (9 letters), 89 Sep - 898 Jul. R to S, courtship and engagement (begun July 900) (8 letters, telegram), 898 Aug - 900 Nov. R to S, engagement ( letters), 900 Nov - 90 Jan. S and R letters to S's mother (Rebecca Walker) ( total letters), 90. R to S, from engagement to wedding (August, 90) (8 letters), 90 Jan - 90 Jul. -0-8 - Separations Soon after Marriage, 90-908. General note - Susan Walker FitzGerald (n?e Susan Grimes Walker) is designated as S, and Richard Y. FitzGerald as R. Anne FitzGerald - daughter of S and R Adolphus L. Fitzgerald - R's father Alice Gould - Bryn Mawr class of 889, S's cousin Bertha M. Fitzgerald - R's sister-in-law, wife of McCoy Fitzgerald Evangeline H. Walker - Bryn Mawr class of 89, R's cousin Ethel McCoy Walker - Bryn Mawr class of 89, R's cousin Fred C. Johnston Henrietta G. Fitts- S's cousin John G. Walker - S's father McCoy Fitzgerald - R's brother Pauline A. Shaw - Boston suffragist Rebecca Pickering FitzGerald - daughter of S and R Rebecca White Walker - S's mother - Page -
R to S, post marriage ( letters and booklet for trousseau and used late... R to S, post marriage ( letters and booklet for trousseau and used later for record of baby gifts), 90 Oct 8-90 Feb. R to S, Richard in New Hampshire with baby Anne (9 letters), 90 Jun - 90 Sep. R to Adolphus Fitzgerald ( letter), 90 Jun. R to Adolphus Fitzgerald ( letter), 90 Dec 0. R in New Hampshire to S at Richmond Hill Settlement House in New York City ( letters), 90 Jun 0 90-90 Jun 0. Henrietta G. Fitts to R, Henrietta recommending a hearing device for R ( letters), 90 May, 9 and. McCoy Fitzgerald to R ( letters), 90 Jun 0, and 0. R in Redding, California to S, at the Richmond Hill house, also in New Hampshire and at Bryn Mawr ( letters), 90 Jul - 90 Sep 0. S at Richmond Hill house to R in Redding, California ( letters), 90 Jun - 90 Jul. Rebecca Walker to S ( letters) and John G. Walker to S ( letter), 90 Jul and 9. S in New Hampshire to R in California ( letters, postcard), 90 Aug - 90 Oct. Rebecca Walker to R ( letter), 90 Oct. Adolphus Fitzgerald to R ( letters), 90 Oct 8 and 90 Dec 0. S in San Francisco with ill infant Rebecca P. to R in Redding, California (9 letters, postcards), 90 Oct - 90 Apr. Ethel M.Walker to R ( letter), 90 Jan. Evangeline H. Walker to R ( letter), 90 Feb. - Page - Bin -9 9 - - -
Massachusetts Suffrage Campaign Alice Gould - Bryn Mawr class of 889, S's cousin Bertha M. Fitzgerald - R's sister-in-law, wife of McCoy Fitzgerald Evangeline H. Walker - Bryn Mawr class of 89, R's cousin Ethel McCoy Walker - Bryn Mawr class of 89, R's cousin Fred C. Johnston Henrietta G. Fitts- S's cousin John G. Walker - S's father McCoy Fitzgerald - R's brother Pauline A. Shaw - Boston suffragist Rebecca Pickering FitzGerald - daughter of S and R Rebecca White Walker - S's mother Massachusetts Suffrage Campaign, 909 Jul 0-909 Sep 0. - S to R in Eureka, Nevada and Redding, California- ( letters, postcards), 909 Jul 0-909 Sep 0. - Bertha Fitzgerald to S ( letter), 909 Aug. R to S ( letters, dividend check from the New England Trust Company), 909 Aug - 909 Sep. S in Newport, Rhode Island and Boston to R in Boston area ( letters), 909 Apr - 9 Apr. Elizabeth Grimes Walker (S's niece) to S ( letter), 909 Apr 0. R in Boston to S in Newport ( letters from same day), 909 Dec. Boston School Board Campaign, 9 Jul 9-9 Jan 0. 8 8 9 9 9 0 S to R ( letters, postcards), 9 Jul 9-9 Jan 0. 0 R to S ( letters), 9 Jul 9-9 Jan 0. 0 Harriet Curtis to S ( letter), 9 Jul 9-9 Jan 0. 0 - Page -
Michigan Suffrage Campaign E. Winifred Marsh to S ( letter), 9 Jul 9-9 Jan 0. 0 Michigan Suffrage Campaign, 9 Mar 9-9 Apr. S to R ( letters), 9 Mar 9-9 Apr. Rebecca P. FitzGerald (RPF) to R - one sent to Jamaica Plain and one to Canada ( letters), 9 Apr 8 and 9 Jul. Ethel M. Walker to R in Jamaica Plain, congratulations on birth of fouth child and news about the Walker girls' school ( letter), 9 Jun 8. Adolphus Fitzgerald to R in Boston ( letter), 9 Jun. S from Jamaica Plain to R vacationing in Canada (0 letters), 9 Jul - 9 Aug 8. Rebecca Walker to S ( postcard), 9 Jul. Anne FitzGerald (AF) to R in Canada ( letter), 9 Jul. Suffrage Campaigns (Chicago, MA, NY, NJ), 9 Jun 8-9 Sep. S to R in Boston (0 letters, postcards), 9 Jun 8-9 Sep. - Page -
Bertha Fitzgerald to R ( letters) Bertha Fitzgerald to R ( letters), 9 Sep and. Adolphus Fitzgerald to R ( letter), 9 Sep 9. McCoy Fitzgerald to R ( letters), 9 Sep and. Suffrage Campaigns in Mid-west and West, including Iowa, Utah and California, 9 May - 9 Nov 9. S to R ( letters, postcards, telegram), 9 May - 9 Nov 9. - Page -
Ethel M. Walker to R ( letters) Ethel M. Walker to R ( letters), 9 Feb 8 and Jul. McCoy Fitzgerald to R ( letter), 9 May 9. Bertha Fitzgerald to R ( letter), 9 Jun. Adolphus Fitzgerald to R ( letter), 9 Jun 8. McCoy Fitzgerald and Bertha Fitzgerald to R ( joint letter), 9 Jun 9. Democratic State Committee, S's misc. items, 98. William Garrison, Jr. to S ( letter), 98 Jan. Anne FitzGerald to S ( postcard), 98 Apr. S's general Democratic Committee campaign ( letter), 90 Jan. Massachusetts House of Representatives, 9-9. General note Susan Walker FitzGerald (n?e Susan Grimes Walker) is designated as S, and Richard Y. FitzGerald as R. Anne FitzGerald - daughter of S and R Adolphus L. Fitzgerald - R's father Alice Gould - Bryn Mawr class of 889, S's cousin Bertha M. Fitzgerald - R's sister-in-law, wife of McCoy Fitzgerald Evangeline H. Walker - Bryn Mawr class of 89, R's cousin Ethel McCoy Walker - Bryn Mawr class of 89, R's cousin Fred C. Johnston Henrietta G. Fitts- S's cousin John G. Walker - S's father McCoy Fitzgerald - R's brother Pauline A. - Page -
S's campaign Materials for Massachusetts House of Representative, newspape... Shaw - Boston suffragist Rebecca Pickering FitzGerald - daughter of S and R Rebecca White Walker - S's mother S's campaign Materials for Massachusetts House of Representative, newspaper clippings, examples of bills, handwritten notes, misc., 9-9. Congratulatory letters from S's campaign win in 9, 9-9. R.W. Washburn, 9-9. Chairman of Republican Women's City Committee, 9-9. Senator David I. Walsh, 9-9. E. Fose and B.F. Sturtebaut Company, 9-9. Hon. Andrew J. Peters, 9-9. Benjamin L. Young, Speaker of the MA House of Representatives, 9-9. Alvan T. Fuller, Lieutenant Governor, MA House of Representatives, 9-9. 9 letters, pamphlet - "Daily List of Legislative Committee Hearings, bills, 9-9. - Page 8 -