Rachel Foster Avery

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Rachel Foster Avery (right) and Susan B. Anthony

Rachel Foster Avery (1858–1919) was a corresponding secretary of the National American Woman Suffrage Association during the late 19th century.^[1]

[edit] Biography

Mrs. Avery was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 30, 1858, the daughter of J. Heron Foster, editor of the Pittsburgh Dispatch.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a prominent social activist and advocate of women's rights held suffrage meetings at the Foster home and Avery's mother became vice president of the local suffrage society. After J. Heron Foster's death in 1871 the Avery, her sister, and mother moved to Philadelphia, where they joined the Citizens' Suffrage Association. Avery began writing for newspapers at about age 17. At 21 she attended the eleventh convention of the National Women's Suffrage Association, and became actively involved in the organization by planning an organizing the associations meeting across the country in 1880 and 1881.

In 1882 she conducted the Nebraska Amendment campaign. Later she published the lecture of Governor John W. Hoyt, of Wyoming, entitled "The Good Results of Thirteen Years' Experience of Women's Voting in Wyoming," throughout the state of Pennsylvania. In 1883, Avery traveled through Europe with Susan B. Anthony.

In February 1888, Avery organized the International Council of Women, in Washington, D. C. under the auspices of the National Women's Suffrage Association.

On November 8, 1888, she married Cyrus Miller Avery.

Avery later held the office of corresponding secretary of the National Woman's Suffrage Association and of the National and the International Council of Women.