Thursday, April 23, 2026

My great-grandmother Alvina Switzer (photo): a Women's Christian Temperance Union activist (wife of a Methodist minister)

 

 Above is my great-grandmother who took my mom up to Canada for six weeks when my mom was ten years old....

 Frances Willard: As president from 1879 to 1898, she transformed the WCTU into the largest women’s organization in the world by 1890.

major 19th-century women's organization that advocated for the total abstinence from alcohol and a wide range of social reforms. Under Frances Willard, it became a massive, influential political force using the motto "Do everything" to fight for women’s suffrage, labor rights, and public health.
Key Beliefs and Goals
  • Total Abstinence: The WCTU promoted "moderation in all things healthful; total abstinence from all things harmful," specifically targeting alcohol to protect families, women, and children.
  • Social Reform ("Do Everything" Policy):
    Led by Frances Willard, the organization shifted from solely temperance to a broader agenda, including advocating for women's suffrage, education, prison reform, child labor laws, and sanitation.
  • "Agitate, Educate, Legislate": This motto guided their strategy, utilizing education and political action to change policy, ultimately contributing to the push for Prohibition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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