Social Reformer, Suffragist. At the age of fifteen she was graduated from the Record Female Seminary at Geneva, valedictorian of her class. In 1840 she was married to Theodoric C. Severance, a banker. They were parents of five children, but their first child died when he was just six weeks old. She was active in abolitionist causes in the years before the outbreak of the Civil War, and after the war was over, joined others such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony in support of the growing women's suffrage movement. From her home in Boston she was active in organizations ranging from the Boston Anti-Slavery Society to the Boston Women's Hospital. After the Civil War she was instrumental in founding the New England Women's Club in 1868 and was its president until 1871. From her home, El Nido, on West Adams Blvd., she founded the Los Angeles Women's Club, dedicated to improving the lives of homeless children, resulting in the establishment of the Orphan's Home Society in 1883. She helped develop the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, began a city public library system, worked to found a local branch of the University of California (UCLA), promoted historic preservation, crusaded for woman's suffrage, and championed world peace. In 1911, for her efforts on behalf of suffrage, she became the first woman to register to vote in California at the age of 91.
Social Reformer, Suffragist. At the age of fifteen she was graduated from the Record Female Seminary at Geneva, valedictorian of her class. In 1840 she was married to Theodoric C. Severance, a banker. They were parents of five children, but their first child died when he was just six weeks old. She was active in abolitionist causes in the years before the outbreak of the Civil War, and after the war was over, joined others such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony in support of the growing women's suffrage movement. From her home in Boston she was active in organizations ranging from the Boston Anti-Slavery Society to the Boston Women's Hospital. After the Civil War she was instrumental in founding the New England Women's Club in 1868 and was its president until 1871. From her home, El Nido, on West Adams Blvd., she founded the Los Angeles Women's Club, dedicated to improving the lives of homeless children, resulting in the establishment of the Orphan's Home Society in 1883. She helped develop the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, began a city public library system, worked to found a local branch of the University of California (UCLA), promoted historic preservation, crusaded for woman's suffrage, and championed world peace. In 1911, for her efforts on behalf of suffrage, she became the first woman to register to vote in California at the age of 91.
Bio by: Debbie
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