Frances Willard
Born 1839 · Age 186
American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist; long-time national president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and founder/leader of international women's temperance and reform organizations.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Churchville, New York
Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard born to Josiah Flint Willard and Mary Thompson Hill Willard in Churchville (near Rochester), NY.
Family moved to Oberlin, Ohio
Willard's family relocated to Oberlin, Ohio where her father studied at Oberlin College and mother took classes.
Family moved to Janesville, Wisconsin
The Willard family moved to a farm near Janesville, Wisconsin, for Josiah Willard's health; family converted to Methodism in Wisconsin.
Enrolled at Milwaukee Female College (one term)
Attended Milwaukee Female College for one term before transferring.
Moved to Evanston to attend North Western Female College
Willard and family moved to Evanston, Illinois; she enrolled at North Western Female College.
Graduated North Western Female College
Completed studies and graduated from North Western Female College (a women's college in Evanston).
Began teaching career
Started work as a teacher in one-room schools and later at more advanced positions as reputation grew.
Broke off engagement to Charles H. Fowler (engaged earlier)
Had previously been engaged to Charles Henry Fowler (engagement dated c.1861); the engagement was later broken off.
Appointed preceptress at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary (approx.)
Served as preceptress at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary in New York (later affiliated with Syracuse University); sources indicate service in the 1860s–early 1870s.
Undertook extended world tour (1868–1870)
Made an extended world tour with a friend from 1868 to 1870, after several years of teaching.
Named president of Evanston College for Ladies
Appointed president of the newly founded Evanston College for Ladies, a Methodist women's college.
Evanston College merged with Northwestern University; became first Dean of Women
When the Evanston College for Ladies merged into Northwestern, Willard was named the university's first Dean of Women and professor (English/Aesthetics).
Resigned as Dean of Women, Northwestern University
Resigned in 1874 after conflicts with Northwestern President Charles H. Fowler over governance of the Woman's College.
50-day speaking tour
Conducted an early long temperance speaking tour of about 50 days in 1874 as she transitioned to full-time temperance work.
Participated in founding convention of WCTU; elected Corresponding Secretary
Attended the founding convention of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and was elected its first Corresponding Secretary (national organizing work).
Became head of WCTU Publications Department
Assigned to lead the WCTU's publications work and expand its national audience, including building the weekly The Union Signal.
Resigned as Chicago WCTU president; worked with Dwight L. Moody
Resigned as president of the Chicago WCTU and briefly served as director of women's meetings for evangelist Dwight L. Moody.
Temporarily left national WCTU
Left the national WCTU later in 1877 because of internal disagreements (notably with Annie Wittenmyer) over linking temperance and suffrage.
Elected president of Illinois WCTU
Returned to WCTU leadership as state president, continuing her organizing and suffrage advocacy.
Coined/Promoted 'Home Protection' suffrage argument and 'Do Everything' strategy
Promoted the 'Home Protection' rationale for women's suffrage and advanced the WCTU 'Do Everything' approach—broad social reform and education alongside temperance.
Presented 'Home Protection' petition to Illinois legislature
Secured and presented a 'Home Protection' petition with more than 100,000 signatures asking for women's vote in liquor matters; petition died in committee.
Elected national president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)
Won the presidency of the national WCTU at the 1879 convention and served continuously until her death in 1898.
Home Protection Party/Prohibition Party merger attempt
A 'Home Protection Party' (1881) briefly merged with the Prohibition Party (1882–84); efforts to make electoral alliances failed as parties shied from suffrage/temperance plank.
Launched international work and Polyglot Petition
Began international organizing (including Mary Leavitt's missions) and circulated the Polyglot Petition against the international drug trade.
Spoke in every U.S. state (1883)
Reportedly spoke in every state of the Union in 1883, reflecting intense national travel and lecturing.
Sustained high-volume travel and lecturing (circa 1874–c.1884)
For a roughly ten-year period she averaged about 30,000 miles of travel per year and roughly 400 lectures per year while organizing and promoting WCTU causes.
Co-founded Illinois Woman's Press Association
Joined Elizabeth Boynton Harbert and others to found the Illinois Woman's Press Association (with 46 founding members listed).
Helped found National Council of Women; became its first president (1888–1890)
Joined May Wright Sewall at the International Council of Women meeting and helped lay the foundation for the National Council of Women; served as its first president.
Founded (or helped organize) World's Woman's Christian Temperance Union
Expanded WCTU organization internationally—sources vary (some cite 1883 activity; others 1888 founding)—Willard is credited with founding the World WCTU and fostering its growth.
Published autobiography 'Glimpses of Fifty Years'
Autobiography published in 1889 (Glimpses of Fifty Years), collecting her life and reform work.
Elected president of World WCTU (date varies by source)
Sources differ on exact year she became president of the World WCTU (c.1891–1893); she is widely recognized as international WCTU president in the 1890s.
Participated in Populist (People's) Party convention at St. Louis
Took part in the 1892 St. Louis convention and presented a draft set of principles with 28 reformers; the party refused to back suffrage or temperance.
Tour of Britain and contact with Fabian socialism
Spent significant time in England in the early 1890s; after 1893 was influenced by the British Fabian Society and grew toward Christian socialism.
Public conflict with Ida B. Wells over lynching and race issues
Ida B. Wells publicly challenged Willard's silence and rhetoric about lynching during Wells' 1893 British speaking tour; a bitter exchange followed and WCTU later passed an anti-lynching resolution (Willard denied condoning lynching).
Published 'Do Everything: A Handbook for the World's White Ribboners' (approx.)
Produced 'Do Everything' handbook to guide WCTU activists; date approx. mid-1890s (c.1895).
Published 'A Wheel Within a Wheel'
Published A Wheel Within a Wheel: How I Learned to Ride the Bicycle (and reflections), 1895.
Published 'Occupations for Women' (lecture/essay)
Published material titled Occupations for Women (Cooper Union / Success Company), 1897.
Health began to deteriorate
Late 1897 saw a marked worsening of Willard's health during extensive travel and international work.
Buried at Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago; bequeathed Evanston home to WCTU
Interred at Rosehill Cemetery; left her Evanston home to the WCTU in her will.
Died in New York City
Died in her sleep at the Empire Hotel in New York City on February 17, 1898, after contracting influenza while preparing to travel to England and France.
Frances Willard House opened as museum and WCTU HQ
The Evanston home bequeathed by Willard was opened as a museum in 1900 and became the WCTU headquarters.
Statue unveiled in National Statuary Hall
A statue of Frances Willard by Helen Farnsworth Mears was unveiled in 1905 and placed in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall (first woman included among America's leaders there).
Willard Hall and Willard Guest House opened in Adelaide, Australia
Named in her honor, Willard Hall and Willard Guest House were opened by the South Australian branch of the WCTU in Wakefield Street, Adelaide.
Willard Middle School established in Berkeley, California
Willard Middle School in Berkeley was established and named for Frances Willard.
Frances Elizabeth Willard relief plaque commissioned/installed (Indiana Statehouse)
Lorado Taft's relief commemorating the 50th anniversary of Willard's 1879 election as WCTU president was placed in the Indiana Statehouse in 1929.
Frances E. Willard Temperance Hospital name used (1929–1936)
A Chicago hospital operated under the Frances E. Willard Temperance Hospital name from 1929 until 1936; later became Loretto Hospital.
Willard Residential College (Northwestern University) opened
A dormitory named Willard Residential College opened in 1938 as a women's dorm at Northwestern; later became co-ed in 1970.
Kingston, Ontario memorial dedicated
A small memorial at Richardson Beach in Kingston, Ontario was dedicated by the Kingston WCTU on September 28, 1939 (Willard's centennial).
Featured on U.S. postage stamp (Famous Americans series)
Francis Willard commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp released March 28, 1940, in the Famous Americans series.
Frances Willard House designated National Historic Landmark
The Frances Willard House in Evanston was elevated to National Historic Landmark status in 1965.
Frances Willard Schoolhouse (Janesville) added to National Register of Historic Places
The Frances Willard Schoolhouse in Janesville, Wisconsin was added to the NRHP in 1977.
Frances E. Willard School (Philadelphia) added to NRHP
The Frances E. Willard School in Philadelphia was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame
Frances E. Willard was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in the year 2000.
Numerous schools, parks and institutions named in her honor (cumulative)
Multiple elementary/middle schools, streets, a university residential college, and parks around the U.S. and abroad bear her name (e.g., Willard Avenue, Willard Park, and several Frances E. Willard Elementary schools).
Key Achievement Ages
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