The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) is the oldest voluntary, non-sectarian women’s organization in continuous existence in the world. In addition, it was among the first groups to keep a lobbyist in Washington, D.C. to promote its agenda. The group’s name is the “Woman’s” rather than “Women’s” Christian Temperance Union. That’s because it’s the individual …
The World’s Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WWCTU) began in 1883. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) formed it. The intent was to coordinate the work of WCTU chapters (unions) around the world. Overview I. Membership II. Structure III. The Pledge IV. Resources The first convention of the World’s Woman’s Christian Temperance …
Women and temperance were closely linked. The temperance movement relied heavily on their enthusiastic support. And they were essential to the establishment of National Prohibition (1920-1933). OVERVIEW I. Martha Washingtonians II. Daughters of Temperance III. Woman’s New …
Many organizations published temperance magazines or journals. This listing includes most of those. However, it does not include annual reports, minutes, proceedings, or yearbooks. Overview of Temperance Magazines I. Geographic List II. Alphabetical List III. Resources After each temperance magazine is when available, the place of publication, the sponsoring organization, and the dates …
M. Louise Gross founded and headed the Women’s Moderation Union (WMU). This helped belie the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union‘s (WCTU) insistence that it spoke for American women. The president of the WCTU had shouted before Congress that she spoke for all American women. That was in an effort to enhance her political power. Gross decided that …
The Board of Temperance Strategy was established 1930 by the Anti-Saloon League. It was a “last ditch” effort to coordinate resistance to the growing public demand for Repeal. That is, to repeal National Prohibition (1920-1933). Opposition to Prohibition had been rising in the late 1920s. That’s because more and more people thought it was causing many …
Mamie Colvin usually called herself Mrs. D. Leigh Colvin. She was born in Westview, Ohio, on June 12, 1883. She was the daughter of Rev. Levi White and Mary Belle (Hudelson) White. Her father had been elected to the New York State Assembly in 1851. Even as a child, Mamie White championed prohibition and won …
Dr. Dio Lewis, officially Diocletian Lewis (1823-1886), was a temperance leader. However, he was also a preacher, feminist, social reformer, and food/health faddist. And many considered Lewis to be an eccentric. Background His father had been a “notorious drunkard.” Perhaps that led to his strong belief that alcohol was a great evil. Lewis illegally used …
Daisy Douglas Barr was the fiery leader of the Women’s Ku Klux Klan (WKKK) in Indiana and seven other states. Thus, she led about 250,000 WKKK members. That was in the early 1920s. Barr worked closely with the Indiana KKK‘s “Grand Wizard,” D.C. Stevenson. Together, they worked hard on the governor’s race. Many people consider …
Cora F. Stoddard was a leading proponent of temperance and National Prohibition of alcohol. She served for 30 years as the head of the Scientific Temperance Federation. Ms. Stoddard was the personal secretary of Mary Hunt. Hunt was founding head of the Department of Scientific Temperance Instruction in Schools and Colleges. That was an important …
