F.E.W. Harper was an author, poet, and public speaker. She wrote and spoke about temperance and abolition. And later she spoke on the right of women to vote. Frances Ella Watkins was born free in Baltimore. It was on September 24, 1825. She was orphaned by age three. Watkins’ aunt and uncle raised her. Her …
Ida B. Wells was born in Holly Springs, MS on July 16th, 1862. That was during the the Civil War (1861-1865). She was born enslaved. Wells saw the link between enslavement by humans and by alcohol. So she promoted the temperance movement. In 1895, Ms. Wells married Ferdinand Lee Barnett. He published the first Black newspaper …
Martin Delany was an African American abolitionist and temperance supporter. Delaney was born in Charles Town, VA (now WV). He was the son an enslaved father and a free mother. That was in 1812. In 1843 he began publishing a newspaper Later, along with Frederick Douglass, they published The North Star. The newspaper promoted abolition. During …
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 …
John Morris Sheppard and prohibition were very closely linked. Sheppard became an ardent advocate of banning alcohol beverage sales. And he did so fairly early in his political career. He was in Congress from 1901 until his death in 1941. Sheppard served first as a representative and then as a senator. He was a progressive …
Purley Baker was a leading temperance and Prohibition leader. He was born in Ohio in 1858 and died in 1924nduring National Prohibition (1920-1933). Prohibition was part of the Progressive Movement. Anti-Saloon League Rev. Baker was an ordained Methodist minister. He became well-known for strongly opposing alcohol and saloons. Perhaps because of that fact, Howard Hyde …
There are, and have been, many alcoholic politicians. Today, some have reported themselves to be alcoholic and have sought treatment. For alcoholic politicians of the past, it was harder. So historians base their judgements on accounts of those who knew the politicians and their actions. But it’s safe to assume that there are many politicians …
You found it. Here are Prohibition and Repeal resources. Prohibition of alcohol and Repeal is a fascinating story. How did National Prohibition (1920-1933) come to be? What was it like? How did it change American society? In what ways does it effect life even today? It’s a story of unusual ideas, fascinating characters, surprising events, …
Kinky Thompson Prohibition agents during National Prohibition (1920-1933) were widely criticized for using excessive force. And it was against both persons and property. One of the most violent may have been agent William Harvey Thompson of the Seattle, Washington, unit. Thompson’s career shows one of the many problems – unprofessional enforcement – that led to …
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 …
