Susan B. Anthony, between 1880 and 1906
Susan B. Anthony (February 15, 1820 – March 13, 1906) was a social activist and reformer; she particularly fought for women’s suffrage but was also involved in other causes, such as temperance, abolition, and labor rights.
Anthony was born in Adams, Massachusetts, as the second of seven children of Daniel and Lucy Anthony. In 1826, the family moved to New York, eventually settling near Rochester. Between 1839 and 1849, Anthony worked as a teacher.
Raised in a politically active Quaker household, Anthony had a lifelong interest in social issues. In 1851, Anthony met Elizabeth Cady Stanton and soon formalized her involvement in the women’s rights movement. Stanton and Anthony would remain lifelong friends and work on many causes together.
Anthony was a tireless organizer and speech giver and traveled the nation for decades lecturing on women’s rights and suffrage. Controversially, Anthony did not support the 15th amendment, which gave Black men the right to vote. She believed that any suffrage amendment should include women. In 1872, she was arrested and later tried for illegally voting in the presidential election.
Over the course of her life, Anthony served in many organizations, such as the American Anti-Slavery Society, American Equal Rights Association, National American Woman Suffrage Association, and more. She also co-founded a women’s rights newspaper called The Revolution in 1868.
Although Anthony faced criticism for her work on women’s voting rights, she became a celebrated national figure in her later years.
Death and Legacy
Anthony died from heart failure and pneumonia in 1906 at age 86, 14 years before American women gained the right to vote. However, the 19th Amendment was colloquially called the “Susan B. Anthony Amendment” in her honor. Anthony’s portrait was featured on a U.S. dollar coin beginning in 1979.
Susan B. Anthony remains one of the best-known figures in the American women’s suffrage movement.
Learn more about Susan B. Anthony through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.
Articles and Clippings about Susan B. Anthony
Account of 1852 New York Women's Temperance Convention mentioning Susan B. Anthony Thu, Apr 22, 1852 – 2 · Buffalo Courier (Buffalo, New York) · Newspapers.com1857 ad for a lecture by Susan B. Anthony on the education of women Tue, Mar 3, 1857 – Page 2 · Bangor Daily Whig and Courier (Bangor, Maine) · Newspapers.comAccount of a 1858 New York Teachers Association convention with a negative view of Susan B. Anthony Wed, Aug 4, 1858 – 3 · The Buffalo Commercial (Buffalo, New York) · Newspapers.comSusan B. Anthony addresses the American Anti-Slavery Society on behalf of the Women's Loyal League Fri, Jan 15, 1864 – Page 3 · The Liberator (Boston, Massachusetts) · Newspapers.comAccount of Susan B. Anthony's criticism of Black suffrage at 1869 Anti-Slavery Society meeting Sun, May 16, 1869 – Page 13 · The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana) · Newspapers.comExcerpt from an 1869 editorial critical of Susan B. Anthony Wed, Aug 18, 1869 – 2 · The Daily Commonwealth (Topeka, Kansas) · Newspapers.comAnthony quoted saying she would be "satisfied with nothing less" than a women's suffrage amendment Fri, Nov 26, 1869 – 4 · The St. Joseph Gazette (St. Joseph, Missouri) · Newspapers.comAd for Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton's "The Revolution" newspaper Thu, Jan 20, 1870 – Page 2 · Nebraska Advertiser (Brownville, Nebraska) · Newspapers.comShort biography of Susan B. Anthony's life up through 1871 Tue, Jul 11, 1871 – Page 3 · San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, California) · Newspapers.com1871 newspaper images of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton Tue, Jul 11, 1871 – Page 3 · San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, California) · Newspapers.comNewspaper account of Susan B. Anthony's 1873 trial for voting (United States v. Susan B. Anthony) Sun, Jun 29, 1873 – Page 3 · The Leavenworth Times (Leavenworth, Kansas) · Newspapers.comEditorial voicing opinion about Susan B. Anthony's trial for illegal voting Tue, Jun 24, 1873 – Page 1 · Weekly Oregon Statesman (Salem, Oregon) · Newspapers.comSummary of an 1873 speech given by Susan B. Anthony about women's citizenship and right to vote Tue, Feb 11, 1873 – 1 · The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) · Newspapers.comSusan B. Anthony speaks at opening of the International Council of Women in 1888 Tue, Mar 27, 1888 – 1 · Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comSusan B. Anthony attends 25th anniversary of National American Woman Suffrage Association Sun, Jan 22, 1893 – Page 3 · The Roanoke Times (Roanoke, Virginia) · Newspapers.comPhoto of Susan B. Anthony at her home in Rochester, New York, circa 1891 Sun, Nov 8, 1891 – 5 · Buffalo Morning Express and Illustrated Buffalo Express (Buffalo, New York) · Newspapers.com1899 interview with Susan B. Anthony about women's rights and suffrage Thu, Nov 16, 1899 – Page 6 · The Leavenworth Weekly Times (Leavenworth, Kansas) · Newspapers.comExcerpt from Susan B. Anthony's obituary in a Rochester, New York, newspaper Tue, Mar 13, 1906 – Page 13 · Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York) · Newspapers.comExcerpt from a newspaper article about Susan B. Anthony's funeral in 1906 Fri, Mar 16, 1906 – Page 14 · Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York) · Newspapers.com