EVANGELICAL WOMEN IN EARLY 1800; JOSEPHINE ST PIERRE RUFFIN P172

                                                    Read Part One HERE

In this post I will continue to focus on a woman named Josephine St Pierre Ruffin. She lived from 1842 - 1924. Josephine supported women's suffrage and in 1869, joined with Julia Ward Howe and Lucy Stone to form the American Woman Suffrage Association (ASWA) in Boston. Julia and Lucy also founded the New England Women's Club in 1868. Josephine became its first black member when she joined in the mid-1890's.

When Josephine's husband died in 1886, she used her financial security and organisational abilities to start the "Woman's Era," the first newspaper published by and for African American women. She served as the editor and publisher from 1890 - 1897. While promoting interracial activities. the "Woman's Era" called on black women to demand increased rights for people of their race.

In 1891, Josephine served as the first president of Boston Co-Worker's Club. And in 1894, she organised the Woman's Era Club, an advocacy group for black women.

In 1895, Josephine organised the National Federation of Afro-American Women with Julia O. Henson. She convened the First National Conference of the Coloured Women of America in Boston, which was attended by women from 42 black women's clubs from 14 states. 

Read Part One Hundred And Seventy-Three HERE