Frances Dana Barker Gage

1808-1884

Through her readings she developed an interest in reform issues and under the name "Aunt Fanny"; she wrote for the Ladies' Department of the Ohio Cultivator. She also began lecturing, building some local notoriety. In 1850, she organized the first Ohio women's rights convention, from which a petition was put forward to the Ohio state legislature to omit the words white and male from the new state constitution. In 1852, she presided over a statewide feminist convention, and in 1853, a national women's rights convention in Cleveland. She became associate editor of the Ohio Cultivator, when she moved to Columbus, Ohio, where she fought for property rights for women. When the Gages moved to Missouri, Frances contributed pieces to various newspapers and collaborated with Stanton and Anthony on women's rights issues. Gage worked to help freed slaves during and after the Civil War and continued her work for women's rights.

Source: Biographies Plus, American Reformers (1985)