Catherine Warner Address
Good Morning and Happy Birthday to The Woman’s Club of Louisville members and guests- I am Catherine Warner the great, great, great granddaughter of Susan Look Avery. (I affectionately call her Gran). It is such a privilege for our family to be here today, so I thank the Woman’s Club of Louisville for inviting us to participate in this important event. What an amazing honor for us, to have a marker spotlighting Susan’s work in the women’s suffrage movement. Especially here at The Woman’s Club of Louisville, which she and her friends founded 129 years ago, this month.
I can just imagine her hosting those first few meetings of the American Woman Suffrage Association, being held in her living room in 1881 (at the age of 64), along with friends such as Lucy Stone, Henry Blackwell, Susan B Anthony, and others. According to the National Women’s History Museum, only 3% of content in textbooks focuses on women. And this is why the National Votes for Women Trail is so important. So far there are 800 historical sites like this one in 34 states- we are so proud to have this one on Kentucky. (The first for women's suffrage)
It is often said that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. It is my hope that we can all continue to uphold the legacy and ideals of my Gran. Even now in 2019, 138 years after the formation of the American Woman Suffrage Association, there is still a need for woman’s advocacy. In this way, those who come after us will stand on our shoulders and continue what Susan Avery started.
In closing, thank you to the National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites, The National Votes for Women Trail, The William Pomeroy Foundation, The Woman’s Club of Louisville and of course my Gran, Susan Look Avery for this beautiful marker commemorating her work.
As Susan herself said in a letter to the club members in March 1908 at age 90: “I am immeasurably proud of this Club! Of its history and it’s work! As I believe, women have just entered in the work, which Divinity planned for them in the beginning: equal opportunities and co-operation with men in promoting the highest civilization. May this club long continue- a blessing to itself, to our City and to the world.” I hope we can ALL continue to make you proud Gran.
Thank you so very much for having me and enjoy rest of your afternoon!
I can just imagine her hosting those first few meetings of the American Woman Suffrage Association, being held in her living room in 1881 (at the age of 64), along with friends such as Lucy Stone, Henry Blackwell, Susan B Anthony, and others. According to the National Women’s History Museum, only 3% of content in textbooks focuses on women. And this is why the National Votes for Women Trail is so important. So far there are 800 historical sites like this one in 34 states- we are so proud to have this one on Kentucky. (The first for women's suffrage)
It is often said that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. It is my hope that we can all continue to uphold the legacy and ideals of my Gran. Even now in 2019, 138 years after the formation of the American Woman Suffrage Association, there is still a need for woman’s advocacy. In this way, those who come after us will stand on our shoulders and continue what Susan Avery started.
In closing, thank you to the National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites, The National Votes for Women Trail, The William Pomeroy Foundation, The Woman’s Club of Louisville and of course my Gran, Susan Look Avery for this beautiful marker commemorating her work.
As Susan herself said in a letter to the club members in March 1908 at age 90: “I am immeasurably proud of this Club! Of its history and it’s work! As I believe, women have just entered in the work, which Divinity planned for them in the beginning: equal opportunities and co-operation with men in promoting the highest civilization. May this club long continue- a blessing to itself, to our City and to the world.” I hope we can ALL continue to make you proud Gran.
Thank you so very much for having me and enjoy rest of your afternoon!