Anna Dickinson
America’s Joan of Arc
1842-1932
Anna Elizabeth Dickson is one of the strongest but least remembered forces of the abolition of slavery as well as the women's rights movement during the 18th Century, her desires at a young age, her passion towards abolishing slavery, and her public speaking redefined the voice of women in a nation of men.
On October 28, 1842 an abolitionist hero was born. Anna Elizabeth Dickinson was one of kind. Born to two Quaker parents, Anna was the youngest of five children. Anna's father was an anti slavery abolitionist. At the age of 2, her father passed away of a heart condition after giving a passionate speech for anti-slavery. This left Anna and her family in poverty.
Anna began her public school education and was later sent to a boarding school. At this boarding school Anna was constantly striving for more. Anna would take on part time jobs in order to afford a book from the local store, when she was finished reading it, she would then sell it to a used bookstore and buy another. “Newspapers, speeches, tracts, history, biography, poetry novels, and fairy tales were all alike and read and relished” (biography). This thinking is just the beginning of what Anna Dickinson had in store for the future and her innovative ideas on anti-slavery and solutions that she would soon proclaim to hundreds of people.
At the age of 14, Anna wrote her first article on Anti-Slavery that was published in The Liberator newspaper. The Liberator was a famous anti-slavery newspaper published by famed abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. Anna was often recognized for the crowds that would attend her speeches and lectures, the number of people she could recruit to the cause, and the complete eloquence and beauty of her speeches and voice.
Anna’s passion is evident in her actions. As Anna’s career began to grow, people began to buy tickets for seats to hear her speak. Anna was again recognized in the Liberator for donating all her earnings of ten hundred and thirty dollars to the National Freedman's Relief Society.
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Donating money was not enough. In the future, after many of Anna’s other accomplishments, her carreer on the podium had fallen, but her passion had not. She began writing plays and books. "What Answer?" was Anna’s first book. This was the first book of its kind that revolved around an interracial couple. Anna’s passion never died.
Her first public speech was in 1860 on “Woman’s Rights and Wrongs”. The audience was astonished at her eloquence and from that day forth her name was known through many cities and towns. She traveled to various places speaking, inspiring, and converting many to the cause of anti-slavery. Many talk about Anna’s ability to hold the attention and awe of previously impatient audiences. "She managed to enchain the audience a little longer than any person who has ever held forth in that hall." -Norristown Herald
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Anna Elizabeth Dickinson’s lifetime achievement was before Congress and the President of the United States on January 16, 1864. On this day, Anna became the first woman to ever give a speech on the floor of Congress to the President. Anna was only 21 years old.
For such a well-spoken woman and one that holds a Congressional first, she is not mentioned in many history books. Anna was unable to keep the public on her side throughout her career. Being and abolitionist was not easy, it often ended with half for and half against your cause, leaving your future with many people who hate you. Unfortunately, when the public lost interest in her she became lost in herself and history.
Anna is an awe-inspiring woman. She was a woman that in a time of gender and racial inequality, she stepped forward and made a difference. Although Anna's career died off, she should be recognized in her accomplishments and they should not be disregarded. Anna is a voice lost in history, which needs to be heard.
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