Suffrage and the Relief Society

As one of the largest religious women’s organizations in the world, the Relief Society was invited by national suffrage leaders to participate in national and international councils devoted to achieving woman’s suffrage. Relief Society leaders spoke out as delegates at conventions and councils all over the United States and spoke to international audiences. Relief Society leaders and other prominent sisters promoted ideas of suffrage and equal rights in the Woman’s Exponent and as they traveled around western North America to fulfill their Church callings. They were supported in their efforts by each other and the communities they visited.

The Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association and the Primary organization were also involved in suffrage efforts. Utah women worked as suffragists, politicians, writers, editors, doctors, board members, business owners, and pioneers of home industry, all in addition to their religious responsibilities and charitable work. A major goal of the suffrage movement was to increase the standard of living for women, which aligned with the Relief Society’s goal to provide charity and relief.

Publications

Woman’s Exponent

The Woman’s Exponent was a privately published newspaper written for the women of the Church. The paper was conceived to be a platform for women to write about issues and topics that were important to them and focused heavily on suffrage and women’s rights.¹ Louisa Lula Greene was recruited to be its first editor; Emmeline B. Wells joined Greene as coeditor in 1875 and became sole editor in 1877. She was later assisted by Annie Wells Cannon, who became the assistant editor in 1905. Both women held those positions until the paper ended publication in 1914 and was replaced by The Relief Society Magazine. The Woman’s Exponent was indexed in the 1970s to assist with research.

The Relief Society Magazine

The Relief Society Magazine was the official publication of the Relief Society from 1914 to 1970. It focused on issues important to women and continued the Exponent’s trajectory of content written by women for women to unite and inspire. The collection is held by the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University and hosted digitally on the Internet Archive.

National Council of Women files, 1903–1956

Published documents related to the Relief Society’s involvement in the National Council of Women.

Utah Woman Suffrage Song Book

This song book was published by the Woman’s Exponent and contains songs, poems, and other inspiration about suffrage, freedom, and religion.

The First Fifty Years of Relief Society

This book was published in 2016 and contains a collection of original documents compiled by Kate Holbrook, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Jill Mulvay Derr, and Matthew J. Grow. This volume relates the history of the Relief Society in the 19th century, covering the years 1842 to 1892. Part 3, chapter 14 focuses on the women’s suffrage movement. Part 4, chapter 15 focuses on the “Mormon” Women’s Protest, written in 1886 in appeal to the federal government.

The Diaries of Emmeline B. Wells

In 2020, the diaries of Emmeline B. Wells were transcribed and added to the Church Historian’s Press. This website includes information about the Woman’s Exponent and a copy of film footage of Emmeline B. Wells.

Meeting Minutes

Woman’s Suffrage Association minutes, 1890–1891, 1894–1895

This record contains minutes of suffrage meetings in Glenwood, Utah, as well as some notes from Relief Society and Mother’s Class meetings.

Woman’s Suffrage Association (Farmington, Utah) minutes 1892–1895

Contains minutes of suffrage meetings held in Farmington, Utah, including remarks by Zina D. H. Young.

Woman Suffrage Association of Utah (Salt Lake County) treasurer's record, 1890–1896

Contains minutes of suffrage meetings held in various Relief Societies in Salt Lake City, Utah, including lists of members and dues.

Personal Papers and Journals

Zina D. H. Young diaries, 1844–1845; 1886 and 1889

Zina Diantha Huntington Young served as the third Relief Society General President. This collection contains her diaries. Early entries focus on her time in Nauvoo, while later entries discuss her activities with the Relief Society and the suffrage movement.

Susa Young Gates papers, circa 1870–1933

This comprehensive collection of papers, documents, letters, journals, and other files and ephemera represents the life and service of Susa Young Gates. Gates founded The Relief Society Magazine and the Young Woman’s Journal and was a key participant in the suffrage movement. The collection includes correspondence between Gates and other suffrage leaders and officers of the International Council of Women and the National Council of Women.