On the World Stage
The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair, provided Latter-day Saints with an opportunity to share their stories and talents with the world. Held in conjunction with the World’s Fair was a week-long convention called the World’s Congress of Representative Women. Several Latter-day Saint women participated in the convention.
Emily Sophia Tanner Richards (1850–1929) represented Utah at national and international women’s meetings. When Susan B. Anthony visited Utah in 1895, Emily and her husband, Franklin, hosted a reception for her at their Salt Lake City home. At the Chicago World’s Fair, Emily was the hostess in charge at the Utah building. She also spoke at the World’s Congress of Representative Women.
Anstis Elmina Shepard Taylor (1830–1904) was the first General President of what is today the Young Women organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1893 she attended the World’s Congress of Representative Women, held in concurrence with the World’s Fair in Chicago.
Utahns at Chicago World’s Fair, 1893, standing around the Brigham Young statue in front of the Utah building. Emily S. Richards is number eight in the photograph (fifth from right).
Chicago World’s Fair Tickets, 1893. The most common type of ticket issued for the World’s Fair was the daily ticket, which cost 50 cents. A children’s ticket (for ages 6–12) cost 25 cents until October, when the children’s price was dropped to 10 cents. Four types of souvenir tickets were issued, featuring an American Indian, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Christopher Columbus. (Children’s ticket and souvenir tickets courtesy of Keith Beavers.)
Crazy Quilt, Emma Green Bull, 1893. Emma Green Bull (1828–55) made this crazy quilt for the 1893 World’s Fair. It features embroidered Utah landmarks as well as flora and fauna unique to the western region. (Courtesy of the Utah State Historical Society.)