Born: 1800 (Alexandria, Virginia)
Died: 1884
Biography:
Sarah Pugh (6 October 1800 – 1 August 1884) was an American abolitionist, activist, suffragist, and teacher. She was involved with promoting the free produce movement, including a boycott on sugar produced by slave labor. Pugh was a key leader of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society from its earliest days in 1835 until it closed in 1870. Along with Lucretia Mott, she was one of the delegates to the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London who were denied their seats because they were women.
Sarah Pugh was born in Alexandria, Virginia in 1800 to Jesse and Catherine (Jackson) Pugh. Raised in a Quaker family, Pugh’s grandfather was an active abolitionist. When her father passed away when she was three, her family relocated to Chester County, Pennsylvania, and a few years later to Philadelphia, where her mother and aunt established a dressmaking business. Pugh’s passion for education began at a young age, and at 12 years old, she attended Westtown Boarding School for two years.
In 1821, Pugh embarked on a career in teaching at the Friends School of the 12th Street Meeting. She remained there until 1828 when the Quakers split into factions. Pugh resigned her position, ultimately adopting a Unitarian belief. In 1829, along with her friend Rachel Peirce, Pugh started her own school, demonstrating her determination to provide education to those around her.
Pugh’s involvement in the abolitionist movement began in 1835, inspired by a speech given by George Thompson. At the time, women were present but not included as founders of the American Anti-Slavery Society, which was established in December 1833. To rectify this exclusion, the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society was created on December 9, 1833, by a group of 14 women, both white and Black, who wrote the Society’s founding constitution. Pugh joined the society in 1835 and became one of its most dedicated activists, remaining actively involved until the group ceased operation in 1870, following the ratification of the 15th Amendment.
For 35 years, Pugh tirelessly lectured, taught, organized, petitioned Congress, and fundraised in the fight against slavery. Although not a strategist, she took on a practical role and led the annual craft fair, which raised substantial funds for Pennsylvania’s abolitionists. Pugh’s commitment to the cause extended beyond the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society. She served as a delegate to the first meeting of the American Women’s Anti-Slavery Convention and was a member of the American Anti-Slavery Society, which was formed in Philadelphia in 1833. Additionally, she held the position of treasurer for the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society from 1843 to 1860.
In recognition of her dedication and contributions to the abolitionist movement, Sarah Pugh holds a significant place in women’s history. Her tireless efforts in organizing, educating, and fundraising were crucial in advancing the cause and bringing attention to the injustice of slavery. By being a leader in the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society, Pugh played an instrumental role in empowering women to actively participate in social reform movements. Her work laid the foundation for future generations of women activists and was a driving force in the fight for equality.