Born: 1814 (Bristol, New York)
Died: 1909
Biography:
Emily Parmely Collins (née Parmely; after first marriage Peltier; after second marriage Collins; pen name Justitia; August 11, 1814 April 14, 1909) was an American woman suffragist, women’s rights activist, and writer of the long nineteenth century. She was the first woman in the United States to establish a society focused on woman suffrage and women’s rights, in South Bristol, New York, in 1848. Collins played a pivotal role in advocating for women’s rights and was an early participant in the abolitionism and temperance movements. Her dedication to women’s educational, industrial, and political rights paved the way for future generations of women seeking equality.
Emily Parmely was born on August 11, 1814, in Bristol, New York, to James Parmely and Lydia Robbins Donelson. Her parents were early settlers of the Genesee Country, and her father fought in the Revolutionary War as part of the 9th Connecticut Regiment. As a child, Emily was introspective and preferred the company of her pets and books. She developed a love for reading, with a particular interest in history and poetry.
At the age of 16, Collins became a teacher in district number 11 in Burbee Hollow, Bristol, New York. It was uncommon at the time for women to receive equal pay as male teachers, but Collins successfully negotiated for a salary equal to her male counterparts. This early experience of advocating for fair treatment set the stage for her future work in women’s rights.
In 1832, Collins moved to Michigan and taught in a log schoolhouse near Port Huron. It was during this time that she married Charles Peltier, a merchant, on January 8, 1835. They settled in Detroit, where Charles worked as the Post Trader at Fort Gratiot and later served as Comptroller and Justice of the Peace. Together, they had one son, Pierre Desnoyers Peltier, who became a prominent physician. Unfortunately, Charles passed away in Detroit, leaving Collins a widow.
In 1841, Collins remarried Simri Bradley Collins, the son of Rev. Naron Coobe Collins, D.D. They had one son, Emmett Burke Collins. In 1848, Collins returned to Bristol, New York, and attended the Seneca Falls Convention in July. Inspired by the convention, she organized the first woman suffrage society in the world, known as the Woman’s Equal Rights Union or the Equal Suffrage Society. Collins sent the first petition to the legislature, advocating for women’s rights and suffrage.
Collins and her family later moved to Rochester, New York, where they resided from 1858 to 1869. During this time, she actively participated in the Unitarian church and continued her advocacy for women’s rights. Collins believed that the full development of a woman’s capacities was essential for the well-being of humanity. She used her writing skills and voice in the press to promote women’s educational, industrial, and political rights.
Throughout her life, Emily Parmely Collins dedicated herself to the advancement of women’s rights. She was a trailblazer in the suffrage movement, organizing the first society focused on women’s rights in the United States. Her efforts laid the foundation for future activists, and her commitment to equality and justice is an enduring legacy of her contributions to women’s history.