Born: 1828 (Chester, Pennsylvania)
Died: 1894 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Mary B. Thistlethwaite Birdsall was an American suffragette, temperance worker, and journalist. She was born in 1828 in Chester, Pennsylvania to English immigrants. Birdsall grew up on a farm near Richmond, Indiana, where she married Thomas Birdsall in 1848. The couple had three sons together.
Birdsall began her journalism career as the woman’s editor at the Indiana Farmer newspaper. In 1854, she purchased The Lily, a newspaper for women, from suffragist Amelia Bloomer and owned it for about five years. Birdsall played a significant role in organizing the second women’s rights convention in Indiana and was elected as the secretary for the newly-formed Indiana Woman’s Rights Association at the convention in 1852. The association was later renamed the Indiana Woman’s Suffrage Association (IWSA), and Birdsall eventually became its president.
In 1853, Birdsall served as a vice-president at the fourth National Women’s Rights Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. She was also one of the first three women to address the Indiana legislature in 1859. During her address, she presented a women’s rights petition and spoke for half an hour in support of women’s suffrage.
Despite facing obstacles and challenges, Birdsall was dedicated to fighting for women’s rights and played a crucial role in advocating for suffrage. Her contributions and leadership within the suffrage movement were instrumental in advancing the cause.
After a life dedicated to fighting for equality and justice, Birdsall passed away in Philadelphia in 1894. She was interred at Earlham Cemetery in Richmond. Her Richmond home, a model of progressive architecture inspired by Catherine Beecher, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
Throughout her life, Birdsall remained committed to the principles of suffrage and worked tirelessly to promote gender equality. Her dedication and contributions to the women’s rights movement continue to inspire generations of activists. Mary Birdsall’s legacy is significant in the history of women’s suffrage and her efforts played a crucial role in shaping society’s perception of women’s rights.