Born: November 7, 1874 (Nashville, Tennessee)
Died: December 13, 1969
Biography:
Nellie F. Griswold Francis (November 7, 1874 – December 13, 1969) was an African-American suffragist, civic leader, and civil rights activist. Francis played a significant role in the fight for women’s rights and racial equality in Minnesota during the early 20th century.
Francis was born on November 7, 1874, in Nashville, Tennessee. Her parents were Maggie Seay and Thomas Garrison Griswold, and she had a sister named Lula Griswold Chapman. Growing up, Francis was greatly influenced by her grandmother, Nellie Seay, who had been a house slave to Colonel Robert Allen, a Tennessee congressman. Her aunt, Juno Frankie Pierce, was also a prominent suffragist and civil rights activist.
The family moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1883, where Francis received her education. She attended the Knowles Street School, which was the first school in Nashville to employ African-American teachers. In 1891, she graduated from high school as the only African-American student among 84 graduating students. During her high school’s commencement, Francis delivered a passionate speech titled The Race Problem, which earned her second place for oratory.
Although Francis was offered scholarships for college and drama school, she opted to take a stenography course instead. In 1891, she began working as a stenographer at the Great Northern Railway and later with the Western Publishing Company. Alongside her career, Francis actively participated in community activism, advocacy, and performed in various theatrical productions.
In 1893, Francis married William T. Francis, whom she met while both working for a railway company. Together, they would become active participants in the civil rights movement and the fight for women’s suffrage.
Francis founded and led the Everywoman Suffrage Club, an African-American suffragist group that played a crucial role in securing women’s right to vote in Minnesota. The Everywoman Suffrage Club organized protests, demonstrations, and educational campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of suffrage for women of color. Their efforts, along with other suffragist groups, led to the passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1920.
Additionally, Francis initiated, drafted, and lobbied for the adoption of a state anti-lynching bill in Minnesota, which was signed into law in 1921. This legislation was a crucial step in combating racial violence and protecting the rights of African Americans in the state.
Francis’s dedication to civil rights and suffrage did not come without personal challenges. When she and her husband purchased a home in a predominantly white neighborhood, they became targets of a Ku Klux Klan terror campaign. Despite these threats and acts of violence, Francis remained steadfast in her fight for equality and justice.
In 1927, following her husband’s appointment as U.S. envoy to Liberia, Francis moved to Monrovia, Liberia. However, tragedy struck when her husband died of yellow fever in 1929. Despite this devastating loss, Francis continued her advocacy work in Liberia, promoting civil rights and supporting women’s empowerment initiatives.
For her remarkable contributions to women’s suffrage and civil rights, Nellie Griswold Francis is honored as one of 25 women at the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol. Her dedication, resilience, and leadership have left an indelible mark on the fight for equality and women’s rights.
Awards:
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