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biography
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Avery, Mrs. Rachel Foster, woman suffragist, born in Pittsburgh, Pa., 30th December, 1858. Her father was J. Heron Foster, of the Pittsburgh "Dispatch."
Her mother was a native of Johnstown, N. Y., the birthplace of her Sunday school teacher and life-long friend, Elizabeth Cady Stanton. When Rachel was a child, Mrs. Stanton lectured in Pittsburgh. Shortly after, a suffrage meeting was held in
Mrs. Foster's house, and a society was formed of which she was made vice-president Thus the young girl grew up in an atmosphere of radicalism and advanced thought. That she is a woman suffragist comes not only from conviction, but by birth-right as well.
In 1871 the family, consisting of her mother, her sister, Julia T.. and herself, the father having died shortly before, moved to Philadelphia, where they at once identified themselves with the Citizens' Suffrage Association of that city, in which Lucretia Mott,
Edward M. Davis, M. Adeline Thompson and others were leading spirits. Her sister, Julia, was for many years a most efficient secretary of that society as well as recording secretary of the National Woman Suffrage Association, and seconded warmly the more active
work of her sister, Rachel G., as did also their mother, Mrs. Julia Foster. Both mother and sister have passed away, but their works live after them. When about seventeen years old. Miss Foster began to write for the newspapers, furnishing letters weekly from
California and afterward from Europe to the "Pittsburgh Leader." Later she took part in the Harvard examinations, traveled extensively in Europe with her mother and sister, and studied political economy in the University of Zurich. In the winter of 1879
she attended the eleventh Convention of the National Woman Suffrage Association, which determined her career. With characteristic promptitude she began to plan the series of conventions to be held in the West during the summer of 1880, including those at the
same times and places as the Republican and Democratic national nominating conventions. In the spring of 1881 she planned the series often conventions in the different New England States, beginning at Boston, during the May anniversary week.
In 1882 she conducted the Nebraska amendment campaign, with headquarters in Omaha. She engaged Gov. John W. Hoyt, of Wyoming, to give a lecture in Philadelphia on "The good results of thirteen years' experience of woman's voting in Wyoming Territory,"
had the lecture stenographically reported, collected the money to publish 20,000 copies, and scattered them broadcast over the State of Pennsylvania. The 22nd February, 1883, Miss Foster sailed for Europe with Miss Susan B. Anthony, and with her superior
linguistic attainments she served as ears and tongue for her companion in their journeyings through France, Italy. Switzerland and Germany. Miss Foster's management of the International Council of Women, held in Washington, D. C, in February, 1888,
under the auspices of the National Woman Suffrage Association, was the crowning effort of her executive genius. There were forty-nine official delegates to that council, representing fifty-three different societies from seven district nationalities.
The expense of this meeting made a grand total of fourteen-thousand dollars, the financial risk of which was beforehand assumed by Miss Anthony, supported by Miss Foster. Mrs. Foster Avery is a philanthropist in the broadest sense. Of her independent
fortune she also gives largely to numerour reforms and charities. Her marriage with Cyrus Miller Avery took place 8th November, 1888, Rev. Anna H. Shaw assisting in the ceremony. Mrs. Foster Avery holds the office of Corresponding Secretary of the
National Suffrage Association, and of the National and the International Councils of Women.
American Women, Fifteen Hundred Biographies, Vol. 1, Publ. 1897 Submitted by Marla Snow.
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