Mary Long Alderson

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Mary Long Alderson
Mary Long Alderson.jpg
Mary Long Alderson at the Montana WCTU, 1916
Born
Mary Long

(1860-06-19)June 19, 1860
South Weymouth, Massachusetts
DiedJanuary 7, 1940(1940-01-07) (aged 79)
Bozeman, Montana
NationalityAmerican
OccupationSuffragist, Clubwoman, Writer
Spouse(s)
Matthew William Alderson
​
​
(m. 1888; died in 1924)​

Mary Long Alderson (1860-1937) was an American suffragist, clubwoman, and writer.

Early life[]

Mary Long was born on June 19, 1860 in South Weymouth, Massachusetts to Eliza Regan and John E. Long.[1] She was raised in Boston and met prominent women such as Louisa May Alcott.[2] Mary was educated under the “Quincy Method” in Quincy, Massachusetts.[1]

Career[]

She worked as a teacher until 1887, when she met Matthew William Alderson (1855-1924).[2] The following year, she became his second wife.[2] The two were married in Braintree, Massachusetts and settled in Bozeman, Montana. They would eventually have three daughters.[1]

Journalist[]

Matt Alderson and his father published the Bozeman Avant Courier. Mary wrote for the Avant Courier, including editorial content, specifically advocating against corsets and long skirts.[3] She also wrote on botany, temperance, and women's suffrage.[4] In this position, she was one of the few female members of the Montana Press Association.[1] As a suffragette, Alderson also served as the editor of the WCTU Journal of Montana.[4]

Activist[]

Alderson attended the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. There, she heard suffragist speakers including Susan B. Anthony. Alderson returned to Bozeman eager to organize for women's right to vote. She led the charge for women's suffrage in Montana, and the state granted Montana women the right to vote in 1914.[1]

Alderson was an active clubwoman. She was a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), serving as president of the Montana chapter from 1913 to 1916.[2] She was the editor of the Montana WCTU Journal.[4] She was also a member of the "Montana State Housekeepers Society" and the "Bozeman Society for the Promotion of Physical Culture and Correct Dress". Alderson was the Montana chairwoman of driving force behind the "Floral Emblem Campaign"[3] which voted Lewisia rediviva, commonly known as the bitterroot, as the official state flower.[5]

In 1930, Alderson resigned from the WCTU. She continued to be an outspoken activist on issues such as child welfare, education, and labor laws.[4]

Death and legacy[]

Alderson died in Bozeman, Montana on January 7, 1940 at the age of 79.[1]

Her papers are part of the "Alderson Family Collection" housed at the Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections of the Montana State University Library.[6]

Selected publications[]

  • Alderson, Mary Long. n.d. Thirty-four years in the Montana Woman's Christian Temperance Union, 1896-1930.
  • Alderson, Mary Long. 1924. Matt W. Alderson, 1855-1924.
  • Alderson, Mary Long. 1902. Montana's floral emblem -- Lewisia rediviva. [U.S.]: Rocky Mountain Magazine.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Foster, Anne L. "Biographical Sketch of Mary Long Alderson". Biographical Database of NAWSA Suffragists, 1890-1920. Alexander Street Documents. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Schontzler, Gail. "Mary Long Alderson fought for women's freedom". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Phillips, Rachel. "Remarkable Bozeman Women". Bozeman Magazine. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Waring, Susan (1 February 2019). "Mary Long Alderson: Montana Woman Suffragist". Montana Senior News. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Public invited to join 'suffragette' at next Red Lodge lunch and learn". The Billings Gazette. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Alderson Family Collection, 1865-1939". Archives West. Retrieved 6 November 2019.

External links[]

Mary Long Alderson at Find a Grave

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