Elizabeth Bancroft Schlesinger

Elizabeth Bancroft Schlesinger (July 3, 1886 – June 3, 1977) was an American suffragist, civic leader, feminist, and pioneer in the field of women's history.

Early years and family Elizabeth Bancroft Schlesinger was born in Columbus, Ohio to Clara Weilnman Bancroft and Arthur Bancroft. She was the eldest of three children. Her siblings were Clara L. Bancroft (1888-1903) and William H. Bancroft (1891-??). Clara Weilnman Bancroft and Arthur Bancroft divorced when the children were young, and Clara Weilnman Bancroft began working for the Veterans Bureau, first in Columbus, Ohio, and later in Washington D.C.

Education Elizabeth Bancroft Schlesinger graduated from Ohio State University in 1910. She was active in student life at Ohio State University participating in the Glee Club, the Y.W.C.A Cabinet, the Lantern (school newspaper), History Club, Pi Beta Phi and serving as a board member for the Makio (university yearbook). She intermittently taught in a one-room country school to support herself during college. After graduating, she began teaching History and English in Central High School, Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1914 she left teaching to marry Arthur M. Schlesinger, who she had met during college. They had two sons, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr and Thomas Bancroft. The family lived in Columbus, Ohio until 1919 when they moved to Iowa so that Arthur M. Schlesinger could assume a position at the State University of Iowa. In 1924 they settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts where Arthur M. Schlesinger was appointed professor of history at Harvard.

Civic engagement and writing Elizabeth Bancroft Schlesinger was active in many civic organizations focused on women's rights and teaching. While living in Columbus, Ohio, she was active in the Franklin County Suffrage Association and the General Federation of Women's Clubs. In 1916, she also served as North-side Vice President in the Columbus Housewives League, which organized to fight the high cost of food staples like butter, eggs, and meat.

In Cambridge, Massachusetts, Elizabeth Bancroft Schlesinger was part of the Cambridge League of Women Voters in the post of Chairman of the Committee on Education and served on the boards of the Cambridge Public Library and the American Association of University Women of Boston. The U.S. Office of Education appointed Elizabeth Bancroft Schlesinger to a committee to interview teachers who applied to teach abroad. Elizabeth Bancroft Schlesinger also regularly contributed papers to the Women's Archives seminars on women's history and to the Mother's Study Club. Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. attributed his mother as a strong influence on the political views and historical work of Arthur M. Schlesinger Sr. who is noted as one of the first scholars "to draw the attention of the historical profession and the public to "The Role of Women in American History."" A small collection of Elizabeth Bancroft Schlesinger's papers is held at the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America.