Grace Julian Clarke

Grace Julian Clarke (September 1865 – June 18, 1938) was a clubwoman, women's suffrage activist, newspaper journalist, and author from Indiana. As the daughter of George Washington Julian and the granddaughter of Joshua Reed Giddings, both of whom were abolitionists and members of the U.S. Congress, Clarke's family exposed her to social reform issues at an early age. She is credited with reviving the women's suffrage movement in Indiana, where she was especially active in the national campaign for women's suffrage in the early twentieth century. She is best known for founding and leading the Indiana State Federation of Women's Clubs, the Legislative Council, and the Woman's Franchise League of Indiana (an affiliate of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and the predecessor to the League of Women Voters of Indiana). Clarke was the author of three books related to her father's life, and was a columnist for the Indianapolis Star from 1911 to 1929.

Early life and education Grace Giddings Julian was born on September 11, 1865, in Centerville, Wayne County, Indiana. She was the first of two children and the only daughter of George Washington Julian and his second wife, Laura Giddings Julian. Grace also had three older half-brothers. Her father, whose family came to Irvington, Indian,a from North Carolina, was an abolitionist, a U.S. congressman, and a social reformer who introduced the first federal suffrage amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1868. Grace retained close ties to her father throughout her life. He died in 1899. Grace's mother was the daughter of Joshua Reed Giddings, an abolitionist and a U.S. congressman from Ohio.

Grace grew up in Washington, D.C., where her father served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives until 1871. The family moved to Irvington, a suburban community east of downtown Indianapolis, in 1873. Grace resided in Irvington for the remainder of her life. She attended Mount Zion School and Butler University's preparatory school, which was located in Irvington at that time. Grace continued her education at Butler University, earning an undergraduate degree in 1884 and a master's degree in 1885. Grace was a member of a Unitarian congregation in Indianapolis.

Marriage and family Grace married Charles B. Clarke, an attorney, on September 11, 1887. Clarke, a Democrat, was a former U.S. deputy surveyor in the New Mexico Territory. He served in the Indiana Senate in 1913 and 1915. The couple had no children.

Career Women's suffrage advocate Grace was an advocate in the women's suffrage movement, especially women's club activities, and active in several women's organizations in Indiana. She was most involved in founding and leading the Indiana State Federation of Women's Clubs, the Woman's Franchise League, and the Legislative Council. In 1892, Clarke formed the Irvington Women's Club, a local literary group, and served as its president. In the aftermath of women gaining the vote, Clarke contributed a column for the Indianapolis Star representing the Democratic perspective and travelled the state speaking about the Democratic party and for its positions and candidates.

In her later years Clarke became a peace activist and was interested in international affairs and an ardent Democrat. She was a member of the national committee of the League to Enforce Peace and a member of the American Peace Society. In 1920 Clarke chaired Indiana's committee of Pro-League Independents. She also gave lectures in support of the League of Nations and received criticism for her public support of this unpopular idea.

Published works Books Later Speeches on Political Questions: With Select Controversial Papers (Indianapolis: Carlon and Hollenbeck, 1889) George W. Julian: Some Impressions (Indianapolis: C. E. Hollenbeck Press, 1902) George W. Julian (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Commission, 1923)

Selected articles "Andrew Hoover Comes to Indiana", Indiana Magazine of History, XXXV (December 1928), 223–41 "A Letter of Dr. Gamaliel Bailey to Joshua R. Giddings", Indiana Magazine of History, XXXV (March 1930), 43–46 "A Letter of Daniel Worth to George W. Julian and Other Documents," Indiana Magazine of History, XXVI, (June, 1930), 152–57. "The Burnt District", Indiana Magazine of History, XXVII, (June 1931), 119–24. "Isaac Hoover Julian", Indiana Magazine of History, XXVIII (March 1932), 9–20. "Home Letters of George W. Julian, 1850–1851: Forward", Indiana Magazine of History, XXIX, (June 1933), 130–63.