Helen Augusta Howard

Helen Augusta Howard (May 11, 1865 – June 10, 1934) was an American suffragist and philanthropist. Howard was born in Columbus, Georgia, and was one of the founding members of the Georgia Woman Suffrage Association (GWSA).

Early life and education Howard was born on May 11, 1865, in Columbus, Georgia, and was one of fifteen siblings. Howard was the youngest child and grew up on the family home, Sherwood Hall (their antebellum home). Howard's father died when she has younger so her mother had difficulties paying for the taxes on Sherwood Hall. She studied for two years in Staunton, Virginia, and was interested in the writings of John Stuart Mill.

Activism In 1890, Miss Howard, her mother, and her sisters organized the Georgia Woman Suffrage Association (GWSA). The purpose of the association was to make people more aware of the inequality in voting practices and not to directly affect legislation. The women of the group did not see themselves as a political group. Two main arguments for suffrage the women used were (1) women are taxed therefore they should be represented and (2) democracy derives its power from those who are governed and women are governed. In 1894, Howard spoke at the National Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in Washington, D.C., and convinced the delegates to have the next convention in Atlanta. She became an embarrassment to the more conservative members of her family and her brothers eventually cut off money to Howard.

Later life and death In 1920, Howard apparently accidentally shot a boy trespassing on Sherwood Hall and the boy was hospitalized and eventually recovered. However, Howard was charged for intent to murder. Howard's attorney was Viola Ross Napier, one of the first women to practice law in Georgia. Nevertheless, Howard was sentenced to prison for a term of one to two years. Howard's brothers fought to have her sentence commuted and Governor Thomas Hardwick pardoned Howard on December 2, 1921. Soon after, Howard moved to New York City.

Howard died on June 10, 1934, in New York City. Her body was buried in her home town of Columbus, Georgia at Linwood Cemetery. Her tombstone, erected by friends, reads "Altruist, Artist, Philosopher, and Philanthropist" under her name and "MARTYRED" in very large letters at the bottom.