Lucy Stanton

Lucy Stanton Day Sessions (October 16, 1831 – February 18, 1910) was an American abolitionist and feminist She completed a Ladies Literary Course from Oberlin College in 1850.

Day's life was a testament to the many strong, resilient, and radical women that participated in the first wave of American feminism. Her passionate commitment to abolition especially connected her to her radical female predecessors, such as Angelina E. Grimké, who, as early as 1836, linked the abolition of slavery to the Christian duty of women.

Early life

Lucy Stanton was born free, the only child of Margaret and Samuel Stanton, on October 16, 1831. an abolitionist famous around Cleveland, Ohio, for his participation in the Underground Railroad. Stanton is noted as saying that John Brown would harbor as many as 13 runaway slaves in their house at any given time.

Education

In her youth, Stanton attended the Cleveland Free School, which was founded by John Brown and John Malvin for the education of African-American children. This degree differed from the B.A. offered to men in that it did not require foreign languages or higher mathematics. At Oberlin College, Stanton was very active in the Ladies' Literary Society and even became the first Black president of the Ladies' Literary Society. When she graduated from Oberlin, she was the first Black woman to receive a college degree. She was a member of the Chatham Vigilance Committee which was organized to prevent people from being sold or returned to slavery.

Stanton and Day had a daughter, Florence Day, born in 1858. Shortly after her birth, Day abandoned his wife and child, leaving for England. Stanton successfully received a divorce from Day in 1872. The club sought to promote the guidance and development of young African-American women.

Stanton died in Los Angeles, California, on February 18, 1910, at the age of 78 and was buried in Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery.