Mary Inez Stevens Wood

Mary Inez Wood (January 1, 1866 - 24 April 1945) was an American writer and leader in women's rights during the 20th century. She served in various important positions, such as the first president of the New Hampshire League of Women Voters and the Manager of Bureau of Information for the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Additionally, she was the author of the History of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Wood was described as "one of the most loved and respected women of New Hampshire" according to the Woman Citizen.

Biography Wood was born on January 18, 1866, in Woodstock, Vermont, as Mary Inez Stevens. Her parents were John L. Stevens and Jean Ainsworth (Brand) Stevens. Wood married George Albert Wood, son of James A. and Mary E. (Bowers) Wood on October 14, 1884, in Acworth, New Hampshire. She resided in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, until 1889, when she moved to West Medford, Massachusetts. Finally, she moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1898. The lives of her five children are recorded by the archives of the Portsmouth Athenaeum. Her first daughter was Helen M. Wood, born in 1886, and who married Gordon M. Campbell, the son of Robert S. Campbell and Margaret Gordon. Her first son was Albert James Wood, born in 1887 and married in 1914 to Edna Louise Wildner. Her second daughter was Mary Elizabeth Wood, born in 1888 in West Lebanon, NH, and married on June 29, 1915, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Robert Lawrence Lamont, son of Benjamin Lamont and Laura Worth. Her second son was Keith Ainsworth Wood, born in 1890. She had a fifth child but there are no records on the name or birth date, indicating that the child may have died young. Described on pages 402-10 of the History of Woman Suffrage Vol. VI 1900-1920, in January 1919, Wood testified three times before New Hampshire Congress in service to woman suffrage. Then, on September 10, 1919, Wood was the only speaker on behalf of the suffrage movement before the New Hampshire Senate as it voted to ratify the 19th Amendment, and she was successful.

According to the One Thousand New Hampshire Notables Wood held many positions:

Served on board of education of Medford Woman’s Club Auditor and chairman education committee President of local Consumers’ League Director at MA Consumers' League Member and president of Graffort (Women’s) Club in Portsmouth President Civic Assistant President of District Nursing Association in Portsmouth President of Woman’s Realty Company Vice-President of Portsmouth Charity Organization President of Women's Alliance of the Unitarian Church Superintendent of a Sunday School Member of the Portsmouth Board of Instruction Member and Vice President of NH Woman Suffrage Association President of NH Federation of Women’s Clubs Secretary for the General Federation of Women’s Clubs Manager of Bureau of Information of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs Member of NH state board of Charities and Corrections Chairman NH Division of Woman’s Committee on the National Council of Defense Director of Home Economics for NH under the Federal Food Administration

In 1919, Wood created and headed the School for Citizenship at New Hampshire College (NHC), now the University of New Hampshire. Wood acted as the Parliamentarian at the School for Citizenship at NHC and opened the first session with a speech championing the cause of the school and the unique viewpoints and talents of women.