28 Facts About Mary Grew

Mary Grew was an American abolitionist and suffragist whose career spanned nearly the entire 19th century.

Mary Grew was a leader of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society and the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society.

Mary Grew was one of eight women delegates, all from the United States, who were denied their seats at the London World Anti-Slavery Convention, in 1840.

Mary Grew was a gifted public orator at a time when it was still noteworthy for women to speak in public.

Mary Grew's father was Henry Grew who was an abolitionist religious writer of strong opinions.

Mary Grew's father married four times; Mary's mother was his third wife, Kate Merrow.

In 1834, the family moved to Philadelphia, where Mary Grew joined the newly-formed Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society.

Mary Grew was a radical abolitionist, aligned with William Lloyd Garrison.

Mary Grew was an officer of both the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society and the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society.

Mary Grew traveled to England with her father, who was a delegate.

Mary Grew's father sided with the British organisers and spoke in favour of the men's right to exclude women, knowing that this would exclude Mary.

Back in Philadelphia, Mary Grew continued to excel as a writer and speaker for the cause.

Mary Grew frequently spoke alongside Sojourner Truth, both before the Civil War and after.

Mary Grew edited and co-edited the Pennsylvania Freeman, the state's abolitionist newspaper.

Mary Grew wrote the group's annual report each year; the reports, some as long as 100 pages, were published as pamphlets.

In 1870, when the group disbanded, Mary Grew wrote a retrospective on its 37 years of work.

Mary Grew, though committed to women's equality, was not at Seneca Falls in 1848.

That same year, Mary Grew lobbied the Pennsylvania legislature to pass the Married Women's Property Act.

Mary Grew was the founding president of the Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, and its head for 23 years.

Mary Grew was exasperated with those who demanded justification for women voting.

Mary Grew's accomplishments did not change her father's mind about women's equality.

Mary Grew's father demanded the floor, and ended up debating Lucretia Mott, during which he lauded the supremacy and authority of men.

Mary Grew died one month later; Margaret settled his affairs and she and Mary went on a tour of New England.

When Margaret died in 1891, Mary Grew received condolences like a widow.

Mary Grew became a member of the Unitarian church where she was able to occasionally preach.

Mary Grew preached at northern New England Free-will Baptists, Methodists and Congregational churches.

Mary Grew was one of the founders of the New Century Club, of Philadelphia.

Mary Grew appears as a character in Ain Gordon's 2013 play If She Stood.