Madeline McDowell Breckinridge

Madeline McDowell Breckinridge, also known as Madge Breckinridge and Mrs. Desha Breckinridge (born May 20, 1872 – died November 25, 1920) was an American reformer and social activist, leader of the women’s suffrage movement and one of Kentucky's leading Progressive reformers.

Biography

Early life

Madeline McDowell was born in Woodlake, Kentucky and grew up at Ashland, the farm established by her great-grandfather, Henry Clay. She was a cousin of Dr. Ephraim McDowell and American Civil War Union General Irvin McDowell. Coming from such a distinctive family, she was raised in the spirit of emancipation and social justice.

She received her education in Lexington, Kentucky, and at Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut. After that she studied from 1890 to 1894 at the State College (now University) of Kentucky. In 1898 Madeline McDowell married Desha Breckinridge, the editor of the Lexington Herald and a brother of the pioneering social worker Sophonisba Breckinridge. Desha Breckinridge came from a notable American family whose members include John C. Breckinridge and Bunny Breckinridge.

Career

In 1908 Breckinridge became chairman of the Kentucky Federation of Women’s Clubs, staying on that duty until 1912. She successfully lobbied for allowing women to vote in Kentucky school board elections, and helped secure legislation to create a state library commission and a forestry commission.

Breckinridge suffered from tuberculosis, and on that account decided to found an association that would gather people with similar problems. In 1912, she helped found the Kentucky Tuberculosis Commission, and was the group’s vice president until 1916. The Blue Grass tuberculosis sanatorium was opened greatly due to her efforts.

Kentucky Equal Rights Association

In 1912, Breckinridge became president of the Kentucky Equal Rights Association (KERA) succeeding on that duty her cousin, Laura Clay, who founded the organization. The Association became Kentucky’s leading suffrage organization, advocating for women’s right to vote.

By mid-1910s, KERA membership reached 10,522 and organizations existed in 119 of the 120 Kentucky Counties. In 1914, Madeline Breckinridge and Laura Clay spoke in front of the Kentucky Legislation, introducing a suffrage amendment. The attempt failed; however they become first women to address a joint session of the Kentucky Legislature. She carried the duty of KERA’s president until 1915, and again from 1919 to 1920.

During the World War I it became increasingly difficult for women to propagate their cause, as the eyes of the nation were focused on the war. Suffrage members thus increased their effort to re-evoke the interest in women’s rights. Breckinridge traveled across the American South, giving series of speeches in all major cities there.

Other involvement

From 1913 to 1915 Breckinridge served as vice president of the National Woman Suffrage Association. About the same time, she founded a social settlement in Proctor, Kentucky, similar to Chicago’s Hull House, advocated to establish playgrounds and kindergartens, and spoke out against child labor.

Breckinridge was a vocal supporter of the newly formed League of Nations.

Later life

After a long battle for the right to vote, on May 21, 1919, the House of Representatives passed the amendment by a vote of 304 to 89, and 2 weeks later on June 4, the Senate finally followed, where the amendment passed 48 to 47. The document became known as the Nineteenth Amendment, which allowed women the right to vote under official constitutional protection. It was ratified on August 18, 1920.

Madeline Breckinridge died in Lexington, Kentucky on November 25, 1920. She had no children.

Legacy

Madeline McDowell Breckinridge was one of the leaders of suffrage movement in United States. She was a vocal advocate of women’s rights, and fought for child welfare and different health issues. It is said that she was an eloquent speaker, who gave numerous speeches for the cause. Her fight for woman’s rights to vote resulted in Nineteenth Amendment, which was ratified just before her death in 1920. Her work influenced change in child labor laws and state juvenile court system. The tuberculosis sanitarium, the park system in Lexington, Kentucky and the settlement house in Proctor, Kentucky, are also results of her work.

Publications

• Breckinridge, Madeline M. 1905. A mother's sphere. New York: National Woman Suffrage Pub. Co.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Baker, Jean H. 2002. Votes for Women: The Struggle for Suffrage Revisited. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195130170
• Bolin, James Duane. 2000. Bossism and Reform in a Southern City: Lexington, Kentucky, 1880-1940. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813121507
• Breckinridge, Sophonisba. 1921. Madeline Mcdowell Breckinridge. Retrieved on June 23, 2007, <http://www.archive.org/details/MadelineMcdowellBreckinridge>
• Harrison, Lowell H. & James C. Klotter. 1997. A New History of Kentucky. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 081312008X
• Madeline McDowell Breckinridge. On Spartacus Schoolnet, <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk>. Retrieved on June 23, 2007, <http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAWbreckinridgeM.htm>
• Madeline McDowell Breckinridge. On Women in Kentucky, <http://www.womeninkentucky.com>. Retrieved on June 23, 2007,

<http://www.womeninkentucky.com/site/reform/m_breckinridge.html>

• Wheeler, Marjorie S. 1995. One Woman One Vote: Rediscovering the Woman Suffrage Movement. NewSage Press. ISBN 0939165260

External Links

• Ashland – The Henry Clay home - Information on her childhood home Retrieved June 23, 2007.
• Breckinridge family papers – Registrar of Breckinridge family papers at the Library of Congress Retrieved June 23, 2007.
• Famous Kentuckians – Biographies of some famous people from Kentucky Retrieved June 23, 2007.
• Madeline McDowell Breckinridge – Biography at Women in Kentucky Retrieved June 23, 2007.
• My Old Kentucky Home – Song written by Breckinridge in celebration of Kentucky women gaining the right to vote Retrieved June 23, 2007.
• The road to vote – History of Woman’s Suffrage Movement in Kentucky Retrieved June 23, 2007.

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