Thirteenth Congress of Women Program
1885

This program lists the agenda, costs, etc. of the 13th Congress of Women.  A letter from Julia Ward Howe, President, is on page 2, under "Topics for Discussion," and page 3 includes a list of officers.

The Association for the Advancement of Women was founded in 1873 and Julia Ward Howe, author of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” was among the founders.  Six of the women listed under officers carry M. D. with their names and Mary Livermore, author of “My Story of the War: A Woman’s Narrative of Four Years Personal Experience As Nurse in the Union Army, and in Relief Work at Home, in Hospitals, Camps, and at the Front, During the War of the Rebellion” was also an officer. 

Clara Barton was friendly with many leaders of the women’s movement, including Frances E. Willard and Julia Ward Howe.  After Howe's death, Barton wrote [the] “Tribute of Clara Barton to Julia Ward Howe” that was “Given at the Memorial Meeting held by the League for Political Education, at Hudson Theatre, New York November the twelfth 1910.”
Paper. H 16.9, W 15.0 cm
Clara Barton National Historic Site, CLBA 64

Transcript:

“A. A. W. Truth, Justice and Honor.
Thirteenth Congress of Women.
1885.

The Association for the Advancement of Women will hold their Thirteenth Congress in Des Moines, Iowa, October 7th, 8th and9th, in the Congregational Church, corner of Locust and Seventh Streets.

Executive Sessions at 10 o’clock A. M.  Public Sessions at 2:30 and at 8 o’clock P. M.  At Evening Sessions an admittance free of twenty-five cents will be charged.


Entertainment for officers and speakers during the Sessions of the Congress will be provided upon application to Mrs. Julia M. Hunting, 705 Eighteenth Street, Des Moines, Iowa.  All application should be made, if possible, before September 15th.

Board can be obtained at rates varying from $1.25 to $3.00 a day.”

Back:
:
“To the Members of the Association for the Advancement of Women.”
Dear Friends and Fellow-Members:

As years roll on, events seem to prove that the Association for the Advancement of Women has still much work to do, and many point in this vast country to reach with its influence.  New occasions for effort constantly arise, and we should endeavor to meet them with new energy, and in a spirit of hopefulness justifies by the results of our labor in the past.

We take pleasure in issuing this summons to another Annual Congress, which will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, October 7th, 8th and 9th, 1885.  We hope for a large attendance of members and an inspiring meeting.
Ella C. Lapham, Secretary.  Julia Ward Howe, President.”