The Boston Women’s Memorial 2003
Commonwealth Ave Mall Meredith Bergman, sculptor Bronze / Stone
Commonwealth Ave Mall Meredith Bergman, sculptor Bronze / Stone
The Boston Women’s Memorial 2003: Lucy Stone(2003)
Commonwealth Ave Mall
Meredith Bergman, Sculptor
Bronze / Stone
Meredith Bergmans bronze and stone composition is the culmination of both artistic genius and historical truth.
LUCY STONE
(1818-1893) Born in Brookfield. She was one of the first Massachusetts women to graduate from college. She was an ardent Abolitionist, a renowned orator, and the founder of the women’s journal, the foremost women’s suffrage publication of its era. Taken from the Stone
Lucy Stone is synonymous with Women’s Suffrage. In this monument she is depicted as an intelligent, beautiful, contemplative, pondering bronze figure pondering the future of all women’s rights.
Lucy Stone dedicated her life to writing, working, and rabble-rousing for the rights of women. Her father paid his sons’ college tuition, but refused to pay his daughter’s. Stone worked for nine years as a domestic laborer and teacher to earn her college tuition, and attended Oberlin -- one of very few colleges in America that admitted women at the time. After two years at Oberlin, her father, impressed by her dedication, began paying her tuition.
With Lucretia Mott, she organized the first National Women’s Rights Convention, held in October 1850 in Worcester, MA. A speech delivered by Stone at the convention inspired Susan B. Anthony’s decision to dedicate herself to women’s rights. This speech led to the annual women’s rights conventions attended by more than a thousand women and helped spark the suffragette movement.
Her husband, Henry Brown Blackwell, was a well-known activist against slavery, and both Stone and Blackwell were actively involved with the American Anti-Slavery Society. Despite their marriage, Stone retained her maiden name, and is believed to be the first American woman to do so. Stone and Blackwell founded and edited Woman’s Journal, a weekly newsmagazine for the women’s rights movement, published by the American Women’s Suffrage Association, which Stone co-founded with Julia Ward Howe and others in 1869. She died in 1893, twenty-six years before women were granted the legal right to vote in America.
Commonwealth Ave Mall
Meredith Bergman, Sculptor
Bronze / Stone
Meredith Bergmans bronze and stone composition is the culmination of both artistic genius and historical truth.
LUCY STONE
(1818-1893) Born in Brookfield. She was one of the first Massachusetts women to graduate from college. She was an ardent Abolitionist, a renowned orator, and the founder of the women’s journal, the foremost women’s suffrage publication of its era. Taken from the Stone
Lucy Stone is synonymous with Women’s Suffrage. In this monument she is depicted as an intelligent, beautiful, contemplative, pondering bronze figure pondering the future of all women’s rights.
Lucy Stone dedicated her life to writing, working, and rabble-rousing for the rights of women. Her father paid his sons’ college tuition, but refused to pay his daughter’s. Stone worked for nine years as a domestic laborer and teacher to earn her college tuition, and attended Oberlin -- one of very few colleges in America that admitted women at the time. After two years at Oberlin, her father, impressed by her dedication, began paying her tuition.
With Lucretia Mott, she organized the first National Women’s Rights Convention, held in October 1850 in Worcester, MA. A speech delivered by Stone at the convention inspired Susan B. Anthony’s decision to dedicate herself to women’s rights. This speech led to the annual women’s rights conventions attended by more than a thousand women and helped spark the suffragette movement.
Her husband, Henry Brown Blackwell, was a well-known activist against slavery, and both Stone and Blackwell were actively involved with the American Anti-Slavery Society. Despite their marriage, Stone retained her maiden name, and is believed to be the first American woman to do so. Stone and Blackwell founded and edited Woman’s Journal, a weekly newsmagazine for the women’s rights movement, published by the American Women’s Suffrage Association, which Stone co-founded with Julia Ward Howe and others in 1869. She died in 1893, twenty-six years before women were granted the legal right to vote in America.
The Boston Women’s Memorial 2003: Abigail Adams
Commonwealth Ave Mall
Meredith Bergman, Sculpture
Bronze / Stone
(1744 -1818) Born In Weymouth, Massachusetts. She was the wife of the second president of the United States and the mother of the sixth. Her letters established her as a perspective social and political commentator and a strong voice for women’s advancement.
Taken from the Stone
Abigail Adams lived for home and country. Her steadfast convictions guided her to do right for her hus- band, state, and country, as well as rights for slaves and women. Her strength, intelligence, patriotism, fidelity and mindfulness exude from this bronze by Meredith Bergman, master sculptor.
“Dissipation,” was one of Abigail Adams favorite word. The time-wasting and unproductive amusements she witnessed in Paris and London were not part of Abi- gail’s life. She was a no-nonsense leader at home, whether in Europe or in Washington D.C.. On her only voyage to London, to be reunited with John Adams after three years of separation, she lead the crew of the ship in cleaning the ship from bow to stern, and re-educated the galley on how to cook a proper meal.
Abigail Adams (1744-1818) led a life of public service and devotion to family. She was an invaluable partner to America’s second president (so much so that she was called “Mrs. President”), and the educator of America’s sixth president. She maintained a volumi- nous correspondence during her lifetime that provides a unique window into political goings-on, war, leading citizens, daily life, and her personal relationships—and her strong opinions about all. As the writer Laurie Cart- er Noble describes, “Her letters show her to have been a woman of keen intelligence, resourceful, competent, self-sufficient, willful, vivacious, and opinionated—a formidable force. Her writing reveals a dedication to principle, a commitment to rights for women and for African Americans, fierce partisanship in matters of her husband’s and her family’s interest, and an irreverent sense of humor.”
Commonwealth Ave Mall
Meredith Bergman, Sculpture
Bronze / Stone
(1744 -1818) Born In Weymouth, Massachusetts. She was the wife of the second president of the United States and the mother of the sixth. Her letters established her as a perspective social and political commentator and a strong voice for women’s advancement.
Taken from the Stone
Abigail Adams lived for home and country. Her steadfast convictions guided her to do right for her hus- band, state, and country, as well as rights for slaves and women. Her strength, intelligence, patriotism, fidelity and mindfulness exude from this bronze by Meredith Bergman, master sculptor.
“Dissipation,” was one of Abigail Adams favorite word. The time-wasting and unproductive amusements she witnessed in Paris and London were not part of Abi- gail’s life. She was a no-nonsense leader at home, whether in Europe or in Washington D.C.. On her only voyage to London, to be reunited with John Adams after three years of separation, she lead the crew of the ship in cleaning the ship from bow to stern, and re-educated the galley on how to cook a proper meal.
Abigail Adams (1744-1818) led a life of public service and devotion to family. She was an invaluable partner to America’s second president (so much so that she was called “Mrs. President”), and the educator of America’s sixth president. She maintained a volumi- nous correspondence during her lifetime that provides a unique window into political goings-on, war, leading citizens, daily life, and her personal relationships—and her strong opinions about all. As the writer Laurie Cart- er Noble describes, “Her letters show her to have been a woman of keen intelligence, resourceful, competent, self-sufficient, willful, vivacious, and opinionated—a formidable force. Her writing reveals a dedication to principle, a commitment to rights for women and for African Americans, fierce partisanship in matters of her husband’s and her family’s interest, and an irreverent sense of humor.”
Abigail Smith was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, to the Reverend William Smith, the pastor of the
North Parish Congregational Church, and Elizabeth Quincy Smith. Both of her parents enjoyed high status in Wey-
mouth; they instilled in Abigail a sense of duty to those who were less fortunate, and a religious life that emphasized
morality and reason. Abigail often accompanied her mother on visits to the poor and the sick.
Abigail did not receive a formal education, which she always regretted with embarrassment, but she did read the books contained in her father’s library and throughout her life was a voracious reader. Her intellect and spirit caught the attention of an aspiring young lawyer named John Adams in 1759. His respect for her as an equal caught her attention. By 1762, Abigail and John were exchanging flirtatious letters. In 1764, they were married by Abigail’s father and moved to Braintree. Traveling from one district of Massachusetts to another to practice the law, John began to ride the circuit court and thus began the many years’ worth of separation the couple would endure during their marriage. In 1765, Abigail gave birth to their first child, a daughter, named for her mother but called “Nabby.”
Abigail gave birth to John Quincy Adams in 1767, and the following year the Adams family moved to Boston where John hoped to expand his law practice. The couple also became close to some of the men who were challenging Britain’s taxation policies and heavy-handedness. In 1770, when outnumbered British troops fired upon an unruly mob near the State House, the soldiers were arrested and John Adams made the unpopular decision to defend them. Abigail, his most trusted confidante, supported him. The troops were found innocent, and John’s ca- reer would now flourish. The family returned to Braintree briefly, but returned to Boston in 1772 where they were on hand to witness the aftermath of the “Boston Tea Party” in 1773.
...AND BY THE WAY IN THE NEW CODE OF LAWS WHICH I SUPPOSE IT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR YOU TO MAKE I DESIRE YOU WOULD REMEMBER THE LADIES AND BE MORE GENEROUS AND FAVORABLE TO THEM THAN YOUR ANCESTORS. DO NOT PUT SUCH UNLIMITED POWER INTO THE HANDS OF THE HUSBANDS REMEMBER ALL MEN WOULD BE TYRANTS IF THEY COULD IF PARTICULAR CARE AND ATTENTION IS NOT PAID TO THE LADIES WE ARE DETERMINED TO FOMENT A REBELLION AND WILL NOT HOLD OURSELVES BOUND BY ANY LAWS IN WHICH WE HAVE NO VOICE OR REPRESENTATION.
LETTER TO JOHN ADAMS MARCH 31, 1776
Taken from the Stone
Abigail did not receive a formal education, which she always regretted with embarrassment, but she did read the books contained in her father’s library and throughout her life was a voracious reader. Her intellect and spirit caught the attention of an aspiring young lawyer named John Adams in 1759. His respect for her as an equal caught her attention. By 1762, Abigail and John were exchanging flirtatious letters. In 1764, they were married by Abigail’s father and moved to Braintree. Traveling from one district of Massachusetts to another to practice the law, John began to ride the circuit court and thus began the many years’ worth of separation the couple would endure during their marriage. In 1765, Abigail gave birth to their first child, a daughter, named for her mother but called “Nabby.”
Abigail gave birth to John Quincy Adams in 1767, and the following year the Adams family moved to Boston where John hoped to expand his law practice. The couple also became close to some of the men who were challenging Britain’s taxation policies and heavy-handedness. In 1770, when outnumbered British troops fired upon an unruly mob near the State House, the soldiers were arrested and John Adams made the unpopular decision to defend them. Abigail, his most trusted confidante, supported him. The troops were found innocent, and John’s ca- reer would now flourish. The family returned to Braintree briefly, but returned to Boston in 1772 where they were on hand to witness the aftermath of the “Boston Tea Party” in 1773.
...AND BY THE WAY IN THE NEW CODE OF LAWS WHICH I SUPPOSE IT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR YOU TO MAKE I DESIRE YOU WOULD REMEMBER THE LADIES AND BE MORE GENEROUS AND FAVORABLE TO THEM THAN YOUR ANCESTORS. DO NOT PUT SUCH UNLIMITED POWER INTO THE HANDS OF THE HUSBANDS REMEMBER ALL MEN WOULD BE TYRANTS IF THEY COULD IF PARTICULAR CARE AND ATTENTION IS NOT PAID TO THE LADIES WE ARE DETERMINED TO FOMENT A REBELLION AND WILL NOT HOLD OURSELVES BOUND BY ANY LAWS IN WHICH WE HAVE NO VOICE OR REPRESENTATION.
LETTER TO JOHN ADAMS MARCH 31, 1776
Taken from the Stone
The Boston Women’s Memorial 2003: Phillis Wheatley
Commonwealth Ave Mall Meredith Bergman, Sculptor Bronze / Stone
Born in West Africa and sold as a slave from the ship “Phillis” in Colonial Boston, Phillis Wheatley (1753 - 1784) was a literary prodigy whose 1773 volume “Poem on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral” was the first book published by an African writer in America.
As a free black woman she was a mentor, breaking the old rules in order to build new ones, to inspire everyone, of any race or gender, to be more intellectually free.
She is also credited with originating the genres of African-American poetry and African-American wom- en’s literature. No one in America was willing to print her works, her first writings were published in London, England. Americans initially doubted that a slave woman could have written these poems, and so Wheatley was subjected to an interrogation by several prominent Bosto- nian men to determine whether she did indeed write them. They concluded that she did.
The statue is part of the Boston Women’s Memorial on Commonwealth Avenue, a series of three statues of Bostonian women by Meredith Bergmann: Wheatley, Abigail Adams and Lucy Stone. This poem, which gives a taste of her work, is inscribed on the memorial:
‘Imagination! Who can sing thy force? Or who describe the swiftness of thy course? Soaring through air to find the bright abode, Th’ empyreal palace of the thund’ring God, We on thy pinions can surpass the wind, And leave the rolling universe behind: From star to star the mental optics rove,
Commonwealth Ave Mall Meredith Bergman, Sculptor Bronze / Stone
Born in West Africa and sold as a slave from the ship “Phillis” in Colonial Boston, Phillis Wheatley (1753 - 1784) was a literary prodigy whose 1773 volume “Poem on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral” was the first book published by an African writer in America.
As a free black woman she was a mentor, breaking the old rules in order to build new ones, to inspire everyone, of any race or gender, to be more intellectually free.
She is also credited with originating the genres of African-American poetry and African-American wom- en’s literature. No one in America was willing to print her works, her first writings were published in London, England. Americans initially doubted that a slave woman could have written these poems, and so Wheatley was subjected to an interrogation by several prominent Bosto- nian men to determine whether she did indeed write them. They concluded that she did.
The statue is part of the Boston Women’s Memorial on Commonwealth Avenue, a series of three statues of Bostonian women by Meredith Bergmann: Wheatley, Abigail Adams and Lucy Stone. This poem, which gives a taste of her work, is inscribed on the memorial:
‘Imagination! Who can sing thy force? Or who describe the swiftness of thy course? Soaring through air to find the bright abode, Th’ empyreal palace of the thund’ring God, We on thy pinions can surpass the wind, And leave the rolling universe behind: From star to star the mental optics rove,
Measure the skies, and range the realms above.
There in one view we grasp the mighty whole,
Or with new worlds amaze th’ unbounded soul. ‘
Taken from the Stone
In July 1761, Mrs. Susanna Wheatley, the wife of a prosperous tailor with a large house on King Street, purchased a sickly eight-year-old African girl from Senegal who had been transported to Boston as a slave. By the time of her arrival, there were about 1,000 slaves in the town, whose total population was some 15,000 persons. The young girl took the name of Phillis Wheatley, and within two years she had learned English from the family with which she lived and worked.
"Boston Bronze and Stone Speak To Us" a guide book for Boston Monuments.
A talk by Joe Gallo At the University of Massachusetts Boston will be scheduled on May 12, 2015 Tuesday at 11:45 to 1:Pm
In July 1761, Mrs. Susanna Wheatley, the wife of a prosperous tailor with a large house on King Street, purchased a sickly eight-year-old African girl from Senegal who had been transported to Boston as a slave. By the time of her arrival, there were about 1,000 slaves in the town, whose total population was some 15,000 persons. The young girl took the name of Phillis Wheatley, and within two years she had learned English from the family with which she lived and worked.
"Boston Bronze and Stone Speak To Us" a guide book for Boston Monuments.
A talk by Joe Gallo At the University of Massachusetts Boston will be scheduled on May 12, 2015 Tuesday at 11:45 to 1:Pm
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