Frances E. Willard, a long-time resident of Evanston, was one of the most prominent social reformers of the 19th century and a major influence in America’s long history of social justice and activism. Best known as president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, she was also a leading activist in women’s suffrage, women’s economic and religious rights, education reform, labor reform, and prison reform. Under her leadership, the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union increasingly embraced broad social and political change through her “Do Everything” policy. She was also the first Dean of the Woman’s College of Northwestern University and president of Alpha Phi Fraternity. The Willard family built this home in 1865. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in November 1874 after growing out of the Woman’s Crusade of the winter of 1873-1874. Inspired by a lecture by Dr. Dio Lewis, groups in Fredonia, New York, and in Hillsboro and Washington Court House, Ohio, began nonviolent protests against the dangers of alcohol, with women praying at local saloons and demanding that liquor sales stop. Within six months, women had demonstrated in 911 communities and discovered the power of united action. At the founding meeting in Cleveland, Annie Turner Wittenmyer was elected president, Frances E. Willard corresponding secretary, Mary Johnson recording secretary, and Mary Ingham treasurer. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union is the oldest voluntary, non-sectarian woman’s organization in continuous existence in the world. It was a founding member of the National Council for Women in 1888, with Frances Willard as its first president, and of the International Council of Women in 1893, and it was also a charter member of the United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations in 1945.
