Brief biographies of the figurines on display in ... - University Library

96
HARBERT
(Elizabeth Morrison Boynton)
MRS. WILLIAM S.
Elizabeth Boynton Harbert, daughter <strong>of</strong> William H.
and Abigail (Sweetser) Boynton, was born in Crawfordsville,
Indiana, in 1845. She was educated in <strong>the</strong> Female
Seminary at Oxford, Ohio, and in <strong>the</strong> Terre Haute Female
College, graduating from <strong>the</strong> latter with honors.
Mrs. Harbert was a pioneer suffragist, temperance
worker, lecturer, writer, and club woman. Her first book,
"The Golden Fleece," was published in 1867. In 1870,
Elizabeth married Judge William S. Harbert, a successful
lawyer. Three children were born to <strong>the</strong>m.
After <strong>the</strong>ir marriage <strong>the</strong>y lived in Des Moines, Iowa,
where Mrs. Harbert 's second book, "Out <strong>of</strong> Her Sphere,"
was published. During her residence here, Mrs. Harbert
earned <strong>the</strong> distinction <strong>of</strong> being <strong>the</strong> first woman to design
a woman's plank and secure its adoption by a great
political party <strong>of</strong> a state.
In <strong>the</strong> winter <strong>of</strong> 1874, Mr. and Mrs. Harbert moved
to Evanston, Illinois. Mrs. Harbert was founder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
Woman's Club <strong>of</strong> Evanston, and its president for eight
years. She was president <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Illinois Woman's
Suffrage Association for twelve years. As editor <strong>of</strong> a
department <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chicago Inter Ocean, she exerted a
widespread influence over many homes.
With Mrs. Ca<strong>the</strong>rine Waugh McCulloch and Mrs.
Helen M. Gougar, Mrs. Harbert came to Springfield
where <strong>the</strong>y addressed <strong>the</strong> House and Senate in favor <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> bill allowing <strong>the</strong> women <strong>of</strong> Illinois to vote upon
school questions, and secured <strong>the</strong> passage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bill.
Although filling so many important <strong>of</strong>fices, Mrs.
Harbert 's greatest pleasure was in her home and family.
Mrs. Harbert died in 1925.