Helen Augusta Whittier (1846–1925) was an American editor, lecturer, and clubwoman. She was a lecturer and teacher of art history, as well as business woman in the textile industry, being the first woman in

Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell () is a city in Massachusetts, United States. Alongside Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cambridge, it is one of two traditional county seat, seats of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middlesex County. With an estimated population of 115,554 in ...

to run a mill.

Early life and education

Helen Augusta Whittier was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on December 7, 1846. Her parents were Moses and Lucindia (Blood) Whittier. Helen's ancestors included Thomas Whittier, Aquila Chase,

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, and John Bridge. She was educated at Lowell High School and

Lasell Seminary Lasell University (LU) is a private university in Newton, Massachusetts, United States. It was founded in 1851 as a women's seminary. It became a college in 1932, a four-year institution in 1989, coeducational in 1997, and a university proper in ...

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Career

From 1888 until 1892, she was the treasurer of the Whittier Cotton Mills in Lowell, and in 1892–1901, served as president. The mill manufactured twine, cords, yarns, and wraps. In 1895, it employed about 250 people. In 1902–03, Whittier was a teacher of history of art at Bradford Academy. In 1903, in partnership with Mary Alden Ward, Whittier founded ''The Federation Bulletin'' (monthly), the official national organ of the

General Federation of Women's Clubs The General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), founded in 1890 during the Progressive Movement, is a federation of approximately 2,300 women's clubs in the United States which promote civic improvements through volunteer service. Community Serv ...

, and served as its editor and publisher, 1903–10. During the period of 1902–13, she was also the editor and publisher of ''The Federation Directory of Club Speakers'' (annual). Whittier was active in work of women's clubs since 1894. She was the founder and president (1897–1900) of the Middlesex Women's Club of Lowell (600 members). She served as president of Massachusetts State Federation of Women's Clubs, 1904–07; and was a member of its executive board, 1896–1909. She was a director of the New England Women's Club, 1912; State director of the Massachusetts Equal Suffrage Association; a member of the Ex Club of Boston, and a member of the

Daughters of the American Revolution The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (often abbreviated as DAR or NSDAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a patriot of the American Revolutionary War. A non-p ...

Personal life

Whittier never married. In religion, she was Unitarian. In politics, she was a Republican. Recreations Interested as an amateur in clay modeling and other lines of art work.

References

External links

Helen Augusta Whittier (1846 – 1925)
via University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Helen Augusta Whittier Album
via Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study {{DEFAULTSORT:Whittier, Helen Augusta 1846 births 1925 deaths People from Lowell, Massachusetts American magazine editors American magazine publishers (people) American book editors American book publishers (people) Women book publishers (people) American lecturers Educators from Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution people Clubwomen 19th-century American businesswomen 20th-century American businesswomen Lasell College alumni American textile industry businesspeople Burials at Lowell Cemetery (Lowell, Massachusetts)