In honor of California’s centennial of woman’s suffrage (the
referendum took place Oct. 10, 1911), I wrote last time about
Gilroy’s Sarah Severance, who lobbied for it.
In honor of California’s centennial of woman’s suffrage (the referendum took place Oct. 10, 1911), I wrote last time about Gilroy’s Sarah Severance, who lobbied for it.
This time, I’d like to write about Sarah Massey Overton, another suffragist with a Gilroy connection. Born in Massachusetts in 1850, her family moved to Gilroy when she was still young. The family later relocated to San Jose, and she married in 1869.
An African-American, Overton worked hard to allow black children into public schools, and in 1890 gained victory of a sort. African-Americans were permitted to enroll, but in separate facilities as per Jim Crow.
She also was an activist for interracial women’s clubs, this at a time when such clubs formed an integral part of civic engagement. She enrolled male voters (oh the irony) and labored tirelessly for suffrage as vice-president of San Jose’s interracial Suffrage Amendment League.
She served as president of the Victoria Earle Matthews Club, an African-American group named for a former slave who worked for justice. Amazing that Overton balanced such time-consuming activism with raising two children.
She died in 1914, six years before suffrage passed nationally. A glowing mention of her in Delilah Beasley’s “The Negro Trail Blazers of California” was distilled from an obituary written by Sarah Severance: “In the campaign of 1911, at her own expense she went accredited by the (Political Equity Club of San Jose) to several cities throughout the State to arouse the interest of the Afro-American voters, and doing more perhaps than any other member, as she was a good speaker.”
Severance also says, in that beautiful overinflated language of the Victorians: “The husband, daughter and son have our deepest sympathy, but this Christian woman liveth still; she has simply turned the corner a little ahead of us.”
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Speaking of turning the corner: Will the Farmer’s Market succeed?
I have my doubts, as those bright vegetables sit in the hot sun unsold (perhaps the vendors can offer “roasted vegetables: already cooked!”). I have it on authority that a farmer recently came with $500 worth of vegetables and only sold $100 of it. You can only do that so many times before you don’t participate. And without farmers, there’s no farmer’s market.
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A phoenix on Monterey?: So Garlic City Books didn’t make it … but its latest incarnation Booksmart Kids may well. Parents are always looking for a place to take kids. Hint: this place has an ice cream counter! There are also toys, books and general goodwill.
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Goodwill hunting: Just as Overton and Severance rallied to get votes for women, the early Las Madres mothers’ group fought to get Gilroy its first-ever pediatrician. Seems odd now, but back in 1976 a doctor catering to children didn’t exist here.
Early Las Madres member Connie Rogers and the Sacco Doctor Team (Francis and Jeannine, husband and wife) worked with other members to write 100 letters to medical schools and teaching hospitals. Dr. John Huang is here because of that effort.
According to an unsigned history of Las Madres included in its Just Keep Cookin’ cookbook, “Las Madres wooed him – successfully. They entertained him when he visited Gilroy with his wife. The Sacco’s showed Huang around Wheeler Hospital and Las Madres showed his wife around town.”
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Las Madres also donated the first playground equipment at Miller Park, and provided the enclosure and the handicapped-accessible swing.
If you want to support this incredible organization (and help fill your nursery), consider coming to its yard sale this Saturday, Oct. 1, from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dozens of mothers will sell their baby, toddler and children’s clothing, shoes, toys and maternity items. A portion of each sale goes towards Las Madres’s charitable giving program. 1403 Third St.
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Another admirable women’s group: The American Association of University Women, who strive to advance equity for women and girls, has a Gilroy branch that’s seeking members.
I met recently with three members for coffee and they are excited about many of their programs, most especially a scholarship called Tech Trek. This allows middle school girls to attend a science camp at Stanford, and paves the way for them to pursue a career in a field not generally encouraged for girls.
I’ll be the speaker at the group’s Oct. 16 Fall Membership Lunch, talking about my novel “The Witch’s Trinity”, which looks at a time period not too friendly to strong women. (“Oh, she dares talk to me in that high manner? She’s a witch!” – which is exactly what was said of my ancestor Mary Bliss Parsons, accused of witchcraft in 1600s Massachusetts.) I’ll show a slideshow of medieval witchcraft woodcuts and talk about what life was like in this era. All are welcome: for more info, visit www.gilroyaauw.org/html/fall_memebership_lunch_2011.html
Erika Mailman is wooing doctors at
www.erikamailman.com
