Reviving a Revolution:
Post Civil-War Activism in Print

While women such as Kate Field chipped away the barriers in mainstream journalism, other women continued to use the press as an instrument for social change. Like Lydia Marie Child and Abigail Scott Duniway, these women not only wrote and published widely, but also led organizations aimed at improving the status of women and other reforms.

Jennie June (Jane Cunningham Croly) signed, “Yours Sincerely, J.C. Croly, Jenny June. New York Public Library 1218820

Jane Cunningham Croly was one such woman. Her career as a journalist began in 1856, when she adopted the pen name “Jennie June” to write for the New York World , of which her husband was managing editor. More unconventionally, however, she continued to work while bearing five children. She became known as the nation's first woman to work at an office desk for a major newspaper, as opposed to the older “correspondent” status.

As “Jennie June,” Croly commented on the irrationality of popular women's fashions and editorialized for admission of women to colleges, but her great awakening to gender discrimination occurred when Charles Dickens made a well-publicized tour of America in 1868 – and the all-male New York Press Club barred her from their banquet honoring Dickens. The next year, she led other literary women in founding Sorosis, which is generally considered America 's first organization of professional women. The male Press Club responded by inviting Sorosis members to a breakfast -- yet would not permit them to speak. Sorosis women returned the invitation, holding a tea for all Press Club members and barred the men from speaking; the battle culminated at a joint event for both organizations, with the floor open to both male and female speakers.

In the same year of 1869, the New England Women's Club began in Boston . Although not an organization of employed women, its leaders did include such famous writers as Julia Ward Howe and Louisa May Alcott. Sorosis and the New England Women's Club eventually led to the organization of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) in 1890. Under Croly's leadership, the GFWC focused primarily on educational advancement and local civic improvement; most chapters remained apart from the suffragist movement. Croly also organized the Woman's Press Club in 1889 with 40 women from New York papers.

Engraving for Harper’s Magazine from 1869 showing a rally for women suffrage held by members of Sorosis. “Sorosis” is written on the arch above the women on the stage and a woman on the right of the image waves a sign reading “Sorosis Nominations for Governess.” Library of Congress LC-USZ6-798