Born in Homer, New York in 1818 Amelia Bloomer played a very significant role when it came to women’s rights and temperance issues. Although she only had a couple of years of formal schooling herself, she became a teacher and was known for her intelligence among her friends and co-workers. In 1840, she married a prominent lawyer Dexter Bloomer. He was very supportive of her interests in temperance and social issues. He encouraged her to write in his newspaper the Seneca Falls County Courier. Eventually, though, she started her own publication in 1849 called The Lily.
Initially, she was primarily writing about temperance and social issues but this developed into a passion for women’s rights, as well. Amelia’s writings caught the attention of national suffrage leaders such as Susan B. Anthony who urged her to do more with her work. Many saw her articles as inflammatory and out of place, but at the same time, circulation was growing. Her interests led her to join several different temperance and women’s rights groups. In 1848, she took part in the famous Seneca Falls Convention.
In 1855, Bloomer and her husband moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Amelia also became known for a new dress style. She believed that women should be allowed to wear less restrictive clothing. The “Bloomers” dress style was a loose fitting pair of trousers gathered at the ankles to be worn with either a skirt or dress. This fashion piece became fairly popular. Eventually, Amelia made her way up to joining to Iowa State Suffrage Association, becoming the head of the association from 1871-1873. Her passion for social issues, temperance and women’s rights is a very important part of Iowa history.
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