Belle Sherwin (March 20, 1869 – July 5, 1955) was an American Women's rights activist.

Early life and education

Belle Sherwin was born March 20, 1869, in

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

. She was the daughter of

Henry Alden Sherwin Henry Alden Sherwin (September 27, 1842 – June 16, 1916) was one of the founders of the Sherwin-Williams Company in 1866. The company was named for both him and Edward Porter Williams. Biography Sherwin was born on September 27, 1842, in Balt ...

, founder of the

Sherwin-Williams Company Sherwin-Williams Company is an American Cleveland, Ohio–based company in the paint and coating manufacturing industry. The company primarily engages in the manufacture, distribution, and sale of paints, coatings, floorcoverings, and related ...

and Frances Mary Smith. Sherwin was never married. Belle graduated Phi Beta Kappa from

Wellesley College Wellesley College is a private women's liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1870 by Henry and Pauline Durant as a female seminary, it is a member of the original Seven Sisters Colleges, an unofficial g ...

in 1890 with a Bachelor's degree. She briefly taught history at St. Margaret's school before going to Oxford University to study history for one year from 1894 to 1895. The Western Reserve University granted her an honorary degree in 1930. Denison University gave her an honorary degree in 1931 and

Oberlin College Oberlin College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Oberlin, Ohio. It is the oldest Mixed-sex education, coeducational liberal arts college in the United S ...

granted her one in 1937.Encyclopedia of Cleveland History:SHERWIN, BELLE
/ref>

Accomplishments

After completing her graduate work at Oxford University in 1894-1895, she returned to the U.S. where she taught 4 years in Boston at St. Margaret's and Miss Hersey's School for Girls. In 1899, she returned to Cleveland and began her long involvement with voluntary civic and women's organizations. Belle returned to Cleveland in 1900 and became the first President of the Consumers League of Ohio. During the first years of this century Sherwin was most active with the Visiting Nurse Association of Cleveland, serving on its board until 1924, and with the Cleveland Consumers' League, which she had organized in 1900. In 1913 Sherwin was elected a trustee of Wellesley College, a position she served until 1943. After World War I, Sherwin became the director of the Cleveland Welfare Federation. She was the vice-president of the

League of Women Voters The League of Women Voters (LWV or the League) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan political organization in the United States. Founded in 1920, its ongoing major activities include registering voters, providing voter information, and advocating for vot ...

from 1921 to 1924 and president from 1924 to 1934, the position which earned her much of her reputation as a dedicated suffragist leader.The News and Courier - Google News Archive Search
/ref> The administrative, structural, and educational procedures established during this period were largely attributed to her leadership. She was also on the board of the National Urban League, founded in 1918. Sherwin died at home on July 5, 1955 and was interred at Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio.

References

External links

Belle Sherwin Papers.
http://www.radcliffe.edu/schles Schlesinger Library] , Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University. * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sherwin, Belle 1869 births 1955 deaths American women's rights activists Activists from Cleveland Alumni of the University of Oxford Burials at Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland Wellesley College alumni