Josephine Anderson Pearson (1868 - 1944) was an American
anti-suffragette, educator, writer, and lecturer who lived and traveled throughout Tennessee.
Life
Josephine Pearson was born in
Gallatin, Tennessee
Gallatin is a city in and the county seat of Sumner County, Tennessee. The population was 30,278 at the 2010 census and 44,431 at the 2020 census. Named for United States Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin, the city was established on ...
, and raised in
McMinnville, Tennessee
McMinnville is the largest city in and the county seat of Warren County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 13,605 at the 2010 census. It was named for Governor Joseph McMinn.
Geography
McMinnville is located at (35.686708, -85.779309) ...
.
In 1890, she graduated from Irving College and completed her Master's Degree at
Cumberland University
Cumberland University is a private university in Lebanon, Tennessee. It was founded in 1842. The campus's current historic buildings were constructed between 1892 and 1896.
History
1842-1861
The university was founded by the Cumberland ...
in 1896. Pearson worked for many organizations and held positions such as the women's auxiliary president for the Dixie Highway Council of the Cumberland Divide and commissioner for the Woman's Board of the
Tennessee Centennial Exposition
The Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition was an exposition held in Nashville from May 1 – October 31, 1897 in what is now Centennial Park. A year late, it celebrated the 100th anniversary of Tennessee's entry into the union in 179 ...
.
Pearson began her fight against suffrage after making a promise to her dying mother. She fought for women's rights by writing essays on feminism, suffrage, and related topics.In 1917, she became president of the Tennessee State Association Opposed to Women Suffrage. Although at this time she lived in
Monteagle with her father, she traveled throughout Tennessee for three years working for the association. In mid-July 1920, Pearson traveled to
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...
, due to a special session being called by the governor to vote on the 19th amendment.
During her fight for the 19th amendment, Pearson set up headquarters at the
Hermitage Hotel
The Hermitage Hotel, is a historic hotel located at 231 6th Avenue North in Nashville, Tennessee. Commissioned by 250 Nashville residents in 1908 and named for Andrew Jackson's estate, The Hermitage near Nashville, the hotel opened in 1910. It wa ...
in Nashville, where she urged legislators to oppose ratification.
Although Pearson never cast a vote in her lifetime, she spent the remainder of her life writing, teaching, and protesting women’s suffrage.
She taught philosophy and history at the
Southern Seminary of Virginia while also serving as dean. Pearson died in 1944 and was buried in the Monteagle Cemetery.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearson, Josephine
1868 births
1944 deaths
Anti-suffragists
People from Gallatin, Tennessee
Educators from Tennessee