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Women's Rights National Historical ParkWesleyan Chapel
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Women's Rights National Historical Park
Convention Officers and Committees
 

The First Women's Rights Convention was held on July 19 and 20, 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York at the Wesleyan Chapel. Mary Ann M'Clintock, E.N. Foote, Amy Post, Elizabeth W. M'Clintock, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were appointed a committee to prepare the proceedings of the convention for publication. The Report of the Woman's Rights Convention was printed by John Dick at the North Star Office, Rochester, New York.

There were sessions in the morning, afternoon, on both days, plus an evening session on the second day.

At the morning session on the first day, Mary Ann M'Clintock was appointed secretary. Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton addressed the audience.

At the afternoon session on the first day, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott addressed the convention. Lucretia Mott read a humorous article written by Martha C. Wright and Elizabeth W. M'Clintock addressed the convention.

That evening Lucretia Mott gave a speech on the subject of Reforms in general.

At the morning session on the second day, James Mott served as Chairman. Elizabeth Cady Stanton read the Declaration of Sentiments. The document was discussed by Lucretia Mott, Ansel Bascom, S.E. Woodworth, Thomas and Mary Ann M'Clintock, Frederick Douglass, Amy Post, Catherine Stebbins, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The document was unanimously adopted.

At the afternoon session on the second day, Lucretia Mott gave a speech.

At the evening session on the second day, Thomas M'Clintock served as Chairman. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Thomas M'Clintock, Lucretia Mott, Mary Ann M'Clintock Jr., and Frederick Douglass addressed the convention.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Read Solitude of Self
Elizabeth Cady Stanton's most famous speech
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Declaration of Sentiments engraved in the waterwall.
Read a Declaration of Independence for women
Ratified by 100 signers on July 20, 1848
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Elizabeth Cady Stanton and daughter Harriot, 1856
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
called her house in Seneca Falls "the center of the rebellion"
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Wesleyan Chapel, site of the First Women's Rights Convention, as it appears today.  

Did You Know?
Did you know the women's rights movement formally began in the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls, New York?
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Last Updated: October 28, 2006 at 12:23 EST