April 25, 1868

Anna Elizabeth Dickinson, the Quaker abolitionist and suffragist, spoke at Vassar on “Idiots and Women.” Commenting on the lecture in a letter written on April 28, Matthew Vassar wrote Elizabeth Powell, instructor in physical training:

“The subject of ‘Woman’s Suffrage’ or ’Idiot and Women’ was correctly quoted from the Law granting the right of them to the ballot Box, and when I first read the Law some years ago I was equaly supprised to find our Fair Sex placed in so shamefull a category as ‘criminals, paupers, Idiots &c,’ which if the Law was right by this classification I think it is full time my 300 daughters at ‘Vassar’ knew it, and applied the remidy.’

Elizabeth Hazelton Haight, ed., Autobiography and Letters of Matthew Vassar