Social Reformer. Born in New York and raised in a Presbyterian home, Bloomer received minimal formal education. At the age of 22, she married Quaker lawyer Dexter Bloomer, who was co-owner of the newspaper the "Seneca Falls (NY) County Courier". She was encouraged by her husband to become active in social issues and to write articles in the paper. She attended, but had no part in the very first Women's Rights Convention, July 19-20, 1848 in Seneca Falls, where she met Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Within a year, she began publishing her own newspaper, "The Lily", in which she promoted abolition, temperance, women's suffrage, higher education for women, and marriage law reform. The paper was a huge success, but Bloomer's notoriety came not from her articles, but from a style of clothing advertised by the paper and adopted by Bloomer for her personal attire. At this point in history, conventional women's wear consisted of deforming corsets, layers of petticoats, and heavy outerwear which often led to severe health problems. The new outfits, which quickly were called "Bloomers" were made of a loose bodice and a knee length dress worn over full pantaloons. It covered all but the wearer's head, hands and feet, yet was considered scandalous and ridiculed. The fashion caught on quickly, but due to the severe outrage and negative attention the clothing attracted, she and other notable suffragists abandoned wearing them in the hopes of refocusing the public on other social issues. She quit publishing "The Lily" in 1855. She served as president of the Iowa Woman Suffrage Association from 1871 to 1873, and remained active in women's rights issues throughout her life.
Social Reformer. Born in New York and raised in a Presbyterian home, Bloomer received minimal formal education. At the age of 22, she married Quaker lawyer Dexter Bloomer, who was co-owner of the newspaper the "Seneca Falls (NY) County Courier". She was encouraged by her husband to become active in social issues and to write articles in the paper. She attended, but had no part in the very first Women's Rights Convention, July 19-20, 1848 in Seneca Falls, where she met Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Within a year, she began publishing her own newspaper, "The Lily", in which she promoted abolition, temperance, women's suffrage, higher education for women, and marriage law reform. The paper was a huge success, but Bloomer's notoriety came not from her articles, but from a style of clothing advertised by the paper and adopted by Bloomer for her personal attire. At this point in history, conventional women's wear consisted of deforming corsets, layers of petticoats, and heavy outerwear which often led to severe health problems. The new outfits, which quickly were called "Bloomers" were made of a loose bodice and a knee length dress worn over full pantaloons. It covered all but the wearer's head, hands and feet, yet was considered scandalous and ridiculed. The fashion caught on quickly, but due to the severe outrage and negative attention the clothing attracted, she and other notable suffragists abandoned wearing them in the hopes of refocusing the public on other social issues. She quit publishing "The Lily" in 1855. She served as president of the Iowa Woman Suffrage Association from 1871 to 1873, and remained active in women's rights issues throughout her life.
Bio by: Anonymous
Inscription
In Memoriam / Amelia Jenks / Wife of D. C. Bloomer / Deid Dec 30, 1894 / Aged 76Ys. 7Ms. 3Ds. / A pioneer of womans Emancipation
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