Sarah Mapps Douglass born Philadelphia, PA September 9, 1806 (d. 1882). Black abolitionist educator and headmistress; co-founder Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society 1833; led desegregation of Quaker meetings, and promoted education of Black women.
"Banish prejudice from your hearts." (Liberator, May 1832; photo friendsmedia.org)
Elizabeth Dowdeswell (née Patton) born Belfast, Northern Ireland November 9, 1944. Canadian stateswoman; first woman head UN Environmental Program as Under Secretary 1992-8; professor environmental studies; Lt. Governor Ontario 2014.
“People, young and old, must gain the capacity to make sound environmental decisions; to act instinctively to protect life on Earth. . . We know that no environmental issue has yet emerged that is not within the capabilities of the human race to resolve. We have tremendous knowledge and technological capability. And we have very compelling evidence on most issues for the need to act. But, somehow, what is still missing is the political will to do so.” (Aug. 11, 1997 UN Gen. Assembly; photo royalroads.ca)
Mary Elisabeth Dreier born Brooklyn, NY September 26, 1875 (d. 1963). Labor reformer and suffragist leader; artist; arrested 1909 in shirtwaist strike; organizer of first antiwar parade 1914; chaired Women's Trade Union League’s Outlawry of War committee; associate of Jane Addams at Hull House; Indian rights advocate; opposed Cold War and nuclear weapons.
Shirley Graham Du Bois born Evansville, IN November 11, 1896 (d. 1977). African-American/Cherokee musician; playwright; biographer; peace activist; Communist; exiled to Ghana, 1961; promoted African unity.
"In this great crisis of the world's history. . . we look forward to Peace and backward to War." (Her delivery of speech of W.E.B. Du Bois, Accra, Dec. 12, 1958; photo findagrave)
Rachel Davis DuBois born Woodstown, NJ January 25, 1892 (d. 1993). Quaker; pioneer in intercultural relations. WILPF leader at Hague Conference, 1922, International Conference of Trade Unions, 1922; founded Junior International League for Peace, 1922; led WILPF Auto Peace Tour, 1922. Developed assembly program technique to combat racism, 1924; SCLC trainer. Headed State Dept. mission to assist resettled Germans, 1951.
"My lifelong interest in race relations and intercultural education—my concern that people from different backgrounds be encouraged to share the best of their traditions and customs, thus building a richer culture and having fun doing it."
On her message: "Is it not that LOVE. . . is the greatest of all powers, and that is because there is that of God in each of us, we are all God's children? For God is Love." (All This and Something More (1984), p. 254; photo http://bit.ly/xa3e06)
Madelene Taylor Duckles born Loomis, CA May 19, 1916 (d. 2013). Musicologist; leader in West Coast WILPF, Women Strike for Peace opposing nuclear weapons and Vietnam War; One of first women to visit Hanoi 1969; local chair Committee of Responsibility which brought war injured Vietnamese children to US for treatment. Co-founder Women for Peace, 1961; arrested Livermore Nuclear Weapons Lab protest; protested militarization of society.
“WHERE THERE IS ORGANIZED VIOLENCE AT THE TOP THERE WILL BE INDIVIDUAL VIOLENCE AT THE BOTTOM.” (Calif. Task Force Report on Peace & Armed Conflict, June 29, 1996)
“If we cannot protest when our government ceases to act like a democracy, if we cannot ‘speak truth to power,’ who will speak for us?” (Andrea Estepa dissertation, ”Taking the White Gloves Off,” p. 178)
"We argue that diplomacy and co-operation can be much more effective tools to settle differences than armed conflict, and they are much cheaper as well. . . Tax money that could be used for education, women's issues, and healthcare is instead being spent inventing and maintaining ways to kill people." (Daily Californian, April 9, 2001; photo music.berkeley.edu)
Muriel Duckworth (née Ball) born Austin, Quebec, Canada October 31, 1908 (d. 2009). Quaker; absolute pacifist; Canadian "Peace Movement's Best Friend"; president of VOW, 1967-72; opposed Vietnam War; awarded Pearson Peace Medal, 1991.
"People are against this war with Iraq, but they have to understand that all war must be eliminated." (ZNet, March 8, 2003; photo lifeinlegacy.com)
Helena Stuart Dudley born Florence, NE August 31, 1858 (d. 1932). Biologist; Christian Socialist; pioneer settlement worker who remained pacifist through World War I; member of WILPF and FOR; partner of pacifist Vida Scudder; died Geneva after WILPF convention.
"It is almost demonical, the sweep toward conscription and these enormous war loans." (to Jane Addams, 1917, in Allen Davis, Spearheads for Reform: The Social Settlements & the Progressive Movement 1890-1914, p. 221, 1984)
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz born San Antonio, TX September 10, 1938. Radical feminist history professor; Marxist revolutionary; opposed Vietnam War, aid to Contras, and Iraq wars.
"Women's liberation is the most important, the most revolutionary social force to appear in the long history of resistance to oppression, exploitation, colonialism, racism, and imperialism." (Springfield, MA, Apr. 19, 1969, in Outlaw Woman, p. 184, 2002; photo reddirtsite.com)
Josephine Duveneck (née Whitney) born Brookline, MA, USA April 12, 1891 (d. 1978). Quaker pacifist. Early leader of WILPF 1922. Founded organic farm and social justice center Hidden Villa, Santa Cruz mountains, California, 1924. Hidden Villa was America's first international multicultural youth camp and offered safe haven for refugees from Nazi rule and Japanese internees. Cesar Chavez used Hidden Villa as a base of operations during his organization efforts.
“I do believe mankind will find a way to overcome the menace of fratricide. It may take years, with many setbacks, but eventually the only possible solution will result in unity and cooperation among all nations.” (Life on Two Levels, 1978, p. 308; photo Los Altos Hist. Society)
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
