Julia Nelson

Title: Handbill Promoting a Speech by Nelson
Type: Object
Date: no date
Source: Goodhue County Historical Society

Description: Nelson was a popular local speaker on equal rights issues. This handbill was posted to advertise her speech that evening.

Activities:

1. Nelson was widowed by the time she started giving speeches about equal suffrage. Why do you think this handbill still refers to her as "Mrs."?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: During Nelson's life and today, it is common for married women to be referred to as "Mrs." even if their husband has died many years earlier. Often women are referred to as "Mrs." followed by their husband's full name. After the husband has died, the woman is often referred to by "Mrs." followed by herown first name and married last name.
2. What does this handbill tell us about Nelson?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: This handbill provides us with the information that Nelson was married at one time and that she spoke on issues of equal suffrage, or the right of women to vote alongside men.
3. What information does this handbill not provide about her speech?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: The handbill does not tell us where in Red Wing the speech would be given or at what time. It also does not give us an indication of how often Nelson delivered these speeches.
4. Why do you think the handbill does not name the date of her speech?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: It is possible that the handbills were all intended to be posted on the day of the speech and no earlier. It is also possible that Nelson did a number of these speeches in Red Wing and found it easier and less expensive to have a larger number of the handbills printed withoutspecific dates, times, or locations.