Andover in Henry County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
American Woman's League House
Built 1911 – A National Historic Site
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Communications • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.
Location. 41° 17.655′ N, 90° 17.535′ W. Marker is in Andover, Illinois, in Henry County. Marker is on Locust Street north of 5th Street (Illinois Route 81), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 440 Locust St, Andover IL 61233, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tourist Information (a few steps from this marker); Site of Andover's First Two-Story School (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic House Built in 1861 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Swedish Methodist Parsonage in the World (about 800 feet away); Andover Lutheran Church Veterans (approx. ¼ mile away); The Jenny Lind Chapel (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Jenny Lind Chapel (approx. 0.4 miles away); Swedish Methodist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Andover.
Regarding American Woman's League House. Excerpt from the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the American Woman's League Chapter Houses, which includes this site:
The American Woman's League was founded in 1908 by [Edward Gardner] Lewis who published newspapers and magazines aimed at female readership. In his publications sent by mail to subscribers across America, Lewis announced the formation of the American Woman's League which was to advance, protect, and uplift American womanhood through its own united efforts.
Woman suffrage was a major issue at that time. Lewis believed that suffrage was inevitable, and that the formation of such a League with a powerful publishing company behind it would be a force in the cause of woman suffrage.
… The first chapter house built for an active chapter of the League was built at Edwardsville, Illinois. Illinois has ten chapter houses built between 1909 and 1910. All are still standing and in use.
Also see . . . American Woman's League. Wikipedia entry on the organization, originally conceived as a way to get lower postal rates for its founder's magazines but became a potent force for woman's suffrage. (Submitted on July 15, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 172 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 15, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.