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Midtown Village in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
 

Mother’s Day

 
 
Mother's Day Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By R. C.
1. Mother's Day Marker
Inscription.
Founded by Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia. First officially observed in 1908, it honored motherhood and family life at a time of rising feminist activism. An early supporter was John Wanamaker, whose store stood opposite. Mother’s Day was given federal recognition, 1914.
 
Erected 1998 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable EventsWomen. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.
 
Location. 39° 57.135′ N, 75° 9.752′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Midtown Village. Marker is at the intersection of Market Street and North Juniper on Market Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1325 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19107, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Welsh Society (a few steps from this marker); Philadelphia City Hall Gates (a few steps from this marker); Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler (within shouting distance of this marker); John Wanamaker (within shouting distance of this marker); William Penn’s Prayer for Philadelphia
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(within shouting distance of this marker); 13th & Market (within shouting distance of this marker); A History of Wanamaker (within shouting distance of this marker); Philadelphia Fire Department Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.
 
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
 
Also see . . .
1. Mother's Day - Behind the Marker. Explore PA History website entry:
“The national recognition of Mother’s Day culminated a campaign begun by Anna Jarvis in Philadelphia in 1907, and carried to Congress by Philadelphia department store magnate John Wanamaker. A native of the Appalachian Mountains in the town of Pruntyvillle, West Virginia, Jarvis had in 1892 followed her brother to Philadelphia and there worked as a stenographer and writer. In 1903, Anna and her brother convinced their aging mother to move to the city, and it was after her mother’s death in 1905 that Jarvis formulated the idea for her ‘Mother’s Day Movement’.” (Submitted on July 21, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.) 

2. Anna M. Jarvis. Find A Grave website entry
Mother's Day Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By R. C.
2. Mother's Day Marker
(Submitted on July 21, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.) 

3. Mother's Day Dark History. 2012 National Geographic Daily News article by Brian Handwerk:
“ ‘It wasn’t to celebrate all mothers. It was to celebrate the best mother you’ve ever known—your mother—as a son or a daughter.’ That’s why Jarvis stressed the singular ‘Mother’s Day,’ rather than the plural ‘Mothers’ Day,’ Antolini explained. But Jarvis’s success soon turned to failure, at least in her own eyes. Anna Jarvis’s idea of an intimate Mother’s Day quickly became a commercial gold mine centering on the buying and giving of flowers, candies, and greeting cards—a development which deeply disturbed Jarvis. She set about dedicating herself and her sizable inheritance to returning Mother's Day to its reverent roots.” (Submitted on May 13, 2012.) 
 
Additional commentary.
1.
The marker is no longer there. I was in Philadelphia where the marker is supposed to be and it wasn't there.
    — Submitted February 29, 2016, by Carolyn Martienssen of West Hazleton, Pennsylvania.
 
Anna Jarvis (1864–1948) image. Click for full size.
3. Anna Jarvis (1864–1948)
Mother’s Day Campaign Button image. Click for full size.
Keith S Smith Collection
4. Mother’s Day Campaign Button
Anna Marie Jarvis image. Click for full size.
5. Anna Marie Jarvis
The Grand Depot, John Wanamaker's Department Store image. Click for full size.
Free Library of Philadelphia Collection, 1900
6. The Grand Depot, John Wanamaker's Department Store
13th and Market, Philadelphia
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2009, by Ronald Claiborne of College Station, Texas. This page has been viewed 2,175 times since then and 40 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week May 13, 2012. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on November 16, 2009, by Ronald Claiborne of College Station, Texas.   3. submitted on May 12, 2012.   4, 5. submitted on May 8, 2016, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.   6. submitted on May 12, 2012. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.

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Mar. 28, 2024