Marie Stuart Edwards, 1880-1970
Marker dedication and images coming soon.
Location: 123 W. Main St., Peru (Miami County), Indiana, 46970
Installed 2023 Indiana Historical Bureau, Miami County Indiana Worth Remembering, Dr. & Mrs. Jason and Denise Gornto, and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation
ID#: 52.2023.1
Text
Side One
Social reformer Marie Stuart Edwards moved to Peru in 1914, later living in this house (1917-1926). As Woman’s Franchise League president (1917-1919), Edwards mobilized a statewide network of suffragists. She led the league’s WWI relief efforts, while managing Peru Chair Works. In 1921, Edwards was elected vice president of the national League of Women Voters (LWV).
Side Two
From Peru, Edwards forged a national network of LWV branches and citizenship schools. She worked with the league for decades, helping pass legislation protecting women and children, lobbying for public sanitation, and working for disarmament. As a member of various state boards between the 1920s and 1950s, she advocated for prison rehabilitation and education reform.
Annotated Text
Side One
Marie Stuart Edwards, 1880-1970[1]
Social reformer Marie Stuart Edwards moved to Peru in 1914, later living in this house (1917-1926).[2] As Woman’s Franchise League president (1917-1919), Edwards mobilized a statewide network of suffragists.[3] She helped organize the league’s relief efforts in WWI, while managing Peru Chair Works.[4] In 1921, Edwards was elected vice president of the national League of Women Voters (LWV).
Side Two
From Peru, Edwards forged a national network of LWV branches and citizenship schools.[5] She worked with the league for decades, helping pass legislation protecting women and children,[6] lobbying for public sanitation,[7] and working for disarmament.[8] As a member of various state boards between the 1920s and 1950s,[9] she advocated for prison rehabilitation and education reform.[10]
[1] “Marie Edwards,” U.S. Passport Application, June 21, 1912, National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; NARA Series, Passport Applications, 1795-1905, Roll #605, accessed Ancestry.com; Richard Edwards, World War I Draft Registration Card, September 12, 1918, submitted by applicant; “Obituaries: Marie S. Edwards,” Peru Tribune, November 19, 1970, submitted by applicant; “Marie Edwards,” Death Certificate, Indiana State Board of Health, Division of Vital Records, November 17, 1970, Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA, 1970, Roll 16, accessed Ancestry Library.
[2] “Edwards Richard E (Marie S), Peru City Directory, 1916, p. 118, accessed Ancestry.com, submitted by applicant; “National and State Officers,” Franchise League Directory (1917), 4, 5, submitted by applicant; Richard Edwards, World War I Draft Registration Card, September 12, 1918, submitted by applicant; “League of Women Voters,” Peru Republican, October 30, 1925, 2, submitted by applicant; “Former Hamilton County Woman is Honored,” Noblesville Ledger, February 18, 1926, 1, accessed Newspapers.com; “Gives Industrial Girls’ Viewpoint at Voters’ League,” Indianapolis Star, April 19, 1926, 3, accessed Newspapers.com; “Officers Elected by Voters’ League,” Democrat and Chronicle, June 9, 1927, 28, submitted by applicant; “Richard E. Edwards is New President of First National,” Peru Republican, August 12, 1927, 1, submitted by applicant; “First Membership Meeting: Mrs. Richard Edwards, Former National League Officer, Speaker,” The League Bulletin (October 26, 1929): 1.
[3] Newspaper clipping, Grace Julian Clarke Women’s Clubs and Suffrage Scrapbook, 1917-1918, accessed ISL Digital Collections; “Women’s Patriotic Week in Indiana,” Peru Republican, June 29, 1917, 2, submitted by applicant; “Remarkable Registrations,” Peru Republican, July 20, 1917, submitted by applicant; “Mrs. Edwards Talk to Women,” Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, August 19, 1917, 17, submitted by applicant; “The Suffrage Column,” Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, August 19, 1917, 15, submitted by applicant; “Franchise State Headquarters,” Peru Republican, May 10, 1918, submitted by applicant; Program, Women’s Franchise League 8th Annual Convention, April 1 to 3, 1919, Women’s History Collection, accessed ISL Digital Images; “House Stands for Suffrage,” Indianapolis Star, February 11, 1919, 12, accessed Newspapers.com; “Peru Women to Celebrate,” Indianapolis Star, June 7, 1919, 8, accessed Newspapers.com; “Mrs. Edwards’ Climb to Fame has been Rapid,” Journal and Courier, April 27, 1921, 2, submitted by applicant; Anita Morgan, “We Must Be Fearless:” The Woman Suffrage Movement in Indiana (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press, 2020), 189, 191.
[4] “Woman’s League Elects Officers,” Barnettsville News (Indiana), April 26, 1917, 2, accessed Newspapers.com; “Women’s Patriotic Week in Indiana,” Peru Republican, June 29, 1917, 2, submitted by applicant; “A Call to Service,” Peru Republican, August 10, 1917, 2, submitted by applicant; “Mrs. Edwards Talk to Women,” Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, August 19, 1917, 17, submitted by applicant; “The Suffrage Column,” Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, August 19, 1917, 15, submitted by applicant; Mrs. Jessie H. West, “Woman’s Section of Miami County Council of Defense,” Peru Republican, January 11, 1918, 2, submitted by applicant; “Franchise League Plans,” Peru Republican, January 11, 1918, 2, submitted by applicant; “New War Department,” Peru Republican, February 15, 1918, 2, submitted by applicant;“Mrs. Edwards’ Climb to Fame has been Rapid,” Journal and Courier, April 27, 1921, 2, submitted by applicant; “First Membership Meeting: Mrs. Richard Edwards, Former National League Officer, Speaker,” The League Bulletin (October 26, 1929): 1;Anita Morgan, “We Must Be Fearless:” The Woman Suffrage Movement in Indiana (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press, 2020), 169, 191.
[5] Program, “The National League of Women Voters,” Organization Leaflet No. 3 (Peru, IN: Sentinel Ptg. Co., n.d.), Maud Wood Park Papers, submitted by applicant; “L. W. V. National Headquarters Here,” Peru Republican, April 29, 1921, 2, submitted by applicant; Marie Stuart Edwards, “The League of Women Voters in Convention,” The Smith Alumnae Quarterly (July 1921): 301, submitted by applicant; “Notes of League of Women Voters,” Peru Republican, August 26, 1921, 2, submitted by applicant; Constance Drexel, “Woman Observer Great Organizer,” Philadelphia?, December 8, 1921, submitted by applicant; “The New Officers,” The Woman Citizen (May 6, 1922): 24, submitted by applicant; “Committees for Get-Out-the -Vote Campaign,” The Woman Voter (1924), 14, accessed Indiana State Library Digital Collections; “First Membership Meeting: Mrs. Richard Edwards, Former National League Officer, Speaker,” The League Bulletin (October 26, 1929): 2; “Candidates Invited by Voters’ League,” Indianapolis Star, October 16, 1932, 43, submitted by applicant; Lotys Benning Stewart, “They Achieve,” Indianapolis Star, March 21, 1943, 54, accessed Newspapers.com; “Parole Commission Member Discusses Crime Problems,” Palladium-Item, March 25, 1948, 11, accessed Newspapers.com; “’Penal Reform’ Topic of Talk Highlighting Women Voters Session,” Logansport Pharos-Tribune, April 8, 1955, 6, accessed Newspapers.com; “Women Voters Fete Former Resident,” Journal and Courier, May 4, 1956, 12, accessed Newspapers.com; Anita Morgan, “We Must Be Fearless:” The Woman Suffrage Movement in Indiana (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press, 2020), 200.
[6] Vance Prather, “League of Women Voters to Celebrate Year of Notable Achievement in May,” Indianapolis Star, February 19, 1922, 42, accessed Newspapers.com; “Clubs,” Journal and Courier, September 30, 1936, 4, accessed Newspapers.com; “Voters Will Hear Talk on Children,” Indianapolis Star, February 6, 1938, 43, accessed Newspapers.com; “State’s Plan for Child Explained,” Indianapolis News, February 17, 1938, 18, accessed Newspapers.com; Lotys Benning Stewart, “They Achieve,” Indianapolis Star, March 21, 1943, 54, accessed Newspapers.com.
[7] “The Suffrage Column,” Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, August 19, 1917, 15, submitted by applicant; Lotys Benning Stewart, “They Achieve,” Indianapolis Star, March 21, 1943, 54, accessed Newspapers.com; “Peru,” Logansport Pharos-Tribune, January 10, 1953, 2, accessed Newspapers.com.
[8] “Committee Meets President,” Peru Republican, August 19, 1921, 2, submitted by applicant; “Notes of League of Women Voters,” Peru Republican, August 26, 1921, 2, submitted by applicant; “Mrs. Edwards Home in Peru,” Peru Republican, December 16, 1921, 2, submitted by applicant; “Six Rochester Delegates Will Attend League of Women Voters Convention,” Democrat and Chronicle, November 17, 1927, 46, submitted by applicant.
[9] “Mrs. R. E. Edwards Offered Place on Board of Education,” Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN), January 20, 1922, 14, accessed Newspapers.com; Vance Prather, “League of Women Voters to Celebrate Year of Notable Achievement in May,” Indianapolis Star, February 19, 1922, 42, accessed Newspapers.com; “First Membership Meeting: Mrs. Richard Edwards, Former National League Officer, Speaker,” The League Bulletin (October 26, 1929): 2; “League will Push Fight for ‘Merit,’” Indianapolis News, March 6, 1936, 1, accessed Newspapers.com; “Mrs. R. E. Edwards Member Welfare Board,” Peru Republican, March 20, 1936, 2, submitted by applicant;“Merit Plan for New State Departments Takes Shape,” Indianapolis News, July 27, 1936, 7, accessed Newspapers.com; “Society,” Logansport Pharos-Tribune, January 26, 1938, 11, accessed Newspapers.com; “Spoke at League Meeting Monday,” Culver Citizen, May 3, 1939, 2, accessed Newspapers.com; “Officers are Named by Social Workers,” Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN), May 21, 1940, 16, accessed Newspapers.com; “Parole Commission Member Discusses Crime Problems,” Palladium-Item, March 25, 1948, 11, accessed Newspapers.com; “Peru and Rochester Women to State Board,” Logansport Press, April 17, 1953, submitted by applicant; “’Penal Reform’ Topic of Talk Highlighting Women Voters Session,” Logansport Pharos-Tribune, April 8, 1955, 6, accessed Newspapers.com; “Women Voters Fete Former Resident,” Journal and Courier, May 4, 1956, 12, accessed Newspapers.com; “Rename Peru Woman,” Logansport Pharos Tribune, April 3, 1957, submitted by applicant; “Marie S. Edwards, Organization Founder, Died in Home at Peru,” Kokomo Tribune, November 19, 1970, 5, accessed Newspapers.com.
[10] Lotys Benning Stewart, “They Achieve,” Indianapolis Star, March 21, 1943, 54, accessed Newspapers.com; “Member of Parole Group Will Speak to Voters’ League,” Palladium-Item, March 22, 1948, 3, accessed Newspapers.com; “Parole Commission Member Discusses Crime Problems,” Palladium-Item, March 25, 1948, 11, accessed Newspapers.com; “’Penal Reform’ Topic of Talk Highlighting Women Voters Session,” Logansport Pharos-Tribune, April 8, 1955, 6, accessed Newspapers.com; “Women Voters Fete Former Resident,” Journal and Courier, May 4, 1956, 12, accessed Newspapers.com; Bertha Scott, “Probation Leader will be Recognized,” Indianapolis News, September 18, 1959, 24, accessed Newspapers.com.
Keywords
Political, Women