Biographical Database of NAWSA Suffragists, 1890-1920
Biography of Eva W. Morse 1874–1933
By Justine Nicholson, student, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Green Bay, WI
Recording Secretary, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association
Eva W. Morse was born approximately November 1874 in Wisconsin to A. W. Woodworth and his wife. She had three sisters. She was a teacher at Adams School in Minneapolis from 1901 to 1906, where she taught sixth grade. She stopped teaching, however, after she married William Mason Morse on June 8, 1906. Morse's husband was a self-employed contractor from Minnesota, and census records list Morse as a forewoman. The couple had a child who died in infancy.
Morse was a recording secretary for the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association from 1912 to 1916. During her years as a suffragist, she attended many conventions, gave speeches, and kept records for her association. In 1912, Morse was one of many people who gave a speech at the convention organized by the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association. Her speech was on Theodore Roosevelt's "Square Deal," which included conservation of natural resources, control of corporations, and consumer protection. Morse also gave a speech for Duluth's suffrage club in the same year. Morse attended the national convention in Washington, D.C., as a member of the executive board. Other conventions she attended as the association's recording secretary included the 32nd, 33rd, and 35th annual Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association conventions in Minneapolis. She was listed as the recording secretary during the club's membership vote for office members. From October 7-9, 1915, she attended a suffragist convention in St. Paul. She was one of the signatures for the announcement of this meeting, where the group discussed the progress made in some states for woman suffrage.
Morse also donated to the Minnesota Woman Suffrage cause. She took part in raising money for the Minnesota Woman Suffrage Association. After 1916, scant records of her suffrage work exist. By 1920, she was living with her sister and her sister's husband in Nebraska and doing welfare work. When she died July 9, 1933, she was living in Omaha, Nebraska. She was buried in Minnesota at Lakewood Cemetery.
Sources:
"Clubs and Charities," Minneapolis Tribune, May 9, 1906, p. 15.
LINK: http://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn83045366/1906-05-09/ed-1/seq-15
"Cradle, Altar, and Grave—Marriage Licenses," Minneapolis Tribune, June 9,1906, p. 18.
LINK: http://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn83016771/1906-06-09/ed-1/seq-18
"Duluth's Suffrage Club Growing Rapidly," Duluth News Tribune, August 18, 1912, p. 4.
"Dancing Party Given to Honor Debutantes—Club Items," Minneapolis Tribune, October 28, 1913, p. 7.
LINK: http://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn83016772/1913-10-28/ed-1/seq-7
"Fall Cotillion Friday Evening", Duluth News Tribune, September 22, 1914, p. 5.
Harper, Ida Husted, The History of Woman Suffrage, Vol. VI (1922), p. 322. [LINK]
"List Of Teachers In Minneapolis Public Schools For Coming Year," Minneapolis Tribune, June 8, 1901, p.12.
LINK: http://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn83016771/1901-06-08/ed-1/seq-12
"Next Year's Teacher," Minneapolis Tribune, June 13, 1903, p. 8.
LINK: http://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn83016771/1903-06-13/ed-1/seq-8
"State Suffragist Hold Successful Meeting," Duluth Herald, October 20, 1914, p. 8
LINK: http://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn83016458/1914-10-20/ed-1/seq-8
"State Suffragists Announce Dates of Annual Convention," Minneapolis Sunday Tribune, November 12, 1916, p. 6.
LINK: http://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn83016772/1916-11-12/ed-1/seq-54
"Suffragist Convention Today," Minneapolis Morning Tribune, October 30,1913, p. 11.
LINK: http://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn83016772/1913-10-30/ed-1/seq-11
"Suffragists Arrange For Free Lectures," Duluth News Tribune, January 28, 1912, p. 7.
"Suffragists Meet Oct. 7," New Ulm Review (Brown County, MN), September 22, 1915, p. 3
LINK: http://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn89081128/1915-09-22/ed-1/seq-3
"Teachers Named for Next Year," Minneapolis Journal, June 9, 1906, p. 7.
LINK: http://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn83045366/1906-06-09/ed-1/seq-7
"Treasurer's report," The Suffragist, Vol. 4 (1916), p. 11.
United States Census, 1900 (Minneapolis Ward 11, Hennepin, Minnesota; Roll: 769; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0112; FHL microfilm: 1240769).
United States Census, 1910 (Excelsior, Hennepin, Minnesota; Roll: T624_699; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0007; FHL microfilm: 1374712).
United States Census, 1920 (Omaha Ward 10, Douglas, Nebraska; Roll: T625_990; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 109).
United States Census, 1930 (Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska; Roll: 1277; Page: 31B; Enumeration District: 0111; FHL microfilm: 2341012).
"Women Delegates to Meet," Minneapolis Morning Tribune, November 19, 1913, p. 7.
LINK: http://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn83016772/1913-11-19/ed-1/seq-7
"Young Women Act as Ushers at State Suffrage Luncheon," Minneapolis Morning Tribune, December 6, 1916, p.7.
LINK: http://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn83016772/1916-12-06/ed-1/seq-7