Biographical Database of NAWSA Suffragists, 1890-1920
Biography of Mrs. Rheena Gussie (George T.) Vickers, 1872- ?
By Diane Getzinger, Independent Historian
Chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee, representing the four suffrage organizations in New Jersey. Served as president of The Equal Franchise Society until it disbanded in 1915.
Rhena Gussie Bauchelle was born in May, 1872 to John U. and Anna (Miller) Bauchelle, of Elizabeth, New Jersey and was the oldest of three children. She married lawyer George Theodore Vickers (1869-1945) on February 22, 1894. The couple lived in Jersey City and had one son, George T. Vickers. Her husband served with the Essex Cavalry in the Spanish American War, rising to the rank of Colonel, and was the Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor for 23 years.
Mrs. Vickers held several prominent political positions and championed many causes in addition to her extensive suffrage work. Leadership roles included: county chair of the New Jersey American Legion Auxiliary, New Jersey chair of the Women's National Law Enforcement Committee, chair of the Hudson County Women Workers of the Legion, member of the State Council of Presidents of New Jersey Republican Women's Clubs, and vice president of the New Jersey Anti-Medical Trust Federation.
She spoke publicly against weakening prohibition laws, appealed for more women to be empaneled on grand juries, and was a founding member of the Milk Consumers League of New Jersey, formed to promote stricter regulations to ensure consumers better milk.
In February 1925, she became temporary president of the newly-formed Minute Women of the Constitution, created “to promote the original intent of the United States constitution and to consider civic and social problems in relation to the spirit of the fundamental law.” For more than a decade, she worked against a proposed Federal Child Labor Amendment (which would have been the 20th). She “declared that she opposed not the amendment, but the way in which it is framed. ‘To collectivize our children is its intent,' she said.” Mrs. Vickers'passion led her to openly criticize fellow suffragist Mrs. Lillian E. Feickert, alleging inflated membership numbers and falsely presented petitions from the suffrage movement in support of the proposed amendment, and also accusing the dry Republican of consuming wine while on a European trip.
Mrs. Vickers' notable suffrage contributions included:
- 1910 - was one of five suffragists to appear before the New Jersey State Senate Committee on Education
- December 1911 – chaired the newly formed Joint Legislative Committee, representing the four suffrage organizations in New Jersey, which requested and obtained the first resolution that a woman suffrage amendment to the state constitution be put to the voters
- 1911 – served as president of The Equal Franchise Society until it disbanded in 1915
- March 12, 1912 – presided over a public hearing in the state legislature on the first resolution for submission of a woman suffrage amendment to the voters
- November 1912 – addressed the 22nd annual convention of the New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association
- October 1914 –was among a group of suffrage movement leaders to lobby Democrats to include woman suffrage in the party's platform. They only got agreement to go along with the will of the people.
- January 1915 – spoke in favor of the suffrage resolution at a hearing of the Joint Judiciary Committee of the NJ state legislature
- February 1916 – was chairman of the eighth congressional district for the New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association
Sources:
Harper, Ida Husted, The History of Woman Suffrage, vol. 6, 1900-1920, (New York: J.J. Little and Ives Company, 1922), [LINK]
Wright, Kevin, “Centennial of the Orange Pennant” (February 24, 2012), https://patch.com/new-jersey/riverdell/bp--centennial-of-the-orange-pennant
Ancestry.com
- Year: 1880; Census Place: Elizabeth, Union, New Jersey; Roll: 800; Page: 160B; Enumeration District: 169
- Ancestry.com. New Jersey, Marriage Records, 1670-1965 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.
- National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll #: 24; Volume #: Volume 040: Seoul, Korea to Stockholm, Sweden
- New Jersey State Archive; Trenton, NJ, USA; State Census of New Jersey, 1915; Reference Number: L-12; Film Number: 34
- Year: 1930; Census Place: Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey; Page: 27B; Enumeration District: 0127; FHL microfilm: 2341089
- Year: 1940; Census Place: Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey; Roll: m-t0627-02408; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 24-262
Newspapers.com
- “Suffragist Army Fights at Trenton: New Jersey Women in Lively Battle at Legislative Hearing,” Asbury Park Press (Asbury Park, Monmouth, New Jersey, United States of America), March 13, 1912, Page 2.
- “Local Suffragists To Go To Trenton,” The Courier-News (Bridgewater, Somerset, New Jersey, United States of America), November 7, 1912, Page 1.
- “Jersey Parties Adopt Platforms,” The Monmouth Inquirer (Freehold, New Jersey, United States of America), October 8, 1914, Page 2.
- “Suffragists in Trenton Today,” The Courier-News (Bridgewater, Somerset, New Jersey, United States of America), January 25, 1915, Page 3.
- “'Suffs' Show Confidence at Hearing on Ballot,” The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States of America), January 25, Page 4.
- “Suffrage Forces Confer To-Morrow,” Courier-Post (Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America), February 24, 1916, Page 3.
- “N.J. Women for Fed. Amendments: Will Take Active Part in Congress For Passage Of Bill,” Asbury Park Press (Asbury Park, Monmouth, New Jersey, United States of America), December 9, 1916, Page 2
- “Legion Auxiliary Opens in Grove,” Asbury Park Press (Asbury Park, Monmouth, New Jersey, United States of America), September 15, 1921, Page 2.
- “State Legion Auxiliary Ready For Annual Meet; To Adopt New Constitution,” The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States of America), September 13, 1922, Page 5.
- “A Woman's Comment on Women Voters,” Courier-Post (Camden, Camden, New Jersey, United States of America), November 27, 1922, Page 6.
- “Jersey Women to Attend Law Enforcement Meeting,” The Courier-News (Bridgewater, Somerset, New Jersey, United States of America),April 7, 1924, Page 7.
- “Sharp Controversy Over Chestnut Ridge Farm Management Resumed,” The Record (Hackensack, Bergen, New Jersey, United States of America), April 30, 1924, Page 1.
- “Form Society of ‘Minute Women of the Constitution.'” The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States of America), February 6, 1925, Page 3.
- “Mrs. Feickert Under Attack,” The Courier-News (Bridgewater, Somerset, New Jersey, United States of America),February 25, 1925, Page 12.
- “Social Notes,” The Courier-News (Bridgewater, Somerset, New Jersey, United States of America), April 14, 1928, Page 5.
- “Offers To Prove A Candidate Wet,” The Courier-News (Bridgewater, Somerset, New Jersey, United States of America), May 11, 1928, Page 1.
- “Woman Has Proof Mrs. Feickert Took Wine, She Asserts,” The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States of America), May 11, 1928, Page 22.
- “Women Alter Date To Hear Baird Talk,” The Record (Hackensack, Bergen, New Jersey, United States of America), June 4, 1931, Page 3.
- “Women Leaguers Demand Quality In N.J. Milk Supply,” Evening Courier (Camden, New Jersey, United States of America), November 18, 1931, Page 10.
- “Makes Appeal For More Women On Grand Juries,” The Record (Hackensack, Bergen, New Jersey, United States of America), December 22, 1932, Page 5.
- “Child Labor Rule Praised, Opposed: Varying Views on Pending Amendment are Aired at Borough Meeting,” The Montclair Times (Montclair, New Jersey), November 20, 1936, Page 18.
- “Federation Fights 1939 Medical Act,” The Record (Hackensack, Bergen, New Jersey, United States of America), June 10, 1940, Page 2.
- “Gen. Vickers Dies at Jersey City: Was Once Prosecutor in Hudson County,” The Record (Hackensack, New Jersey), April 17, 1945, Page 2.