Biographical Database of NAWSA Suffragists, 1890-1920
Biography of Emily Rose Woodford Labelle, 1870-1952
By Kelly McNeil, undergraduate student, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Emily Rose Woodford was born in London, England, around 1870, and she immigrated to the United States in 1885 and became a naturalized citizen. She lived in Philadelphia before moving to New Mexico. In 1908, she married Henry Francis Labelle in Silver City, New Mexico. Originally from Montreal, Quebec, H.F. Labelle was a civil engineer, who took jobs in Cuba and the Philippines before he was forced to return stateside due to health issues. The Labelles moved to Albuquerque around 1911, and H.F. Labelle died of tuberculosis on December 12, 1913.
Emily Labelle supported suffrage and women's interests within Albuquerque and New Mexico. She is listed among New Mexico suffrage workers in the History of Woman Suffrage. In 1918, she was elected treasurer of the Albuquerque YWCA. In 1919, she represented Albuquerque at the state convention of woman's clubs. When the suffrage amendment was in the ratification stage in February 1920, Labelle joined others in writing to her state representative in Washington. The Albuquerque Journal quoted her: “I as an active civic and club worker and as an officer of the national woman's party urge you to give all possible aid toward the ratification of the Susan B. Anthony Amendment.” In October 1920, she toured the state on behalf of the state central committee and organization of democratic women. While active in the club movement for much of her time in Albuquerque, Labelle was president of the Albuquerque Woman's Club from 1922 to 1924, and she held various other positions within the organization.
In August 1923, Emily Labelle married a C. Leon de Aryan (an alias of Constantino Leon Leganopol). The Albuquerque Journal reported on the “surprise wedding,” and it seems the marriage did not last long. By May 1924, she was using the Labelle name again, and the 1930 census records listed her as a widow, although de Aryan was still alive. As early as February 1927, C. Leon de Aryan was listed as a resident of Laguna Beach, California. The two had clearly separated.
Emily Labelle remained in Albuquerque, where she continued her clubwork. In 1949, she fell and broke her hip. Two years later, she moved to Las Vegas, New Mexico, where she died on March 28, 1952.
SOURCES:
American Society of Civil Engineers. “Memoir of Henry Francis Labelle.” Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Volume LXXIX. New York: 1915, pp.1440-1441. GoogleBooks.
“Carlsbad Woman's Club.” Carlsbad Current-Argus (Carlsbad, N. Mex.). May 16, 1924, p.8. Newspapers.com.
“Civic Leaders Greet Guests at Open House.” Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N. Mex.). January 2, 1940, p.8. Newspapers.com.
“Duke City Told Its Wish to Dan Padilla by Wire.” Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N. Mex.). February 19, 1920, p.4. Newspapers.com.
Find a Grave. Henry Francis Labelle. Accessed February 26, 2019. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/190724698/henry-francis-labelle.
Harper, Ida Husted, ed. “New Mexico.” Chapter XXX in History of Woman Suffrage, vol. 6: 1900-1920. New York: National American Woman Suffrage Association, 1922, 434-439. [LINK]
“Hotel Rossmore.” Santa Ana Register (Santa Ana, Calif.). February 17, 1927, p.3. Newspapers.com.
“Mrs. Emily R. Labelle.” Las Vegas Daily Optic (Las Vegas, N. Mex.). March 29, 1952, p.6. Newspapers.com.
“Mrs. Labelle in Hospital.” Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N. Mex.). February 1, 1949, p.14. Newspapers.com.
“Officers Elected by New Directors of Y.W.C.A. Here.” Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N. Mex.). June 28, 1918, p.8. Newspapers.com.
“Organizes Demo Women.” Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N. Mex.). October 25, 1920, p.4. Newspapers.com.
“Result of Woman's Club Election.” Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N. Mex.). January 5, 1924, p.5. Newspapers.com.
Society. Marriage announcement. Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N. Mex.). August 24, 1923, p.5. Newspapers.com.
“State Convention of Woman's Clubs Opens.” Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N. Mex.). October 16, 1919, p.4. Newspapers.com.
United States Census 1910, s.v. “Emily R. Labelle, Silver City, N. Mex.” HeritageQuest.
United States Census 1920, s.v. “Emily R. Labelle, Los Barelos, N. Mex.” HeritageQuest.
United States Census 1930, 1940, s.v. “Emily R. Labelle, Albuquerque, N. Mex.” HeritageQuest.
“Women Seeking Equal Rights with Men.” Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N. Mex.). April 1, 1926, p.3. Newspapers.com.