Biographical Database of NAWSA Suffragists, 1890-1920
Biography of Anne M. Campbell (Mrs. Charles Campbell), 1865- ?
By Jeanne M. Vloyanetes, Professor of History, Brookdale Community College
Treasurer, Equal Franchise Society of Hoboken, New Jersey and other civic organizations
Anne M. Campbell, or Mrs. Charles Campbell, as she preferred to be recognized, participated in the suffrage movement through her affiliation with the Equal Franchise Society of Hoboken, New Jersey. Mrs. Campbell, also sometimes noted as Anne M.,Annie, or in one circumstance Josephine, was born in Scotland circa 1865. She emigrated to the United States, most likely around 1884, and married Charles Campbell, also a Scottish immigrant, in 1889. The Campbells were living in New York when their only child, Charles H., was born in 1890. By 1895 the Campbells were living in Hoboken, where Charles made his living as a stonecutter. According to the Hoboken First United Presbyterian Church, Charles Campbell died on November 11, 1903. There is no record that Mrs. Campbell ever remarried.
On February 25, 1910, the Equal Franchise Society established its first New Jersey branch. Members of the locally prominent Stevens family hosted the organizing meeting at their Castle Point home in Hoboken. Mrs. Charles Campbell was one of the attendees. Out of the over 200 women present, Mrs. Campbell was elected to fill the role of treasurer for the fledgling group. She was re-elected as treasurer in 1912.
The Equal Franchise Society attracted socially prominent women and men advocating women's suffrage. In March 1915, the Hoboken newspaper, New Inquirer, reported about members of the Society forming a class to practice their public speaking skills. It was noted that, "Mrs. Charles Campbell made her strong point in the statement that a bill is now before the Legislature which will make it impossible for the Inter-State Commerce Commission to handle goods manufactured by child labor. She also told of her experience as an assistant of Miss Marlin at the noon-day meetings at the fire houses of the city departments." Despite the Equal Franchise Society's best efforts, a special state-wide election in October 1915 to amend the New Jersey Constitution for women's suffrage was voted down. The New York Times reported that, "In Hoboken every one of the forty-five election districts went against the amendment."By 1917, he Equal Franchise Society and the Women's Political Union both voted to disband and merge with the NJWSA, New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association, continuing the fight for the vote.
The Equal Franchise Society was just one of many causes which benefitted from the volunteerism of Mrs. Charles Campbell. In addition to her suffrage work, between 1906 and 1930, Mrs. Campbell also devoted her energies in a variety of local civic organizations. Over the many years she lived in Hoboken, Mrs. Campbell volunteered, frequently serving as treasurer for organizations including: The First United Presbyterian Church of Hoboken [1907], the United Aid Society, and its Home for Children [1911], the Hoboken Women's Club [1911] and its Anti-Tuberculosis Committee [1913], the Legal Aid Society of Hoboken [1917, 1918] and the Hoboken Ter-Centenary [1930]. Clearly, Mrs. Charles Campbell had a strong commitment to service in her community.
During the years 1920 – 1930, Anne M. Campbell worked in a salaried position as an investigator for the State of New Jersey. Her son, Charles H. Campbell, became a Presbyterian clergyman. After serving as a member of the Women's Division for Hoboken's Ter-Centenary celebration in 1930, Mrs. Charles Campbell faded from the public record. No public documents after 1930 appear to mention Mrs. Charles Campbell.
Sources:
"Activity of Suffragettes," The Herald-News (Passaic N.J.), 8 June 1912, pg. 8. Newspapers.com, Accessed 29 June, 2019.
"Chapter XI: The National American Convention of 1911." History of Woman Suffrage, Vol. 5: 1900-1920. Ed. Ida Husted Harper. New York: National American Woman Suffrage Association, 1922. 348-69. Alexander Street Database. Web.
"Chapter XXIX: New Jersey, Part I." History of Woman Suffrage, Vol. 6: 1900-1920. Ed. Ida Husted Harper. New York: National American Woman Suffrage Association, 1922. 417. Alexander Street Database. Web.
Directory of Public Officials, Educational, Civic & Charitable Organizations, Churches & Religious Congregations of the City of Hoboken, 1911. In Hoboken Historical Museum Online Collections Database.https://hoboken.pastperfectonline.comWeb.
"First United Presbyterian Church, Hoboken, New Jersey". U.S. Church Records, Family Search Database. Web.
Hoboken Ter-Centenary, October 4th to 12th, 1930. 1630-1930. Official Program.In Hoboken Historical Museum Online Collections Database.https://hoboken.pastperfectonline.com Web.
National Conference of Legal Aid Bureaus and Societies. Proceedings of the National Alliance of Legal Aid Societies.Boston : s.n., 1911-1922.
"New Jersey Beats Suffrage by 46,278; While President Wilson Vote 'Yes,' Mrs. Galt, His Fiancée, Is Out as Anti," The New York Times, 20 October 1915, pg. 1.
NJ Census 1895, Hoboken, New Jersey – Ancestry.comNJ Census 1905, Hoboken, New Jersey – Ancestry.comNJ Census 1915, Hoboken, New Jersey – Ancestry.com
"N.J. Suffragists are Organized," The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, NJ), 26 February 1910, pg. 3. Newspapers.com, Accessed 29 June, 2019.
"Organize for Equal Franchise," Passaic Daily News, 26 February 1910, pg. 1. Newspapers.com, Accessed 29 June, 2019.
"Suffrage Classes a New Feature of Fight for Ballot,"New Inquirer (Hoboken, NJ), March 13, 1915. In Papers of Florence G. Miller, Hoboken Historical Museum Online Collections Database. https://hoboken.pastperfectonline.com, Web.
US Census 1900-1930 Hoboken, New Jersey – Ancestry.