|
| Affiliation | Republican |
|
| Name | Belle Case La Follette |
| Address |
, Wisconsin , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
April 21, 1859
|
| Died | August 18, 1931
(72 years)
|
| Contributor | Thomas Walker |
| Last Modifed | Craverguy
Feb 06, 2009 06:06pm |
| Tags |
|
| Info | Belle Case La Follette not only has the distinction of being the first woman graduate from the U.W. Law School, but her success in balancing a stable and nurturing family life with an active and distinguished public life is a powerful symbol of modern womanhood. She was a prominent figure in the women's movements of the early 20th century, as well as the supportive wife of Robert La Follette Sr. (Wisconsin congressman, governor and senator, and presidential candidate) and the mother of Phillip (governor), Robert Jr. (senator), and two other children.
Belle Case was born April 21, 1859, in a log cabin in Summit (Juneau County), Wis., to Anton and Mary (Nesbit) Case, who were of English and Scottish descent, and both Unitarian. The family moved to Sauk County in 1862, and Belle attended public school through high school in Baraboo. In 1875 she entered the University of Wisconsin as an undergraduate, studying what was called the "classical course." She joined the Laurean Literary Society, delivered an oration entitled "Children's Playthings" in her junior year, and won the Lewis Oratorical Prize for the best senior oration, entitled "Learning to See." She graduated in 1879 and taught school from 1879 to 1881 - high school in Spring Green and junior high school in Baraboo.
On Dec. 31, 1881, Belle married her former college classmate, Robert La Follette, who was then Dane County district attorney. The ceremony was performed at her home in Baraboo by a Unitarian minister, and by mutual consent the word "obey" was omitted from her marriage vow. Their first child, Fola, was born in 1882. Belle helped Bob with his legal research and writing, and he acknowledged her authorship when her work was praised. She entered the U.W. Law School in 1883, becoming its first woman graduate in 1885, although she never practiced as an attorney. From 1885 to 1891, she acted as Bob's secretary and administrative assistant during his three terms as congressman. When he was defeated and they returned to Wisconsin, she taught adult classes in physical education; lectured on women's suffrage, coeducation, and dress reform; and advocated protective legislation for women and children, as well as public welfare and consumer legislation. In the process Belle met and became friends with Jane Addams and other feminist leaders. The couple's other three children, Robert Jr., Philip, and Mary, were born in 1895, 1897, and 1899, respectively.
Belle was the governor's wife from 1900 to 1905 and returned to Washington in 1906 when Bob became a U.S. senator. In January 1909, she and Bob established La Follette's Weekly Magazine and she edited the "Women and Education Department," writing most of the articles herself. In 1911 and 1912 she wrote a syndicated column for the North American Press Syndicate.
Around 1918 she helped found the Women's Peace Party, which later became the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and after the war she was active in the Women's Committee for World Disarmament. In 1921 she helped found the National Council for the Prevention of War; the convening of the Naval Arms Limitations Conference in 1922 was considered by many to be the work of women like Belle. Upon Bob's death in 1925, she was urged to fill his unexpired term in the Senate but she declined, saying "at no time in my life would I ever have chosen a public career for myself." Their son Robert Jr. was elected instead. Belle took on the associate editorship of La Follette's Magazine and began work on a biography of Bob, which Fola completed after her mother's death. Belle died on Aug. 18, 1931, of complications following a routine medical exam.
|
 | BOOKS |
 |
|
| Title |
Purchase |
Contributor |
|
| Start Date |
End Date |
Type |
Title |
Contributor |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
| INFORMATION LINKS |
|
|
|
