The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-03
BEGAN AS TEACHER

pr. Anna Howard Shaw came from England to this country, an unknown pioneer girl of four years, and through her owr efforts eventually became the president Of the National Woman's Suf- rage association. In her girlhood she lived with her parents immigrant fam fly in Michigan wilderness 40 miles from postoffice and 100 miles from a
 railroad, starting her career as school teacher, who walked eight miles a day and received N week. Her home was a tpoverty-strjcken log cabin built by her father, who was compelled to leave his wife and children at the mercy of In-
 dians and wild animals while he earned a living for them.
 From her Michigan home Dr. Shaw
 went to live with one of her married sis ters in northern town. After studying at Albion college from 1872 to 1875, she was graduated from the Boston School of The ology in 1S.S, paying her way through school and college by pfeaching and Tee turing. She suffered extreme poverty during this period, living in an attic in Bostcn. On account of her sex she was refused ordination by the New England conferer ce, and by the general confer ence of the Methodist Episcopal church but in the same year had the honor of being the first woman ordained by the Methodist Protestant church. In her struggles to become minister she fought against ridicule, dissension and lack of the barest necessities.
 After seven years service as preacher to small flock at East Dennis, Mass, pr. Shaw resigned from the pulpit to take up the fight for temperance, for suffrage and for social purity. Her asso- citation through her preaching, with such prominent women as Mary A Livermore and Julia Ward Howe enlarged her view ,f Co yv~,o f<.,, tk cause of suffrage and liberty.
 Dr. Shaw first became lecturer for the Massachusetts Women's Suffrage as- ssociation, and from 1886 to 1892 was na- tional superintendent of franchise On the resignation of Dr. 'Shaw's most inti- mate friend. Miss Susan B. Anthony, in 1900, the presidency of the National Wom- en's Suffrage association rested between pr. Shaw and Mrs. Carrie B. Chap
 man. whom Miss Anthony finally chose as the more experienced, while Dr. Shaw was made vice president-at-large How ever, in 1904. Mrs. Chapman was com pelled to resign on account of i'll health, and Dr. Shaw succeeded her as president
 of the national association from 1904 to 1915
 UNPRECEDENTED PROGRESS
 Her administration was marked with
 unprecedented progress. The number of
 suffrage workers increased from 17.Or
 to 200, 900; one campaign in 10 years was
 replaced by 10 In one year; the expendi-
 lures of the association increased fnom
 $15, 900 to $50,000 annually; the number of
 states with full suffrage grew from four
 to 12, while the whole suffrage move
 ment changed from an academic stage to
 a vital political force arousing the at-
 tention of the entire nation.
 The year 1912 was the banner year for
 Dr. Shaw and the cause, when Arizona.
 Kansas and Oregon received full suf-
 fraRe. During this year Dr. Shaw spoke
 in the principal cities in each of these
 states. making four or five speeches day
 and travelling in any sort of a convey
 ance from freight cars to automobiles.
 Many times during her earlier career.
 pr. Shaw gave proof of her coura geous
 and determined nature. On one occasion
 the free religious group of which she was
 pastor wished to give dance on the
 night of the annual church fair and the
 intrepid little preacher vas obliged to
 threaten the whole congregation with
 arrest to maintain her authority. As a
 country school teacher, she preached her
 first sermon at the suggestion of a friend,
 rehearsing it to the trees and stones in
 advance.
 While in Boston. Dr. Shaw reached
 the point where she had not cent of
 money nor the prospect of earning any.
 Unexpectedly she was asked to do a
 weeks revival work and decided that if
 this brought her enough money for a
 cheap pair of shoes and a few days food, she would continue her course in the ology A shiftless woodsman was once conducting her through northern for est to a town where she was to preach and refused to drive further, whereon the. girl pulled out small revolver and held it at his back until she reached her destination.
 Dr. Shaw was born at Newcastle on Tyne. England. February IA, 1S47 She was never married.