Julia Ward Howe

  • American

In 1863, while in Washington, DC, with her husband, a prominent director of the newly named Perkins Institution for the Blind, Julia Ward Howe composed a poem to the cadence of "John Brown's Body" and called it the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Reportedly, the poem's moving words caused Abraham Lincoln to cry and subsequently brought Julia Ward Howe immense recognition. Before writing the poem, Howe was active as an abolitionist. Later, after seeing the goals of the abolitionist movement fulfilled, she took up the cause of women's suffrage. Throughout their stormy marriage, Julia and her husband made contributions to many humanitarian causes. It was said of Julia Ward Howe that in the last third of the 19th century, "no movement or 'cause' in which women were interested, from suffrage, to pure milk for babies, could be launched without her." Howe was the first president of the New England Women Suffrage Association, a pivotal figure in the Branch of the Women's Suffrage Association and the first president of the American Branch of the Women's International Peace Association, peace being a cause to which she devoted the bulk of her attention for many years. Two of Julia's daughters, Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards and Maude Howe Elliott enjoyed prominence as authors and activists. Julia Ward Howe is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. - NPS


Lineage

Works about Julia Ward Howe
Themes with Julia Ward Howe

Timeline

Y/M/D Description Association Composition Place Locale Food Event
Y/M/D Description Association Composition Place Locale Food Event
1819/05/27 Julia Ward is born in New York City. Born
1824/11/09 Julia Ward's mother, the published poet Julia Rush Cutler, dies of tuberculosis in New York City. Mourner
1838/01/25 Emily Astor marries Samuel Cutler Ward Bridesmaid Rokeby Red Hook Marriage of Emily Astor and Samuel Cutler Ward
1854/11/09 Julia Ward Howe, wife of Samuel Gridley Howe, gives birth to a daughter, Maud Howe at the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston. Mother
1861/11/18 After hearing, "John Brown's Body", after a review of Union Infantry outside Washington on Upton Hill in Virginia, Rev James Clarke, suggest to Howe that she could write new words for the fight song. "I wish I might!," replied Mrs Howe. Lyricist The Battle Hymn of the Republic Arlington, VA Virginia
1861/11/18 After hearing, "John Brown's Body", after a review of Union Infantry outside Washington on Upton Hill in Virginia, Rev James Clarke, suggest to Howe that she could write new words for the fight song. "I wish I might!," replied Mrs Howe. Lyricist John Brown's Body (song) Arlington, VA Virginia
1861/11/19 Staying at the Willard Hotel in Washington on the night of November 18, Howe awakes and write the verses to the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" in the gray of the morning twilight. Lyricist The Battle Hymn of the Republic Willard Hotel Washington, DC
1862/02/00 "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" is published in The Atlantic Monthly. Lyricist The Battle Hymn of the Republic
1863/00/00 Howe home 1863-1866 Home Samuel Gridley and Julia Ward Howe House Boston
1876/07/00 As copper is removed from the roof of Old South Meetinghouse, a group of 20 Boston women organize to buy the building and enlist Ralph W Emerson, Julia W Howe, Henry W Longfellow, Louisa M Alcott and Wendell Phillips to rally people to pledge funds. Benefactor Old South Meetinghouse Boston
1880/04/04 Friends of James Freeman Clarke, including William H Channing, Rev Henry W Foote, Julia Ward Howe and Dr O W Holmes, honor Clarke on his birthday with poem, song and story. Life Church of the Disciples Boston
1882/07/15 At an invitation from Julia Ward Howe, Oscar Wilde lectures at the Newport Casino Theater in Newport, Rhode Island. Hostess Newport Casino Newport, RI Oscar Wilde's 1882 Lecture Tour Of America
1890/08/07 Maud and Julia Howe attend a garden party at the Vanderbilt's home on the cliffs, with the wonderful lawn leading down to the cliffs which overhang the ocean. Guest Marble House Newport, RI
1910/10/17 Julia Ward Howe dies of pneumonia at her home, Oak Glen, in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. She is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. Died Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge Cambridge, MA
1910/10/17 Julia Ward Howe dies of pneumonia at her home, Oak Glen, in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. She is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. Died Oak Glen Portsmouth, RI

1 Creative Work by Julia Ward Howe »

Title Type Association Y/M/D Moniker
Title Type Association Y/M/D Moniker
The Battle Hymn of the Republic Lyricist Song 1862/02/00
  • 80 or So Notable Poems to Read for a Life List

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