Accessible Archives Adds First Newspaper Published for Women To Database

The Lily takes its place as the ninth database compiled by Accessible Archives. Under the editorship of Amelia Bloomer it was first published in Seneca Falls, New York 1849-1853, and later in Mount Vernon, Ohio 1854-1856, eventually attaining a national circulation of over 6,000. Priced at 50 cents a year, The Lily began as a temperance journal for “home distribution” among members of the Seneca Falls Ladies Temperance Society, which had formed in 1848. It was not at first a radical paper, its editorial stance conforming to the emerging stereotype of women as “defenders of the home.”

While The Lily always maintained its focus on temperance – fillers often told horror stories about the effects of alcohol – the newspaper soon began to include articles about other subjects of interest to women, many from the pen of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Stanton’s earliest articles dealt with temperance, child-bearing and education, but she soon turned to the issue of women’s rights, writing about laws unfair to women and demanding change. Bloomer’s name also became associated with an unusual pants-and-tunic outfit that came to be known as the “Bloomer costume” because she wrote illustrated articles about it in The Lily and wore the costume herself.

Tom Nagy, Accessible Archives COO, discussed the new database: “Our decision to make The Lily available was influenced by requests from customers already accessing our database Godey’s Lady’s Book. The Lily’s local and national focus on both temperance and women’s rights provides a unique complement to our other databases.”

About Accessible Archives, Inc.

Founded in 1990, Accessible Archives utilizes computer technology and a team of conversion specialists to provide vast quantities of archived historical information previously available only in microformat, hard copy or as images only. Diverse primary source materials reflecting broad views across American history and culture have been assembled into comprehensive databases. Developed by dedicated instructors and students of Americana, these databases allow access to the rich store of materials from leading books, newspapers and periodicals then current.

Accessible Archives will continue to add titles covering important topics and time periods to assist scholars and students at all academic levels. Accessible Archives has retained Unlimited Priorities LLC as its exclusive sales and marketing agent.