Abby Kelley, born in Massachusetts in 1811, became a prominent figure in the abolitionist movement and an early advocate for women’s rights. Educated at a Quaker boarding school in Rhode Island, she began her career as a teacher before joining the Female Anti-Slavery Society in Lynn, Massachusetts. Kelley’s activism took a dramatic turn in 1838 when her first public speech in Philadelphia was met with violent opposition, resulting in the burning of the meeting hall by a mob.

Over the next two decades, she tirelessly traveled across the North, speaking on abolition and human rights, and connecting her advocacy for the abolition of enslavement with the burgeoning women’s rights movement. Kelley challenged the traditional view of a woman’s role being confined to the home, arguing that in fighting for the rights of enslaved persons, women recognized their own oppression.

Her personal life was as bold as her public endeavors. She was married to fellow abolitionist Stephen S. Foster and continued to lecture even after the birth of her daughter in 1847, stating that her activism was in part to ensure a free country for her child. Abby Kelley’s legacy, the authors note, is marked by her impact on the rights of speech and activism for women and her unwavering commitment to the abolition of enslavement.