ALICE PAUL
Alice Paul was the architect of some of the most outstanding
political achievements on behalf of women in the 20th century.
Born on January 11, 1885 to Quaker parents in Mt. Laurel, New
Jersey, Alice Paul dedicated her life to the single cause of
securing equal rights for all women.
Few individuals have had as much impact on American history as
has Alice Paul. Her life symbolizes the long struggle for
justice in the United States and around the world. Her vision
was the ordinary notion that women and men should be equal
partners in society.
When you put your hand to the plow, you can't put it down
until you get to the end of the row.
-Alice Paul recalling the advice of her mother
Growing up at Paulsdale
William and Tacie Paul married in 1881 and moved into
Paulsdale in 1883. Two years later, their first child, Alice,
was born, followed by William in 1886, Helen in 1889 and
Parry in 1895. Alice's father was a successful businessman
and, as the president of the Burlington County Trust Company
in Moorestown, NJ, earned a comfortable living. His economic
success allowed Paulsdale to become a gentleman's farm; family
members may have had some farm chores, but hired hands
actually provided a majority of the farm labor. Alice's life
on the "home farm" (as she referred to her home) marked her
early childhood and is reflected in her work as an adult. As
Hicksite Quakers, Alice's parents raised her with a belief in
gender equality, and the need to work for the betterment of
society. Hicksite Quakers stressed separation from the
burgeoning materialistic society and advocated the benefits of
staying close to nature. Paulsdale reflected this ideal; the
265-acre farm was situated away from the town, isolated but
not closed to society.
Despite their relative wealth and in accordance with Quaker
practice, the Pauls lived very simply. Alice and her siblings
likely had many domestic and agricultural responsibilities
instilling the values of industry and perseverance; two
lessons critical for her later success. Though it followed
Quaker designs for simplicity, Paulsdale boasted many
comforts. The house was large and spacious, possessing indoor
plumbing, electricity and a telephone by the early twentieth
century. A wraparound porch overlooked the farmyard complete
with a barn, hen house, icehouse, and several peach orchards.
Irish maids and hired hands carried out the most arduous work,
allowing Alice and her siblings to enjoy leisure activities,
such as playing tennis at Paulsdale's own court or sitting
under the shade of the massive Copper Beech tree watching the
goldfish in the pond. Alice was an excellent student, a
voracious reader, and played several extracurricular sports in
school including basketball, baseball and field hockey.
The most enduring legacy of Paulsdale was its role in the
suffrage movement and the resulting influence it had upon
Alice. Alice's suffrage ideas were planted early as Tacie, who
as a member of the National American Woman Suffrage
Association attended women suffrage meetings-- often with
Alice in tow. Tacie may have also held meetings at Paulsdale
or entertained members afterwards. It was at Paulsdale, Paul
noted years later, that she was first introduced to the
suffrage movement.
When a Newsweek interviewer asked Paul why she dedicated the
whole of her life to women's equality, she credited her farm
upbringing by quoting an adage she learned from her mother,
"When you put your hand to the plow, you can't put it down
until you get to the end of the row."
Alice Paul was the architect of some of the most outstanding
political achievements on behalf of women in the 20th century.
Born on January 11, 1885 to Quaker parents in Mt. Laurel, New
Jersey, Alice Paul dedicated her life to the single cause of
securing equal rights for all women.
Few individuals have had as much impact on American history as
has Alice Paul. Her life symbolizes the long struggle for
justice in the United States and around the world. Her vision
was the ordinary notion that women and men should be equal
partners in society.
When you put your hand to the plow, you can't put it down
until you get to the end of the row.
-Alice Paul recalling the advice of her mother
Growing up at Paulsdale
William and Tacie Paul married in 1881 and moved into
Paulsdale in 1883. Two years later, their first child, Alice,
was born, followed by William in 1886, Helen in 1889 and
Parry in 1895. Alice's father was a successful businessman
and, as the president of the Burlington County Trust Company
in Moorestown, NJ, earned a comfortable living. His economic
success allowed Paulsdale to become a gentleman's farm; family
members may have had some farm chores, but hired hands
actually provided a majority of the farm labor. Alice's life
on the "home farm" (as she referred to her home) marked her
early childhood and is reflected in her work as an adult. As
Hicksite Quakers, Alice's parents raised her with a belief in
gender equality, and the need to work for the betterment of
society. Hicksite Quakers stressed separation from the
burgeoning materialistic society and advocated the benefits of
staying close to nature. Paulsdale reflected this ideal; the
265-acre farm was situated away from the town, isolated but
not closed to society.
Despite their relative wealth and in accordance with Quaker
practice, the Pauls lived very simply. Alice and her siblings
likely had many domestic and agricultural responsibilities
instilling the values of industry and perseverance; two
lessons critical for her later success. Though it followed
Quaker designs for simplicity, Paulsdale boasted many
comforts. The house was large and spacious, possessing indoor
plumbing, electricity and a telephone by the early twentieth
century. A wraparound porch overlooked the farmyard complete
with a barn, hen house, icehouse, and several peach orchards.
Irish maids and hired hands carried out the most arduous work,
allowing Alice and her siblings to enjoy leisure activities,
such as playing tennis at Paulsdale's own court or sitting
under the shade of the massive Copper Beech tree watching the
goldfish in the pond. Alice was an excellent student, a
voracious reader, and played several extracurricular sports in
school including basketball, baseball and field hockey.
The most enduring legacy of Paulsdale was its role in the
suffrage movement and the resulting influence it had upon
Alice. Alice's suffrage ideas were planted early as Tacie, who
as a member of the National American Woman Suffrage
Association attended women suffrage meetings-- often with
Alice in tow. Tacie may have also held meetings at Paulsdale
or entertained members afterwards. It was at Paulsdale, Paul
noted years later, that she was first introduced to the
suffrage movement.
When a Newsweek interviewer asked Paul why she dedicated the
whole of her life to women's equality, she credited her farm
upbringing by quoting an adage she learned from her mother,
"When you put your hand to the plow, you can't put it down
until you get to the end of the row."