Jean Brooks Greenleaf papers
Creator: Greenleaf, Jean Brooks, 1831-
Call Number: D.300
Dates: 1894-1912
Physical Description: 2 boxes
Language(s): Materials are in English
Repository: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Table of Contents:

Biographical/Historical Note
Scope and Content
Subject(s)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Access
Use
Citation
Content List
Box 1 Letter from Clara Neymann, June 12, 1894
Box 1 Letter from Greenleaf to the executor of her estate re: Vahan Abkarian, July 12, 1912
Box 1 Rochester Political Equality Club pamphlet, 1903-1904
Box 1 Postcard depicting the former Greenleaf home in Charlotte, NY where Halbert died in 1906
Box 1 Petition for Woman Suffrage booklet used to collect signatures in each county of New York State, 1894
Box 1 Photographs
Box 1 22" gold-colored satin "Votes for Women" sash
Box 1 14K gold pin from the founder's chapter of the American Woman's League
Box 2 Large scrapbook kept by Jean Brooks Greenleaf composed of clippings about notable people
Collection Overview
Title: Jean Brooks Greenleaf papers
Creator: Greenleaf, Jean Brooks, 1831-
Call Number: D.300
Dates: 1894-1912
Physical Description: 2 boxes
Language(s): Materials are in English
Repository: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Biographical/Historical Note
Jean Brooks Greenleaf was born on October 1, 1831 in Bernardston, Massachusetts, where she attended public schools before enrolling in the Melrose Seminary in West Brattleboro, Vermont. She was forced to leave school due to her mother's ailing health, and married Halbert S. Greenleaf in 1862. The couple moved to Rochester, New York in 1867 where Mr. Greenleaf worked as a lock manufacturer and served two terms in the US Congress.

Jean Brooks Greenleaf was active in the Rochester Community, chairing the committee that drafted the constitution of the Woman's Educational and Industrial Union (founded 1893) and the organizational meeting of the Women's Ethical Club in 1889. Greenleaf joined the Women's Political Club (formed in 1886) and became its second president in May of 1888. She was elected President of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association (NYSWSA) in 1890 at the state convention held in Rochester, a position she held until 1896.

Greenleaf was a delegate to the House Judiciary Committee hearing on suffrage on February 17, 1892. She worked on the Second New York Campaign for woman suffrage, which was run from the home of Susan B. Anthony on Madison Street in Rochester, between 1893 and 1894. She addressed the Suffrage Committee of New York State's Constitutional Convention on 24 May 1894, along with Susan B. Anthony. Greenleaf shared a personal friendship with Anthony, as evidenced by her presence at many small gatherings at the Anthony home.

Scope and Content
The collection contains photographs of Greenleaf throughout her life, as well as a candid photograph of Greenleaf speaking with Susan B. Anthony taken by Vahan Abkarian. Two letters are included, along with a "Votes for Women" satin sash and a pin from the American Women's League.

Subject(s):
Women--Suffrage
Women's rights
Photographs
Clothing
Jewelry
Correspondence
Postcards
Albums (Books)
Greenleaf, Jean Brooks, 1831-
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Collection was the property of Vahan Abkarian, who was Greenleaf's caretaker during the last years of her life. Purchased from Rob McElroy July 1, 2003 on FHA-Seward Fund.Access
The Jean Brooks Greenleaf papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.Use
Reproductions are made upon request but can be subject to restrictions. Permission to publish materials from the collection must currently be requested. Please note that some materials may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information contact rarebks@library.rochester.eduCitation
[Item title, item date], Jean Brooks Greenleaf papers, D.300, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Administrative Information
Author: Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
Publisher: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Address:
Rush Rhees Library
Second Floor, Room 225
Rochester, NY 14627-0055
rarebks@library.rochester.edu
URL:


Content List