Helen Lathrop Gilbert Ecob (c.1850 – December 27, 1934) was an American writer and suffragist. Ecob was well known for her 1892 book on women's fashion reform, The Well-Dressed Woman: A Study in the Practical Application to Dress of the Laws of Health, Art, and Morals. She was involved in dress reform and women's suffrage throughout her life.
Biography edit
Ecob was born in Gilbertsville, New York.[1] She married a minister, James Henry Ecob, in the early 1870s.[2] The Ecobs would have four children together.[2] They moved to Albany, New York, in 1881 and then to Denver in 1893.[2] The family moved to Philadelphia in September 1898 and then on to Flushing, New York, in 1907.[2]
Ecob's husband died in New York on November 6, 1921.[3] Ecob died on December 27, 1934, at her daughter's house in Suffern, New York.[1] Their daughter Katherine G. Ecob became a noted psychologist and New York State official on mental hygiene issues.[4]
Work edit
Ecob was a well-known leader in the woman's suffrage movement, according to the Rockland County Journal News.[5] In Denver, Ecob would see the effects of women's suffrage in Colorado.[2] She was quoted on her opinion about suffrage for women in Colorado in The Blue Book, which was a compiled list of arguments for women's suffrage.[6] In 1893, Ecob served on Dress Committee of the National Council of Women.[7] Ecob was present for the final hearing on the women's suffrage amendment for the New York State Constitutional Convention in Albany, New York, and had spoken on the topic to the committees involved.[8][9] In 1910, Ecob and her daughter, Frances, spoke at the Queens County Courthouse on matters relating to women's suffrage.[10] Ecob was currently leading the Queens Equal Suffrage Movement while her daughter was the leader of the Flushing Suffragettes.[10]
Writing edit
Ecob's 1892 book, The Well-Dressed Woman: A Study in the Practical Application to Dress of the Laws of Health, Art, and Morals, was written to reform the way women dressed and to promote their health and well-being.[11][12] The book was also concerned with women's health in relation to what women wear.[13][14] Ecob was very firm on the idea that corsets and tight items of underclothing were unhealthy.[15][16] The Well-Dressed Woman also included diagrams and illustrations of more comfortable styles of dress for women.[17]
Ecob also wrote essays for the magazine, The Congregationalist.[2]
References edit
- ^ a b "Helen Gilbert Ecob". Rockland County Journal-News. 28 December 1934. Retrieved 9 January 2019 – via New York State Historic Newspapers.
- ^ a b c d e f Klenin, Emily (19 September 2019). "James Henry Ecob". Dictionary of Unitarian & Universalist Biography. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
- ^ "Ecob". The New York Times. 1921-11-07. p. 15. Retrieved 2020-01-09 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Katherine G. Ecob". The Oneonta Star. 1971-02-20. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-06-15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mrs. Helen Ecob's Rites Tomorrow". Rockland County Journal News. 29 December 1934. Retrieved 9 January 2020 – via New York State Historic Newspapers.
- ^ Björkman, Frances M.; Porritt, Annie G., eds. (1917). The Blue Book: Woman Suffrage History Arguments and Results (PDF). New York: National Woman Suffrage Publishing Co., Inc.
- ^ Cunningham 2003, p. 65.
- ^ "Final Hearing of Suffragists". The Evening Herald. 11 April 1895. Retrieved 9 January 2020 – via New York State Historic Newspapers.
- ^ "The constitutional Convention Hard at Work Again". The Recorder. 14 June 1894. Retrieved 9 January 2020 – via New York State Historic Newspapers.
- ^ a b "A Suffragette Invasion". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1910-06-24. p. 6. Retrieved 2020-01-08 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Literary Notices". Good Health. 27: 320. October 1892 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "The Well-Dressed Woman". The San Francisco Call. 1892-12-18. p. 9. Retrieved 2020-01-07 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jack, Zachary Michael, ed. (2006). Love of the Land: Essential Farm and Conservation Readings from an American Golden Age, 1880-1920. Youngstown, New York: Cambria Press. pp. 158–159. ISBN 978-1-62196-881-8.
- ^ "Some New Books". Boston Post. 1893-01-21. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-01-06 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hillis, Marjorie (1937-12-16). "The Gay Nineties". Detroit Free Press. p. 18. Retrieved 2020-01-07 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Cunningham 2003, p. 89.
- ^ "Literary Notes". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1892-12-15. p. 9. Retrieved 2020-01-07 – via Newspapers.com.
Sources edit
- Cunningham, Patricia A. (2003). Reforming Women's Fashion, 1850-1920: Politics, Health, and Art. Kent, Ohio: The Kent State University Press. ISBN 0873387422.
External links edit
Media related to Helen Gilbert Ecob at Wikimedia Commons