Tag: Lenna Lowe Yost

Lenna Lowe Yost’s Centennial Tour

 

This is a big year for voting. In particular, it marks 100 years for the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to participate.

The timeline includes these facts:

West Virginia Wesleyan has a direct connection to this story in Lenna Lowe Yost. Earlier this year, I wrote in more detail about her heroic work. You can read about Lenna’s Legacy here.

This year, Dr. Katharine Antolini has created a fun way for all of us to remember and to celebrate Lenna’s Legacy as we celebrate 100 years since the 19th Amendment became law.

Maria Benjamin, daughter of Jon Benjamin in the Art Department and granddaughter of Rob Rupp in the History Department, created this wonderful “Flat Lenna” which was reproduced and distributed to people all across the state. Lenna then “attended” many celebrations and visited many of her old haunts.The photos taken of Lenna became a way for her to revisit many places of importance to her story. 

 

 

“Flat Lenna” was scheduled to attend several suffrage celebrations over the summer of 2020, but the COVID crises sadly ended her travels.  In fact, the last event I attended at WVWC before the campus closed down was a wonderful celebration on March 10. Thanks to Katharine for providing this great tribute to Lenna, her spirit, passion, and her leadership.

 

Bio – Lenna Lowe Yost

Lenna Lowe Yost
Trustee 1927-42

Born: January 25, 1878 (Basnettville, Marion County, WV)

Died: May 5, 1972 (Washington, DC)

Education:

  • 1896-97 West Virginia Conference Seminary (Literary, Art, Music)
  • 1929       West Virginia Wesleyan College (Doctor of Humanities) — the first woman to be so honored. 

Occupation: 

  • 1908-18  President of the West Virginia Women’s Temperance Union
  • 1916 she was also the President of the West Virginia State Suffrage Association
  • 1921, Lenna was appointed by President Warren G. Harding to represent the United States at the International Congress Against Alcoholism which was held in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 1923, he appointed her to that gathering again, but this time in Copenhagen
  • 1921-33 Was the first woman ever appointed to the West Virginia State Board of Education
  • 1923-32 Lenna Lowe Yost served as a member of the Republican National Committee
  • 1928 Responsible for the Federal Prison for Women being located in Alderson, West Virginia. It opened in 1928.
  • 1930-35 Lenna Lowe Yost was appointed by the Republican National Committee to direct women’s activities throughout the nation

Where they lived: Huntington, WV; Washington, D.C.; Fairview, WV; Grand Rapids, MI

Years Served: 1927-1943

Trustee Committees:

  • Degrees 1934-1937; 1939-1943
  • Grounds and Building 1930-1933
  • Honorary Degrees 1937-1939

Sources:

Related Page: Lenna’s Legacy (Blog Post, Paula McGrew 2020-01-20)