May Kennedy Goodridge
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May Kennedy (1876-1974) was a suffragist and activist in the Dominion of Newfoundland.
Life
[edit]May Kennedy was born into a prosperous family in St. John's, Newfoundland, and educated at a convent school in Waterford, Ireland.[1] As the last remaining child in the family, May Kennedy inherited a substantial fortune. She became active in the Newfoundland suffrage movement as a single woman, independently wealthy, but not allowed to vote.
Kennedy was active in the St. John's-based Ladies Reading Room[2][3] and the Women's Patriotic Association (WPA). During WWI, Kennedy worked at the Navy and Military Convalescent Hospital, Waterford Hall in St. John's, as a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), providing nursing care to recovering soldiers. Many of the suffrage leaders sat on the committee of control for this hospital.[1]
May Kennedy joined the Newfoundland Women's Franchise League at its founding meeting in 1920 and became Honorary Treasurer.[4][5] She travelled to important international franchise meetings - Baltimore, Washington and Paris in particular - representing Newfoundland women for enfranchisement.[6] In 1925, when women in Newfoundland achieved the right to vote, Kennedy, along with labour activist Julia Salter Earle and suffragist Fannie Knowling McNeil, ran for seats on St. John's city council.[2] All were defeated, but gained many votes and established women's right to political office.
She married Thomas Goodridge late in her life and had no children.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Duley, M. (1993). Where Once Our Mothers Stood We Stand, 1890-1925. Charlottetown, PEI: Gynergy Books. ISBN 092188124X.
- ^ a b Higgins, J. "Women's Suffrage". www.heritage.nf.ca. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
- ^ Women’s History Group. "Ladies' Reading Room". Retrieved December 4, 2019.
- ^ a b Duley, M. (1993). "'Radius of Her Influence for Good': The Rise and Triumph of the Women's Suffrage Movement in Newfoundland, 1909-1925.". In Kealey, L. (ed.). Pursuing Equality: historical perspectives on women in Newfoundland & Labrador. St. John’s, NL: Institute for Social and Economic Research. pp. 14-65. ISBN 0919666779.
- ^ Barker, J. (March 9, 2018). "93 years of suffrage for Newfoundland and Labrador women". The Telegram. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- ^ "Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador" (PDF). Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador. p. 561. Retrieved December 3, 2019.