Photograph, Cabinet

Description

Studio portrait of Eldresses Antoinette Doolittle (1811-1886) and Anna White (1830-1910). A newspaper article is pasted to the back of this card. The article describes "Eldress Antoinette Doolittle, a pleasant-faced, elderly lady, then made a brief address, ... She traced the various events which mark America as destined for the development of humanity at its highest condition, and spoke eloquently in favor of woman's right to the franchise, saying that if the Ship of State was not fit for fremaloes the best course would be to cleanse and fumigate it.... Eldress Doolittle was listened to with deep interest, and was frequently interrupted by applause." The article likely describes the Shakers lecture at Steinway Hall in Brooklyn on November 22, 1874 and it is possible that this photograph was taken at the time of their visit. Doolittle and White were both in attendance at that lecture.