"When the Quakers were founded... one of their principles was and is equality of the sexes. So I never had any other idea...the principle was always there."
-Alice Paul, 1974 (Alice Paul: Feminist)
Early Life
Alice Paul was born in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, on January 11, 1885 (Alice Paul. America Memory). She grew up the eldest of four children, on her family's farm. Alice was raised with the belief that all people are equal, regardless of gender. |
"Alice was recognized by both her parents as the smartest and most competent among their offspring of two girls and two boys. This founding sister never suffered from the parental favoritism for sons..." -Sisters
Current day Moorestown, New Jersey
Schooling
In school Alice outshined all the other students and graduated top in her class. Then she attended Swarthmore College, graduating in 1905 with a degree in social science (Sewall-Belmont). After that she worked in New York as a social worker, before returning to school at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1907 she earned her doctorate in sociology (Encyclopedia Britannica), which was very rare for women of that era. Paul then went to England to study and learn more about women's rights.
"If you want something hard and disagreeable done, I bank on Alice to do it."
-William Paul, father of Alice Paul (Sisters)