Gordon, Anna Adams (1853–1931)

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Gordon, Anna Adams (1853–1931)

American social reformer. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, July 21, 1853; died in Castile, NY, June 15, 1931; dau. of James Monroe Gordon (bank cashier and treasurer of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions) and Mary Elizabeth (Clarkson) Gordon; attended Mt. Holyoke Seminary, 1871–72, and Lasell Seminary, Auburndale, MA; never married; no children; lived with Frances Willard.

Became secretary to Frances E. Willard (1877); joined Woman's Christian Temperance Union (1879), serving as vice president (1898–1925); appointed superintendent of juvenile work, World Woman's Christian Temperance Union (1891), and advanced to president (1922); author of several books, including The Beautiful Life of Frances E. Willard (1898), and song collections, among them Young People's Temperance Chorus Book (1911), Marching Songs for Young Crusaders (1916), and Jubilee Songs (1923).

See also Women in World History.