Lillie Devereux Blake

Biography

Lillie Devereux Blake came of age in the vibrant literary circles of mid-19th century New York and used her talent with the written word to challenge the limited roles offered to women. Her essays, novels, and speeches made clear the injustice of a system that denied property rights, school suffrage, and equal guardianship to so many, and her sharp wit kept the conversation alive in salons and legislative halls alike.

As her public voice grew, she devoted equal energy to organizing women's clubs and traveling the state to encourage women to speak at hearings, found new civic groups, and support public education. Those efforts, alongside her steadfast support for younger advocates, left a legacy of greater opportunity and civic confidence for the women who followed her, and her grave at Union Cemetery remains a quiet place where admirers recall her steady counsel.