LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the birth
of Elizabeth Cady Stanton

WHEREAS, November 12, 2015, marks the Bicentennial of the birth of
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, one of the founders and leading voices of the
women's rights movement; and
WHEREAS, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born on November 12, 1815 in
Johnstown, New York, to Daniel Cady and Margaret Livingston Cady; her
father was a prominent attorney who also served as a State Legislator,
Congressman and Judge; and
WHEREAS, She was educated at the Johnstown Academy and at the Troy
Female Seminary, which had been established by Emma Willard; and
WHEREAS, In 1840, she married Henry Stanton, a reformer and abolition-
ist, and together they had seven children; and
WHEREAS, Through her personal experiences, and through observation of
her father's law practice, she became aware of the inequities and injus-
tices faced by women, leading to her lifelong efforts for women's
rights; and
WHEREAS, She circulated petitions and advocated in New York State for
passage of the Married Woman's Property Bill, which was signed into law
in 1848; and
WHEREAS, Her family moved to Seneca Falls, New York, in 1847; working
with four other women, including Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton
organized the first Women's Rights Convention, which was held in Seneca
Falls in July 1848; she is credited with being one of the primary
authors of the Convention's Declaration of Sentiments, which was modeled
after the Declaration of Independence, and is considered to be a found-
ing document of the woman's suffrage movement; and
WHEREAS, In 1851, Elizabeth Cady Stanton met Susan B. Anthony, which
began a long friendship and partnership in the fight for women's equal-
ity; and
WHEREAS, Elizabeth Cady Stanton participated in the abolition movement
and the temperance movement, but was most active in, and best known for,
her efforts on behalf of a wide range of women's rights, especially the
right to vote; and
WHEREAS, Although she died on October 25, 1902, Elizabeth Cady
Stanton's lifelong efforts laid the groundwork for the ratification in
1920 of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave
women the right to vote; and
WHEREAS, Several historical markers have been erected in her hometown
of Johnstown to honor her efforts and legacy; local residents have also
established the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Women's Consortium in 2006, and
the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Hometown Association in 2008; and
WHEREAS, The City of Johnstown and the County of Fulton are very proud
of the accomplishments and legacy of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and several
local organizations are holding special events in 2015 in honor of the
200th Anniversary of her birth; and
WHEREAS, This Bicentennial is also being observed and celebrated by
the National Park Service, which operates the Women's Rights National
Historical Park in Seneca Falls, and provides tours of the house in
which she lived from 1847 to 1862; and
WHEREAS, In 1973, she was part of the first group of women inducted
into the National Women's Hall of Fame; her biographical entry notes
that she is "Widely credited as one of the founding geniuses of the
women's rights movement"; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of her contributions and achievements, the New
York State Legislature passed a law in 2006 which designated November
12th to be Elizabeth Cady Stanton Day; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Elizabeth Cady Stanton
of Johnstown, New York, and to acknowledge and celebrate her dedication
and accomplishments in the cause of women's rights; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Women's Consortium, the Elizabeth
Cady Stanton Hometown Association, and the City of Johnstown.