52. Matilda Joslyn Gage Center

New York State historical marker standing before the Gage Center in Fayetteville, New York.

History has almost forgotten that in their heyday, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Matilda Joslyn Gage were known as the "triumvirate" at the helm of the woman's rights movement. Anthony was accommodating toward religion, eventually welcoming the conservative Women's Christian Temperance Union into the suffrage movement. Stanton published her radical critiques of religion such as The Woman's Bible only after she had established her reputation as a pillar of the suffrage movement. Gage, on the other hand, was always outspoken in challenging religion, sharply criticizing Christianity for institutionalizing discrimination against women. Still, her memory has not been forgotten, and a new generation of historians and feminist activists are rediscovering Gage's unique vision and wit.

In addition to her work for suffrage and freethought, Gage was also active on the Underground Railroad (this house was a stop). She's also remembered for her son-in-law, L. Frank Baum, a frequent guest at this house and author of The Wizard of Oz and its many sequels. Baum avidly absorbed his mother-in-law's freethought views: think of that the next time you watch Toto peek behind the curtain and expose the false wizard!

The newly-restored Matilda Joslyn Gage Center now welcomes the public to visit the home where Gage carried out her work for social justice for 46 years, and dialogue about the burning issues of the day. Call 315-637-9511 or email: foundation@matildajoslyngage.org for tour times.

This site has been included among two hundred sites on the New York State Path Through History. For announcement, click here. For full list of Path Through History sites, click here.