The Oberlin Heritage Center is throwing a birthday party for one of Oberlin College’s earliest and best known female graduates, abolitionist and women’s suffragist Lucy Stone (class of 1847). The event takes place at the Little Red Schoolhouse on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. with birthday cake and plenty of 19th century merriment! Brief remarks will be offered at 4:15 p.m., including excerpts from one of Stone’s speeches, presented by Jen Graham.

Lucy Stone’s legacy has been an inspiration to women’s rights advocates far and wide in the two centuries following her birth. Many know of Stone’s protest against unequal laws applicable to married women when, in 1855, Stone married Henry B. Blackwell, yet retained her maiden name. The term “Lucy Stoner” continues to this day to be synonymous with women who do not change their names upon marriage.  Local “Lucy Stoners” are especially encouraged to stop by the Heritage Center’s salute to Stone and join in a fun photo opportunity.