Born: May 27, 1819 Died: Oct. 17, 1910 Biography: Julia Ward was born on May 27, 1819, in New York City. She was the third of six children born to Samuel Ward and Julia Rush Cutler. Her father was a well-to-do banker. She developed radical political opinions early in life, and was active in the American Anti-Slavery Society. In 1843 she married fellow abolitionist, Dr. Samule Gridley Howe, a physician who founded the Perkins Institute for the Blind. The couple lived in Boston with their 6 children, and were active in the Free Soil Party, being members from 1851-1853. They also edited the anti-slavery journal, Commonwealth together. Julia published several volumes of poetry including, Passion Flowers (published in 1854), and Words for the Hour (published in 1857). In 1862, in the Atlantic Monthly magazine she published her poem, Battle Hymn of the Republic. The poem was set the music of William Steffe's already existing song. Battle Hymn of the Republic became one of the most popular songs of the Civil War. It's gone on to be known as one of America's classic songs. After the war, Julia focused her activities on women's suffrage. In 1868 she founded the New England Women's Suffrage Association. From 1970-1890 she edited the organization's magazine, Woman's Journal. In 1870 Julia Ward Howe was the first person to proclaim Mother's Day, with her Mother's Day Proclamation: Arise then...women of this day! Arise, all women who have hearts! Whether your baptism be of water or of tears! Say firmly: "We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies, Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, For caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We, the women of one country, Will be too tender of those of another country To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs." From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice." Blood does not wipe our dishonor, Nor violence indicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil At the summons of war, Let women now leave all that may be left of home For a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead. Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means Whereby the great human family can live in peace... Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar, But of God - In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask That a general congress of women without limit of nationality, May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient And the earliest period consistent with its objects, To promote the alliance of the different nationalities, The amicable settlement of international questions, The great and general interests of peace. In 1898, Julia Ward Howe became the first women to be elected to the American Academy of Arts. She was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 1970. She died on October 17, 1910. Her body is buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.