History Sought On Those Memorialized by Florida Women & Religion Honors

The Florida Women and Religion group’s annual honors awards have always interested me, especially learning about the exciting accomplishments of the Florida women on whom the honors are bestowed. They are, without doubt, a remarkable group of women, and completely deserving of being recognized and saluted.

Two years ago at the Florida District UUA Annual Assembly held here in Miami, I was asked to make the awards on behalf of Florida Women and Religion. I considered it a singular responsibility and with pride undertook to do the awards in first class style.

When preparing for this task, I asked about the women in whose name the awards were being given…who were they and what did they do to warrant having awards given in their names?

My questions went unanswered; those people to whom my questions were addressed were unable to help me. I was able to get some minimal answers at Beacon Street, but nothing that completely satisfied my curiosity. In know that there is much more to know about these women. I intend to continue to research their lives, but what I have found is exciting and worthy of mention. Herewith follows what I have learned to date…if you have information about any of these women, about how we came to remember them with these Honors, who instigated memorializing them in this way, anything at all, do let me know. I promise to bring everything I find to the attention of our Florida sisters.

The Eleanor Elizabeth Gordon Honor Recognition for a lifetime of service to Unitarian Universalist ideals.

This award is traditionally given to an older woman. This honor is given in the name of Eleanor Elizabeth Gordon, born in Hamilton, Illinois on October 1, 1952 in a log cabin.

She first attended the University of Iowa and later Cornell University (1889). She taught school in Centerville, Iowa and later was principal for a school in Humboldt, Iowa, where her childhood friend, Mary A. Safford was a Unitarian minister.

She traveled, at the urging of Mary Safford, to Sioux City to take charge of a newly organized Unitarian Church. (Note: I believe she was asked to take charge of a church Sunday school, but the information is not clear. It may have been a church-run day school.)

Eleanor Elizabeth Gordon spent her life working for women’s rights, and became a Unitarian minister in 1889, spending her life as a Unitarian “missionary,” she wrote extensively and with her friend Mary published “OLD and NEW,” a missionary magazine.

In 1912 she and Mary traveled to Florida where they established the Orlando Unitarian Church. Eleanor retired from the ministry in 1918, but kept in close tough with women’s issues and with Unitarian concerns. She died in 1942 in Hamilton, Illinois at the age of 92.

The Charlotte Perkins Gillman Honor Recognition for empowering rather than exerting power over others.

There is little in the UU archives regarding Charlotte Perkins Stetson Gillman (please notice the additional name), except that she was a prolific writer and wrote one of the first books of feminist theology, “His Religion and Hers; A Study of the Faith of Our Fathers and the Work of Our Mothers.” She lived from July 3, 1860 to August 7, 1935.

(Note: I have attempted to find a copy of Ms. Gillman’s work, but to date, have had no success. I plan to visit the Library of Congress on my next trip to Washington to check further. Since the records indicate that she was a “prolific writer,” I should find something. A friend who is a dealer in antique books is also trying to find a copy for me. If you can help, Please let me know.)

The Olympia Brown Honor Recognition of significant recent efforts toward achieving a non-sexist society.

Well, here I have completely struck out! No one can tell me anything about Ms. Olympia Brown! This is a situation “up with which I will not put!” That statement may not be very scholarly, but it accurately conveys my feelings on the matter. More, and some answers perchance, next time!

— DOROTHY CAREY MENADIER, MIAMI