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May Kennedy (1876-1974) was a suffragist and activist in the Dominion of Newfoundland.
May Kennedy was born into a prosperous family in St. John's, Newfoundland, and educated at a convent school in Waterford, Ireland. [1] As the last remaining child in the family, May Kennedy inherited a substantial fortune. She became active in the Newfoundland suffrage movement as a single woman, independently wealthy, but not allowed to vote.
Kennedy was active in the St. John's-based Ladies Reading Room [2] [3] and the Women's Patriotic Association (WPA). During WWI, Kennedy worked at the Navy and Military Convalescent Hospital, Waterford Hall in St. John's, as a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), providing nursing care to recovering soldiers. Many of the suffrage leaders sat on the committee of control for this hospital. [1]
May Kennedy joined the Newfoundland Women's Franchise League at its founding meeting in 1920 and became Honorary Treasurer. [4] [5] She travelled to important international franchise meetings - Baltimore, Washington and Paris in particular - representing Newfoundland women for enfranchisement. [6] In 1925, when women in Newfoundland achieved the right to vote, Kennedy, along with labour activist Julia Salter Earle and suffragist Fannie Knowling McNeil, ran for seats on St. John's city council. [2] All were defeated, but gained many votes and established women's right to political office.
She married Thomas Goodridge late in her life and had no children. [4]
The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's
notability guideline for biographies. (December 2019) |
May Kennedy (1876-1974) was a suffragist and activist in the Dominion of Newfoundland.
May Kennedy was born into a prosperous family in St. John's, Newfoundland, and educated at a convent school in Waterford, Ireland. [1] As the last remaining child in the family, May Kennedy inherited a substantial fortune. She became active in the Newfoundland suffrage movement as a single woman, independently wealthy, but not allowed to vote.
Kennedy was active in the St. John's-based Ladies Reading Room [2] [3] and the Women's Patriotic Association (WPA). During WWI, Kennedy worked at the Navy and Military Convalescent Hospital, Waterford Hall in St. John's, as a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), providing nursing care to recovering soldiers. Many of the suffrage leaders sat on the committee of control for this hospital. [1]
May Kennedy joined the Newfoundland Women's Franchise League at its founding meeting in 1920 and became Honorary Treasurer. [4] [5] She travelled to important international franchise meetings - Baltimore, Washington and Paris in particular - representing Newfoundland women for enfranchisement. [6] In 1925, when women in Newfoundland achieved the right to vote, Kennedy, along with labour activist Julia Salter Earle and suffragist Fannie Knowling McNeil, ran for seats on St. John's city council. [2] All were defeated, but gained many votes and established women's right to political office.
She married Thomas Goodridge late in her life and had no children. [4]