Ideas The suffragist who was too radical for Susan. B. Anthony
Nov 5, 2026
Sally Roesch Wagner, feminist historian; Angelica Shirley Carpenter, author and historian; and Dawna Dingwall, CBC documentary maker, revive the story of Matilda Joslyn Gage. They explore her radical activism, clashes with Susan B. Anthony, Indigenous influences, religious critique, and surprising connection to The Wizard of Oz. How did a leading suffragist vanish from history, and who is bringing her legacy back?
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Abolitionist Roots Shaped Gage’s Activism
- Gage grew up in an abolitionist household that sheltered people escaping slavery and taught her science, Latin, and Greek.
- After medical school rejected her because she was female, she redirected her ambition into lifelong activism.
Gage Rewrote Women Into History
- At her first public convention, Gage emphasized women who had already achieved greatness rather than what women might someday accomplish.
- Her speech challenged the historical erasure of women such as Sappho, Semiramis, and Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Suffragists Hijacked The Centennial Ceremony
- Gage and Susan B. Anthony were refused permission to present a Women’s Declaration of Independence at the 1876 Centennial.
- They read it anyway from an unoccupied music stand and scattered copies into the audience.
