Jessie Daniel Ames (November 2, 1883 – February 21, 1972) was an American suffragist and civil rights activist renowned for her efforts in combating lynching in the southern United States.
Early Life and Education
Born Jessie Harriet Daniel in Palestine, Texas, Ames was the third of four children to James Malcolm and Laura Maria (Leonard) Daniel. In 1893, her family relocated to Georgetown, Texas, where she attended the Ladies' Annex of Southwestern University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1902.
Personal Life
In 1905, Ames married Roger Post Ames, an army surgeon. The couple had three children: Frederick Daniel, Mary, and Roger Post Jr. Following her husband's death in 1914, Ames returned to Georgetown to support her family.
Activism and Career
Ames's involvement in social activism began with the women's suffrage movement. She founded the Georgetown Equal Suffrage League in 1916 and played a pivotal role in the Texas Equal Suffrage Association. In 1919, she established the Texas League of Women Voters, serving as its first president.
Her commitment extended to civil rights, particularly in opposing lynching. In 1930, Ames founded the Association of Southern Women for the Prevention of Lynching (ASWPL), mobilizing white Southern women to publicly denounce lynching and challenge the justification of such acts as a means of protecting white women.
Throughout her career, Ames held significant positions, including secretary and vice-president of the Texas Committee on Interracial Cooperation and director of Women's Work for the Commission on Interracial Cooperation in Atlanta. citeturn0search7
Later Years and Legacy
Ames retired in 1968 and spent her remaining years in a nursing home. She passed away on February 21, 1972, in Austin, Texas.
Jessie Daniel Ames's unwavering dedication to social justice significantly contributed to the advancement of women's rights and the fight against racial violence in the United States.