WISE Course Commemorates 160th Anniversary of First National Woman’s Rights Convention

ynne McKenney Lydick is offering a course to the Worcester Institute for Senior Education at Assumption College on “Women in the Struggle for Equality” this fall and the timing could not be better. Her course will coincide with the anniversary of the first National

Woman’s Rights Convention held in Worcester 160 years ago. The Worcester Institute for Senior Education (WISE) is a lifelong learning institute where members participate in a wide variety of liberal arts, non-credit courses. Members of WISE develop their own curriculum and recruit group leaders from their membership, faculty from Assumption and other area colleges, or professionals from the community.

The Director of WISE is Charlene L. Martin, a member of the Worcester Women’s History Project Steering Committee. Knowing that many WISE members have a special interest in history courses, she recommended Lynne McKenney Lydick as a group leader for a course that will review the history made in our own city. Lynne has invited distinguished guest speakers Dr. John McClymer, author of This High and Holy Moment, and Dr. Arlene Vadum, co-editor (along with Dr. McClymer) of Images of Women in American Popular Culture, to provide background on the historical aspect of the women’s movement and the lives of women during the 1850’s. Dr. Vadum is also a member of the Steering Committee. She, Dr. McClymer and Lynne have been involved with the Worcester Women’s History Project since the planning of WOMEN 2000. Patricia Perry will provide a look at women’s fashions and etiquette of the Victorian period and Chuck Arning, Lead Ranger for the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, will present a video and information on “Developing Women’s Political Voice.” The class concludes with a discussion of abolition with Lynne’s portrayal of Worcester’s own 19th century radical abolitionist and woman’s rights activist, Abby Kelley Foster. Since WISE classes often include at least two generations of enthusiastic learners, this course is sure to inspire much discussion on the lives of women past and present.