Frequently Asked Questions About Victoria Woodhull

Did Colonel Blood really have a right to use the title "Colonel?"

Yes. He served in the 6th Missouri Infantry on the Union side during the Civil War. He entered service as a Lieutenant-Colonel and was later promoted to Colonel. He knew Generals Grant and Sherman. After he resigned his army commission on April 1, 1864, he joined the Missouri Militia.  There's a memorial to his regiment at Vicksburg, MS.

Did Victoria Woodhull really marry Colonel Blood?  I heard he was her "lover."

That depends on how you define marriage and who you believe. Victoria and Colonel both gave conflicting accounts of their marital status. According to Victoria, they were married in a Presbyterian religious ceremony on July 14, 1866 in Dayton, Ohio. They believed that marriage was a matter of the heart and not for the law and that is probably the reason they chose a religious ceremony, rather than a civil ceremony. Although they filed for a marriage license before the ceremony, the minister neglected to file a return to register the marriage officially.

According to Colonel's court testimony, he and Victoria were legally divorced in 1868 in Chicago and "remarried." The remarriage was probably not a legal one. They simply continued to live together as husband and wife. Strangely, they legally divorced again on October 6, 1876 in Brooklyn, NY. While they were together, Victoria would call Colonel her husband, and Colonel would call Victoria his wife. That changed after the divorce. When Colonel Blood remarried, he said he had only been married once and was widowed. He said nothing about being married to Victoria. He also didn't mention his divorce from her or his alleged divorce from his first wife Mary. When Victoria remarried, she claimed she was the widow of Dr. Woodhull and was divorced from Colonel Blood. She didn't mention her divorce from Dr. Woodhull. There's probably no way to establish who was telling the truth, because Chicago divorce records were destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire. 

Did Victoria Woodhull have the legal right to vote when she ran for President?

Victoria was a resident of New York in 1872. At that time, New York did not allow women to vote in national elections, so Victoria was legally prohibited from casting a vote for herself. Even if she were legally able to vote, she was in jail on election day, so she could not make it to the polls.  In 1871, one year prior to Susan B. Anthony's famous attempt to vote, Victoria attempted to vote in New York, citing what she believed to be her constitutional right under the 14th and 15th amendments as a citizen of the United States.

Did Victoria Woodhull keep a diary?

A diary is not known to exist. However, Victoria said in a newspaper interview in the 1870's that she kept a diary when she was young. She also said she wrote newspaper articles as a young married woman. As of yet, no one has found that diary or the articles she claims to have written in her years prior to marrying Colonel Blood. The articles, if they ever existed, were probably written under another name if a byline was given.

Did Woodhull, Illinois get its name from Victoria Woodhull?

According to a search on the internet, Woodhull, IL, is named after Maxwell Woodhull of New York City. He could be a distant relative of Victoria's first husband, but we don't know for certain.

Did Woodhull Hospital in New York get its name from Victoria Woodhull?

Don't know. It's doubtful. Does anyone know?

How did Victoria Woodhull manage financially at the time of her death? 

Victoria Woodhull managed very well financially, as her last husband was a member of the Martin's Bank family.
She married into the English landed gentry.

How did the status of women change during her lifetime?

Answer will be forthcoming.  In the meantime, consult Barbara Goldsmith's "Other Powers" for the answer.

How did Victoria Woodhull run her campaign?

She announced her candidacy in the newspaper two years before the election. At that time, she was self-nominated. It wasn't until May of 1872 that she was formally nominated by the Equal Rights Party. She wrote books, articles, gave speeches, organized a "congress" of followers who met at her home, and sold interest bearing bonds that would be redeemable during her presidency.

There are a few extracts of articles from the Woodhull & Claflin's Weekly about the formation of the Equal Rights Party, their nomination, and her initial run for the presidency. You can find them as follows: People's Convention, Equal Rights Conventions, Our Nominees, Our Platform.
 

How did Victoria Woodhull select her running mate, Frederick Douglass?

She didn't select her running mate.  He was nominated by the Equal Rights Party.  See the Woodhull & Claflin's Weekly article, SPIRIT OF THE PRESS. EXTRAORDINARY POLITICS.

How did Victoria sound when she spoke?

Victoria Woodhull probably spoke with a Midwestern accent, because she didn't reside outside of Ohio until she was 15 or 16 years old. Her voice has been described as "clear and melodious." When making fun of her, contemporary reporters emphasized trilled R's in her speech.

How many children did Victoria Woodhull have and what happened to them? Does she have any living descendants?

Victoria had two children by her first husband, Dr. Woodhull. They are Byron Woodhull, born December 31, 1854, in Chicago, IL, and Zula Maud, born April 28, 1861, at 53 Bond Street in New York City. Zula's name is sometimes given as Zulu Maude. Byron received a head injury as a toddler. It damaged his brain for life. (He may also have been adversely affected by his father's alcoholism.) He was incapable of working and was in the care of various relatives all his life. His final years were spent in England under the financial care of his mother. After his mother's death, his sister Zula cared for him. Byron died Jan. 17, 1932 in Hove Brighton, Sussex, England.

Zula tried to follow her mother's footsteps. She wrote a play. She even edited one of her mother's newspapers, but she could never get out of the shadow of her mother's fame. She died unmarried in England in September 1940. Victoria Woodhull has no living direct descendants.

How many "husbands" did Victoria have?

Victoria Woodhull was married four times to three husbands, and Mary L. Shearer has copies of the records of all of these marriages.  Victoria's first marriage was to Dr. Canning Woodhull on November 20, 1853 in Cleveland, OH. (On some documents, his name appears as Channing Woodhull.) She was married second to Col. James Harvey Blood. She married him on two different dates, the most widely published date being July 14, 1866 in Dayton, OH. She was married third to British banker, John Biddulph Martin on October 31, 1883 at the South Kensington Presbyterian Church, Emperor's Gate, London, England. Only the Woodhull marriage resulted in offspring.

Some newspapers claimed Victoria had an affair with Rev. Henry Ward Beecher and his best friend Theodore Tilton. However, several people close to Beecher and Tilton claimed neither had an affair with Victoria. The two men were only infatuated with her.

Benjamin R. Tucker is the only man who publicly claimed to be Victoria Woodhull's lover. He was paid $5,000.00 to tell the tale in Emanie Sachs' biography about Victoria. In addition, Sachs promised to obtain a publisher for his autobiography.

The fact remains that Victoria Woodhull believed it was nobody's business how many lovers she had--whether she had none, one, or one hundred. If she had any lovers, it was probably just one and almost certainly not more than three. The possible lovers in order of likelihood are: Benjamin R. Tucker, Theodore Tilton, and Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. She was rumored to have had affairs with at least six other men, but the rumors appear to be groundless. Lois Beachy Underhill suggested Victoria had an affair with Congressman Benjamin Butler, but she based it solely on Victoria's statement that she went to visit Butler "at night" to convince him to open the halls of Congress for her.  Victoria herself called the rumors of her promiscuity "absurd."

How many votes did Victoria Woodhull receive in 1872?

There isn't a satisfactory answer to that question. One of the reasons is that supposedly some of the election officials just laughed at the votes for her and threw them away. The votes for her do not appear to have been officially tallied. A search of the National Archives could answer with certainty whether the votes were counted or not.)  According to some statistics, there were around 2,000 or so "scattering votes," some of which may have been for her. One web site says there were 16,081 "other votes" cast in that election, or approximately .2% of the vote. Again, some of those could have been for her or any one of the other third party candidates.

How old was Victoria Woodhull when she died?

88 years, 8 months, and 16 days.

How will Victoria Woodhull be remembered?

That depends on you, because how she is remembered changes with every generation. Most people today have not heard of her, or only know that she was the first woman to run for President.

What activists have followed in Victoria Woodhull's footsteps?

One activist is Tennessee Woodhull Watson. She's the daughter of Nancy Woodhull, founder of USA Today. While supposedly not related to Victoria Woodhull, Tennessee was named after Victoria's sister, and just like her namesake, has been arrested.

What are the historian viewpoints on Victoria Woodhull?

The best book for attitudes of present historians is "One Woman, One Vote, edited by Marjorie Spruill Wheeler. It contains the pro-Woodhull view of Ellen Carol Dubois on pages 88-91 and the anti-Woodhull view of Andrea Moore Kerr on pages 73-77. You'll also want to consult one of the 3 recent biographies by Mary Gabriel, Lois Beachy Underhill, or Barbara Goldsmith.

For past historians, consult the History of Women Suffrage by Stanton, Anthony, and Gage. They published the Woodhull Memorial, which is about their only mention of Woodhull as she was largely written out of the history of the movement. You'll also want to check out the Terrible Siren by Emanie Sachs, published in the 1920's. It was the first full-length biography. Sachs wasn't an historian, but her biography is considered the definitive one by historians.

What are your sources?

Mary L. Shearer has spent years and thousands of dollars researching Victoria Woodhull. Besides consulting all Victoria Woodhull biographies, she has collected thousands of magazine and newspaper articles and has reviewed unpublished collections. She has her own extensive collection of Victoria Woodhull books and has access to almost the entire Woodhull & Claflin's Weekly. She's read most of Victoria Woodhull's speeches. One day, Mary L. Shearer will publish a book about Victoria Woodhull and Colonel Blood that will contain her sources. That's the reason some source citations are vague or non-existent on this site. It doesn't make sense to give away all of the expensive research for free!

What awards or titles did Victoria Woodhull receive?

She was posthumously inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York.

What books and speeches did she write?

She wrote several books and speeches.  A list will be printed here at a future date.  In the meantime, visit the Books & Book Reviews section of the Woodhull Presidential Library.  There are links to books that contain her speeches.

What can I find about Victoria Woodhull related to psychology?

If you're looking for something from the viewpoint of psychology, she's mentioned in "Eccentrics, A Study of Sanity and Strangeness." The mention is brief, however.

What can you send me about Victoria Woodhull for free?

Nothing. Everything you can get about Victoria Woodhull for free is on this web site. We'll be happy to do research for you for a fee of $25.00 per hour plus expenses.

What did her parents do for a living?

Her father was a raftsman, school teacher, and attorney at various times of his life.  Her mother kept house and supposedly helped in making "Tennessee's Magnetic Elixir" which the Claflin family sold.

What did Victoria do in England?

The best source for information on Victoria's life in England is Owen Stinchcombe's book, but it's not readily available in America.  The next best source of information is Notorious Victoria by Mary Gabriel.

What do you know about Victoria Woodhull's childhood?

Amazon has an excerpt from a book by Mary Gabriel that tells a little about her childhood. Go to Amazon, click on the hyperlink "Look Inside" and choose excerpt.

Theodore Tilton's biography of Victoria Woodhull contains some information about her childhood.  Some people have made fun of the biography, because they think it's full of lies, but it had Victoria's stamp of approval on it when she was at the peak of her fame. The biography was actually Tilton's re-write of Col. Blood's attempt at a biography. The biography may be highly colored, but it probably accurately reflects Victoria's narrative of her life.  There were some hints in her family that the story about her father's violence was greatly exaggerated. Of course, any exaggeration is likely to be Tilton's and Victoria's.

The majority of material about Victoria that still exists mostly pertains to 1869 or later. It's difficult to trace her whereabouts prior to 1869, as the family moved around, and not all of them moved together. The most stable period was from around the time Victoria was born until she was about 12. The Claflins lived in Homer until Buck Claflin's mill burned down.  Then they moved to Mt. Gilead, Oh, where Victoria's sister Margaret Ann Miles was living. It was there that Victoria met her first husband.  Prior to 1869, Victoria is believed to have lived in the states of California, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

What documentaries are available?

There have been only three documentaries done about Victoria Woodhull. The one with the most mass appeal aired on Lifetime Television, but is not available for purchase, unless you can find a press kit for it on an auction site. The only one available for purchase is America's Victoria. You can buy it from the producer for $49.95.

What is the Equal Rights Party?

It is the name of the party that nominated Victoria Woodhull as the first woman to run for President of the United States. It was created in 1872. Some people consider it an offshoot of the National Woman's Suffrage Association, but Susan B. Anthony would've disagreed. The party nominated the first and second women to run for the presidency. Some people argue that the Equal Rights Party that nominated Belva Lockwood was not the same Equal Rights Party that nominated Victoria Woodhull. In any case, the party no longer exists.

What else did she accomplish besides running for President of the United States?

She and her sister Tennessee Claflin were the first female stockbrokers.  (They did not have seats on the stock exchange, however.)

What happened to Victoria's possessions confiscated by the United States government?  Did she get them back?

What the government confiscated in the 1870's was not returned. Victoria, Tennessee, and Colonel all made a request to Congress for compensation for damages for malicious prosecution, but their request was denied.

What influence does Victoria Woodhull have on today?

If you ask this question, a teacher or professor probably assigned the question to you.  It's important that you answer the question based on what you think, not what anyone else thinks. 

What information do you have that is suitable for children in elementary school? 

A beautifully illustrated picture book by Kathleen Krull was recently published. Another book about Victoria Woodhull for younger is students is the one by Jacqueline MacLean. You can find the books for sale through Books & Book Reviews in the Woodhull Presidential Library.

Cobblestone Magazine for children has an old issue on Victoria Woodhull.  The biography "Free Woman" by Marion Meade has been re-printed, but may be more appropriate for junior high students.  Supposedly the Olsen twins, Mary Kate and Ashley, published an article about Victoria Woodhull in their magazine, which may or may not be suitable for that age.  There's also a brief Woodhull biography in the book, "They Led the Way" by Johanna Johnston.

What is Free Love?

Free Love is different things to different people. Most people today equate Free Love with the 1960's line that if you're not with the one you love, love the one you're with. That was not the meaning of Free Love in the 1870's; at least, if you were a supporter of Free Love. Opponents of Free Love wrongly thought it meant abandoning your husband or wife and children at a whim. To supporters of Free Love, the definition was simple: Love is a matter for the heart, and not for the law. The government has no right to interfere in marriage and force people to stay married when they no longer love one another. If you were a Free Lover, you believed that a couple had the right to divorce if they chose to do so. Today, most people believe couples have the right to divorce, so some Free Love views of the 1870's have become commonplace.

What is the source for the quote, "Yes, I am a Free Lover?"

You can find that quote on this web site. The source is "A Speech of the Principles of Social Freedom." The speech was delivered Monday, Nov. 20, 1871 in Steinway Hall, New York City.

What is Victoria Woodhull & Company?

It's a small business in cyberspace, dedicated to preserving the memories and extolling the principles of Victoria Woodhull and her husband Col. Blood. It seeks to continue their work of provoking social discourse. Government, then as now, was controlled by party politics and big money. This web site hopes to continue the Woodhull-Blood protest of party politics as usual. It advocates a more humanitarian government derived from the full consent of the governed. This site also serves as a comprehensive source of materials about Victoria Woodhull on the web.

Victoria Woodhull & Company is owned by Mary Shearer, a great-great-granddaughter of Isabell Blood. Isabell was married to Col. James H. Blood, managing editor of Woodhull & Claflin's Weekly. He was previously married to Victoria Woodhull when she ran for President of the United States. After "Colonel" and Victoria divorced, he married Isabell. As a result of this marriage, Colonel became the step-father of three children--Frank, Irving, and Fannie. Frank (aka The Hon. Frank Morrill Fogg I) and Colonel owned the Greenback Labor Chronicle of Auburn, Maine. The paper was later known as the Union Chronicle of Portland, Maine. Mary descends from Frank, who according to family legend, was the speech writer of populist leader, William Jennings Bryan, during the campaign of 1896. Incidentally, Victoria's sister, Lady Tennessee Cook, Viscountess of Monserrate, was also a supporter of Bryan.

What memorabilia do you have for sale?

Original memorabilia from the time of Victoria's run for President is difficult to come by and highly desirable to political collectors. Her book, "Origins Tendencies & Principles of Government" has been sold at prices ranging from $500-1,250. A letter with her signature is worth about $250.00. Her campaign button is probably the most rare. What memorabilia Victoria Woodhull & Company owns is not for sale. That may change if duplicate items are obtained.

What merchandise discounts do you provide?

Discounts provided only for orders of 100 items or more.

What other firsts is Victoria Woodhull known for?

She and her sisters were the first female stockbrokers on Wall Street. She also has been called the first woman to address Congress, but some people say that honor belongs to Elizabeth Cady Stanton. It's probably safe to say, though, that Victoria was the first woman to address a joint session of the Judiciary Committee. Some say she was also the first woman motorist in England, the first to offer a prize for a flight over the Atlantic, and the first woman to speak on stirpiculture in England, but Victoria Woodhull & Company has not confirmed that. The author of "Private Matters" has suggested that Victoria was the first American to speak publicly about the right to privacy.

What political events did she attend?

She marched in "Rossel's Procession" in support of Colonel Rossel of the Paris Commune on Dec. 17, 1871.  (Other events to be published later.)

What rights did women have in the 1870's?

Currently working on an answer to this question.  In the meantime, read Barbara Goldsmith's book, "Other Powers."

What was her campaign slogan?

Don't know, but her campaign song was Victory for Victoria. That was probably her slogan.

What was her education?

According to biographers, she had only three years of elementary school education. There is a book that claims that she attended the schools in Massillon, Ohio. An interview in the Atlanta Constitution in 1876 contradicts the biographers. She said, "I am a self made woman entirely, never spent one year in the school room."

What was her motivation?

To make the world a better place.

What was her personality like?

Her demeanor was reserved and ladylike. She had an aristocratic bearing and could get imperious when angry. When she was on stage, her speech became impassioned, her cheeks flushed red, and her eyes sparkled. She liked to go on walks every day. She rode horses, played sports and the piano, and danced. She liked talking about philosophical questions. She was more interested in ideas than beauty. She was very idealistic and gave to the poor. She had a magnetic personality, but was probably not the best choice for a friend, because she valued principles over loyalty.

What was her religion?

Protestant Christianity, but she was opposed to organized religion. She preferred a more personal, mystical type of religion, so it's hard to tell if she claimed any particular denomination besides Spiritualism. As a child, she attended Methodist revivals. Each time she married, the minister was a Presbyterian. Her most favorite verse of the Bible was "Blessed are the pure at heart for they shall see God." Victoria was deeply affected as well by a poem she read as a child, called Abou Ben Adhem.

What was life like for the typical woman of the 1870's?

The "true woman" did not have a life outside of the home and church.  Work was "man's sphere" and housework was "woman's sphere." She was expected to stay home to provide a comfortable home for her husband and to raise her children.  She was expected to be modest, quiet, and virtuous.  A "true woman" was not interested in education, sex, politics, or public speaking.  Some middle class women had an Irish servant to assist with the cooking and laundry.  Other women could not afford to stay home, but were limited in their choice of occupation.  A woman could be a seamstress, a schoolteacher if she were single, a textile worker, or a boarding house keeper.  A female doctor or lawyer was a rarity and often a source of humor.  Gas lights or candles, rather than electricity lit the homes.  Indoor plumbing was a luxury.  Laundry was done by hand.  Clothing was heavy and restrictive.  A lady's clothes could way 30 pounds.

What was the cause of Victoria Woodhull's death?

Victoria Woodhull & Company hasn't obtained her death certificate, but it appears to have been natural causes and old age. She supposedly suffered from a heart condition which caused her to prefer sleeping upright in a chair.

What was Victoria Woodhull's favorite color?

Probably purple as that was one of her favorite colors for clothing.

What was Victoria Woodhull's favorite food?

Food for thought? Don't know the answer. If an answer is found, we'll post it.

What was Victoria Woodhull's favorite sport?

She liked to walk, swim, and ride horses, but we haven't heard what her favorite sport was.

What was Victoria Woodhull's hometown?

Homer, Ohio.  There are two towns by that name in Ohio.  She's from Homer in Licking County.

What was Victoria Woodhull's impact on society?

It would be impossible to measure her precise impact on history. She knew so many of the famous and influential people of her time from President Grant to the future King Edward VII of England. She captured the imagination of friends and foes alike. Writers Charles Reade, Henry James, Harriet Beecher Stowe and H.G. Wells--just to name a few--were said to have written works inspired by her. Reade and Wells were pro-Woodhull. James and Stowe were anti-Woodhull.

Probably her greatest contribution was empowering women in business, politics, sex, and marriage. She brought the discussion of female sexuality to the public forum. She condemned marital rape at a time when there was no such thing under the law. Victoria's view of marriage as an equal partnership, based on love rather than the law, has largely been accepted in the United States and abroad. Attorney Marilla Ricker said Victoria was the one who really started the women's movement, because she gave women the idea that they could "own themselves."

What were her parents' names?

Reuben Buckman Claflin, also known as Buck, and Anna Roxanna Hummel Claflin, also known as Anna or Annie.

What were the names of her brothers and sisters?

She had 7 sisters and 2 brothers. In order of oldest to youngest, the Claflin children were Margaret Ann, Mary (or Polly), Maldon, Hebern (or Hebren), Victoria California, Utica Vantitia, Tennessee Celeste (or Tennie C.), and Odessa Maldiva who died as a baby.  It's unknown in what order daughters Delia and Hester Ann were born as they, like Odessa, died young.

What would I wear to dress like Victoria Woodhull for a play?

To dress up as Victoria Woodhull, the outfit should come to the neck or higher. Victoria's opponents claimed she wore outfits with bare arms and shoulders, something which Victoria denied. Photographs support Victoria and not her opponents. The webmaster does not know of even one photograph of Victoria Woodhull that shows bare arms, shoulders, or cleavage. Victoria also wasn't one to wear a lot of jewelry. Her jewelry was simple---one brooch at her neck and a single diamond ring, or no jewelry at all. Sometimes she would wear a white tea rose instead of a brooch. She cut her curly brown hair short, which was scandalous at the time. She was known to wear short skirts sometimes. (At that time short was ankle length as opposed to floor length. She obviously preferred them for health and utilitarian reasons, because floor length skirts collected a lot of dirt from the floor.) Unlike the average woman of her time, Victoria didn't wear corsets or lace up tightly because she thought it made women sick. She preferred dark colors for her clothing--purple was her favorite, but navy blue is a good alternative. A lot of her outfits were made out of broadcloth. In her era, bustles were popular. Some of her hats were Alpine hats, bowlers, or a pillbox hat with a feather, swooping to the front. For footwear, the ladies of her day wore gaiters, which look like what we call granny boots. Check out the links to pictures in the Woodhull Presidential Library for ideas.

When did Victoria Woodhull first come to public notice?

According to Lois Beachy Underhill, Victoria's public career