Lee, Mary (1821-1909)

Field of activity
Suffragist, Union activist and Welfare worker; social reformer; trade union official; welfare worker; women's suffragist
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-722057

Biographies

LEE, MARY (1821-1909), suffragist, was born on 14 February 1821 in Monaghan, Ireland, daughter of John Walsh. In 1844 she married George(?) Lee, organist and vicar-choral of Armagh Cathedral; they had four sons and three daughters. In 1879 Mary, widowed, sailed with her daughter Evelyn for Adelaide to nurse her sick son John Benjamin; after his death next year they remained, Mary becoming devoted to 'dear Adelaide' which she could not in any case afford to leave.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Mary Lee became secretary of the Women's Suffrage League of South Australia in 1888. She served with the Female Refuge ladies’ committee, the Distressed Women’s and Children’s Committee and the Adelaide Sick Poor Fund, and was secretary of the Working Women's Trades Union.

Born in Ireland, Mary Walsh married George Lee in 1844 and they had seven children. By 1879 Lee was widowed. She sailed with her daughter to Adelaide that year to nurse her sick son, who later died. In 1883 she became foundation secretary of the ladies’ division of the Social Purity Society, working to improve conditions for women by campaigning to raise the age of consent to sixteen. The Society soon recognised that women’s suffrage was essential to their aims. Accordingly the Women’s Suffrage League was inaugurated in 1888 with Lee as secretary. It was mainly due to the combined efforts of Lee and close friend Mary Colton, who was President of the League from 1892 onwards, that suffrage was won in South Australia in 1894.

Lee was a vigorous campaigner albeit sometimes abrasive, and she traversed South Australia to speak at meetings while also organising petitions, deputations and corresponding with women in the other colonies on how to organise suffrage leagues. In 1892 she visited Broken Hill in outback New South Wales to report for the Adelaide Sick Poor Fund upon the condition of women and children there after a major industrial strike. Lee took the opportunity to deliver an address on women's suffrage at the Theatre Royal in Broken Hill, though the local paper reported only a moderate attendance. Prior to her visit Lee had written to the Barrier Miner and her letter was published on 1 September 1892:

I congratulate my working brothers on their respect for law – their avoidance of all which might provoke to fund, or sew the seeds of an after-crop of bitterness – on their patience under misrepresentation and provocation… But Sir, this strike has one feature which renders it more profoundly interesting than any of its predecessors here, or elsewhere as far as I know, and which must secure it a prominent and distinguished page when the history of these colonies shall come to be written. It is the fact that the women of Broken Hill are the first great body of working women who have raised their voices in united protest against the glaring injustice that “the present Constitution will not allow them a voice in the framing of the laws under which they are compelled to live.”… May the memory of those woes and distresses which have awakened in the women of Broken Hill the spirit of liberty kindle that spirit to such a glow that the hearts of the “fathers, brothers, husbands and sweethearts” shall burn with the determination that the liberty which they prize so dearly shall be shared by those most dear to them; that the sons of freed men shall have freed mothers; that they shall bequeath to their daughters that grandest of human heritages –freedom!

In 1889 Lee proposed the formation of a trade union for women and became secretary of the Working Women’s Trades Union when it was inaugurated the following year. She was a delegate to the Trades and Labor Council and committee member of the Female Refuge ladies’ committee as well as the Distressed Women’s and Children’s Committee. In 1896 she was appointed by the government as first female official visitor to the lunatic asylums, a position that she held for the next twelve years. Despite her work for social reform, she was not financially rewarded and her last years were spent in poverty. She died in her home in North Adelaide in 1909.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Resources for Mary Lee

Selected resources (10)

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

  1. 'Lee, Mary (1821 - 1909)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, pp 50-52.
    Helen Jones
    [1986]
    Published: Melbourne University Press

Australian Women's Register

  1. Lee, Mary (1821-1909)Australian Dictionary of Biography Online 10 : Lee, Mary (1821-1909)
    Jones, Helen
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
    Series: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100048b.htm
  2. Mary Lee, 1821-1909 : Let Her Name be Honoured
    Mansutti, Elizabeth
    [c1994]
    Published: E. Ho in association with Women's Suffrage Centenary History Sub-committee
  3. Mary Lee200 Australian women : a Redress anthology Radi, Heather 20-21 : Mary Lee
    Jones, Helen
    Published: Women's Redress Press Inc
  4. Fresh evidence, new witnesses : finding women's history
    Allen, Margaret (Margaret Ellen), 1947- ; Hutchison, Mary and Mackinnon, Alison, 1942-
    [1989]
    Published: South Australian Government Printer
  5. In her own name : women in South Australian history
    Jones, Helen, 1926-
    [1986]
    Published: Wakefield Press
  6. S.A.'s greats: the men and women of the North Terrace plaques
    Healey, John
    [2001]
    Published: Historical Society of South Australia
  7. 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology
    Radi, Heather
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press
  8. State Library of South Australia, Mortlock Library of South Australiana: Letters from Mary Lee (1890 - 1897)
    The records comprise three original letters written by Mary Lee, three proofs of letters published by Mary Lee in the S.A. Register, a photograph of Mary Lee in the front of the Davies House at North Adelaide and a newspaper clipping re the sale of the house.
    D 7178(L)
  9. Outback Archives, Broken Hill City Library: Lee, Mary
    Folder containing a collection of transcribed letters to newspapers written by Mary Lee during her visit to Broken Hill in 1892 (compiled by Elizabeth Mansutti in 1994).
    Filing system by name

Resources about Mary Lee (9)

  1. Mary Lee 1821-1909 : let her name be honoured / by Elizabeth Mansutti
    Mansutti, Elizabeth
    [ Book : 1994 ]
    At 21 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 21.911)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 21.911)

  2. [Biographical cuttings on Mary Lee, women's suffrage lobbyist, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [ Published : 1900-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.421)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 14.421)

  3. Mary Lee
    Hammer & Co., photographer
    [ Photograph : 1880 ]
    View online
    At State Library S Aust
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.258)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 9.258)

  4. Virtual facts - vital fictions : exploring the formation of female identity/ies and intertextuality in the life writing of Mary Lee - 1821-1909 / Denise George
    George, Denise
    [ Thesis : 2002 ]
    At UniSA Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.637)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.637)

  5. Mary Lee
    [ Photograph : 1895 ]
    View online
    At State Library S Aust
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.813)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.813)

  6. Votes for women / written by Ann Brookman ; produced & directed by Paul Worthington
    South Australia. Dept. for Education and Children's Services
    [ Video : 1994 ]
    At 6 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.807)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.807)

  7. Mary Lee, South Australian suffragist
    [ Photograph : 1880 ]
    View online
    At State Library S Aust
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.756)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.756)

  8. Mary Lee outside a North Adelaide home
    M. & J. Galvin, photographer
    [ Photograph : 1880 ]
    View online
    At State Library S Aust
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.742)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.742)

  9. FemTV : women making community television
    FemTV
    [ Video : 1994 ]
    At State Library S Aust
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.437)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.437)

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  1. GREEN
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    www.womenaustralia.info
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  2. Website: 200 Australian Women
    www.200australianwomen.com
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  1. The map abstract of criminal-justice information : Alabama / Mary Lee Shannon, John Zakanycz, Robert Sigler
    Shannon, Mary Lee
    [ Map, Book : 1976 ]
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.054)

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  2. Atlas of antebellum southern agriculture / Sam Bowers Hilliard ; cartography by Clifford P. Duplechin and Mary Lee Eggart
    Hilliard, Sam Bowers
    [ Map, Book : 1984 ]
    At 5 libraries
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  3. The life of Gen. Robert E. Lee
    Williamson, Mary Lynn Harrison, 1850-1923; B.F. Johnson Publishing Co ( Publisher )
    [ Map ]
    View online
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.026)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.026)

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    [ Photograph : 1880 ]
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    [ Photograph : 1895 ]
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    McClees & Germo...
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  1. Mary Lee Hosbrook diary
    Hosbrook, Mary Lee
    [ Unpublished : 1871 ]
    View online
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.211)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.211)

  2. Letters from Mary Lee
    Lee, Mary
    [ Unpublished : 1890-1985 ]
    At State Library S Aust
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    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.184)

  3. Letter from Mary Custis Lee to Union General Sanford, May 30, 1861
    Lee, Mary Custis;
    [ Unpublished : 1861 ]
    View online
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    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.134)

  1. To kill a mockingbird / Harper Lee
    Lee, Harper, 1926-
    [ Book, Audio book : 1900-2010 ]
    Languages: English, Indonesian, Chinese, Thai
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 161 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.478)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.478)

  2. Spanish recognitions : the roads to the present / Mary Lee Settle
    Settle, Mary Lee
    [ Book : 2004 ]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 9 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.327)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.327)

  3. Turkish reflections : a biography of a place / Mary Lee Settle ; introduction by Jan Morris
    Settle, Mary Lee
    [ Book : 1991 ]
    At 15 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.32)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.32)

  4. Choices / Mary Lee Settle
    Settle, Mary Lee
    [ Book : 1995-2008 ]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 18 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.31)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.31)

  1. To kill a mockingbird / Harper Lee
    Lee, Harper, 1926-
    [ Book, Audio book : 1900-2010 ]
    Languages: English, Indonesian, Chinese, Thai
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 161 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.478)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.478)

  2. Die for you / Lisa Unger
    Unger, Lisa, 1970-
    [ Book, Audio book : 2009-2010 ]
    At 78 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.193)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.193)

  3. Water wings / Morris Gleitzman
    Gleitzman, Morris, 1953-
    [ Book, Audio book : 1995-2012 ]
    At 82 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.185)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.185)

  4. A bit of a hitch / Mary Steele
    Steele, Mary, 1930-
    [ Book, Audio book : 1995-1997 ]
    At 64 libraries
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    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.182)

  1. The William and Mary quarterly
    Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, 1853-1935
    [ Periodical : 1892-2012 ]
    Possibly online
    At 15 libraries
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    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.176)

  2. Guinness world records 2009
    Matthews, Peter, 1945-
    [ Book, Periodical : 1900-2012 ]
    Languages: English, Chinese, Spanish, [17 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
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    At 218 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.141)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.141)

  3. Romeo and Juliet / William Shakespeare
    Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
    [ Book, Audio book, Article : 1597-2011 ]
    Languages: English, Chinese, Japanese, [17 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
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    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.135)

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  4. Review of inhalants : Euphoria to dysfunction / Editors: Charles Wm. Sharp, Mary Lee Brehm
    [ Book, Conference Proceedings : 1977 ]
    read online at Hathi Trust
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    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.119)

  1. MARY LEE FUND.
    The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) Thursday 10 April 1902 p 6 Article
    ... MARY LEE FUND. * A. Attersoll, Sturt. 0 5 0 ... 10 words
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    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.258)

  2. MRS. LAURA MARY LEE.
    Werribee Shire Banner (Vic. : 1911 - 1952) Thursday 26 November 1925 p 5 Article
    ... MRS. LAURA MARY LEE. The death occurred at a private hospital, pital, Melbourne, on 19th inst., of Mrs. Laura Mary Lee, of Thornton. The late Mrs. Lee was the wife of Michael Bernard Lee, son of Mrs. Lee and the late Mr. Michael Lee of Duncan's Road. She was the daughter of Mr. Thomas and the late ... 113 words
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    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.252)

  3. Miss MARY T. LEE.
    Williamstown Chronicle (Vic. : 1856 - 1954) Friday 25 September 1942 p 2 Article
    ... Miss MARY T. LEE. An' old identity of this City, Miss Mary Theresa Lee, of 27 Osborne St., died on Saturday morning, after a brief illness. Deceased was born at Geelong 74 years ago, and was tne daughter, oI the late William Henry, and Ann Lee. She had re sided locally for 60 years. The fune al. ... 90 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.25)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.25)