Sustaining Visions, 1873–1889

Amy Post remained active in numerous causes until her death in 1889. These included women’s rights, women’s suffrage, and spiritualism as well as new organizations devoted to industrial workers and to religious liberty and free speech. The last issues were addressed by the National Liberal League, for which Amy served as a founding officer. Although Post suffered a variety of ailments in later life, she regularly attended Progressive Friends’ meetings and other conventions, hosted lecturers in her home, joined spiritualist circles, and continued her friendships with Nell, Jacobs, Truth, Douglass, and other early co-workers. Post was also honored at woman’s rights anniversary celebrations. Her son Willet joined her in many activities, and her sister Sarah, her children and grandchildren provided joy and solace. Amy mourned the deaths of many fellow activists, and when she died in 1889, the Frederick Douglass League of Rochester, spiritualists, radical Quakers, friends and family gathered to celebrate her life. Although well-known in her time, Post’s activism and her broad vision of social justice slowly faded from memory. The Post Family Papers bring her social justice legacy and her diverse circle of friends and co-workers vividly back to life.