The Union Signal

The Union Signal
"Official organ of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union"
	The Union Signal (January 4, 1883)
Type	Temperance movement in the United States
Format	weekly, to bimonthly, to monthly, to quarterly
Owner(s)	National Woman's Christian Temperance Union
Founded	1874
Language	English
Ceased publication	2016
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
City	Chicago; Evanston, Illinois ;
Country	United States
ISSN	0041-7033
OCLC number	1767985
Website	theunionsignal.com
	Media of the United States ; List of newspapers ;

Last updated April 14, 2024

The Union Signal (formerly, The Woman's Temperance Union and Our Union) is a defunct American newspaper. It was the organ of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union (N.W.C.T.U.), at one time, the largest women's organization in the United States.^[2]

History

Established in 1874 as The Woman's Temperance Union, it was later renamed in 1877 as Our Union.

When Our Union merged with another temperance paper, The Signal, in 1883, the organ's name was changed to The Union Signal.

Published in Chicago, Illinois, it focused on the women's temperance movement in the U.S. Initially, a weekly 16-page illustrated newspaper, it shifted location (Evanston, Illinois) and publishing schedule (to bi-monthly to monthly to quarterly) before it ceased publication in 2016.^[3]

The last edition of the N.W.C.T.U.'s quarterly journal, titled The Union Signal, was published in 2015, the main focus of which was current research and information on drugs.^[4]

The Woman's Temperance Union

At the first annual convention of the N.W.C.T.U., held at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1874, a committee was appointed to consider the establishment of a paper as the organ of the union. This committee consisted of Annie Turner Wittenmyer, Pennsylvania; Susan J. Swift Steele, Wisconsin; Susan A. Gifford, Massachusetts; Elizabeth Eunice Smith Marcy, Illinois; Emma Janes, Oakland, California, and Mary Coffin Johnson, New York. Being unable to formulate definite plans before the close of the convention, the committee was given full power to act.^[5]

At the second annual convention, held at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1875, Mrs. E. E. Marcy, secretary of the Committee on Publication Interests, reported that, after overcoming the various hindrances incident to such an enterprise, the project of publishing an official organ had been inaugurated the previous June at New York. The paper was called The Woman's Temperance Union, and six numbers had been issued up to the time of the convention. Wittenmyer, as chairman of the committee, was the active publisher, with Jennie Fowler Willing as editor and Johnson and Frances Willard as contributing editors.^[5] This report included resolutions drafted by the Committee on Publication Interests, one of which was as follows:—^[5]

Whereas, The paper published by the National Temperance Union as its organ is one of the strongest bonds to hold together our interests in separate localities, devoted as it is to our work,

Resolved, That we, as delegates, pledge ourselves a certain number of subscribers in our several states, and in case of failure, to raise money to cover the amount subscribed.

It was recorded that "much discussion followed", and an amendment was adopted eliminating the financial responsibility on the part of the states, but there was a generous pledging of subscriptions, Maine leading off with a pledge of US$100. Johnson became the publisher at this time, with Mary Towne Burt as her assistant, and, later, her successor.^[5]

Willing continued as editor until the third annual convention in Newark, New Jersey in 1876, when Margaret E. Winslow was elected editor, with Mrs. S. K. Bolton, Ohio; Mrs. Helen E. Brown, New York; Mary Torrans Lathrap, Michigan; Julia Colman, New York; Willing, Illinois; Johnson, New York, and Frances Willard, Illinois, as contributing editors.^[5]

Our Union

In 1877, the name of the paper was changed to Our Union. In this year, at the fourth annual meeting of the N.W.C.T.U. held in Chicago, the publisher's report showed an indebtedness on the paper. Frances Willard then moved that the secretary proceed to call the roll of the states, and the delegates respond and pledge the number of subscribers they would become responsible for the ensuing year. Pledges totalling 12,957 were received, and enthusiasm prevailed. Among the recommendations for the year's work was one relating to Our Union which read: "Each state will be expected to pledge itself, through its delegates, for a specified number of copies. Our local unions have come up nobly to the rescue, but we expect a largely increased enthusiasm in the year to come."^[5]

At the annual convention of 1878, held in Baltimore, the Publishing Committee reported that the paper had come through the year free from debt and with a small balance in the treasury. This report, signed by Frances Willard, Jane M. Geddes, Caroline Brown Buell, and Esther Pugh, closed with the following exhortation:— "We feel that, in the interests of Our Union, we must urge this Convention to impress upon the local auxiliaries that they have one National official organ, and one only; since there are other papers prominently circulated and largely subscribed for by temperance women, which are by many supposed to be equally entitled to their patronage, which, as our experience proves, interfere greatly with the circulation of Our Union. Having laid before our sisters such phases of the paper as the year's experience has developed we ask them to consider, prayerfully and with all due deliberation, their duty to a paper which is endeared to us as to them by long and earnest labors on its behalf."^[5]

Consolidation

January 15, 1880, the first publication of the Woman's Temperance Publishing Association (Chicago) made its appearance. It was a 16-page weekly temperance paper, The Signal. Conceived by Matilda Carse, its editor and publisher was Mary Bannister Willard. It represented the W.C.T.U.'s rapidly growing work in western states. It was started in a most modest way, a desk room being secured in the rooms of the W.C.T.U. The paper from the first became a favorite. In a few weeks the circulation had so increased that a publisher had to be engaged. In November 1882, The Signal became the national organ of the W.C.T.U. when it was consolidated with Our Union, the monthly paper that had been the organ of the National Society for seven years.^[6]

In 1883, the new publication was renamed The Union Signal.^[7] Mary Bannister Willard retained her position when the consolidation was effected. The Union Signal made its first appearance January 4, 1883. For twenty years thereafter, the organ was owned and published by the Woman's Temperance Publishing Association of Chicago, which association had full control of the paper financially, while its editorial policy was controlled by the N.W.C.T.U. On October 10, 1903, the paper was bought outright by the N.W.C.T.U. and thereafter was edited and published at Woman's Christian Temperance Union Administration Building in Evanston.^[5]

The thought and the hope of the early workers for this publication were hoped to inspire the women of future years. The keynote for that goal was sounded by Lillian M. N. Stevens, N.W.C.T.U. President and editor-in-chief, at Los Angeles, California, 1905, when she said:— "I must insist that it is not too much to expect that each local union should maintain a subscription list equal in number to one fourth of its membership. Those unions which have reached this point are to be congratulated, not alone because they have conformed to this request, but because of the great uplift which must inevitably come to a local union and to a community through the liberal reading of The Union Signal."^[5]

Not only did the paper's name change after the merger, at least in one year, 1894, it dropped the word "The" from its masthead, to read Union Signal.^[8]

Motto

The paper's motto changed numerous times:

1883: Official organ of the Woman's National Christian Temperance Union.
1889 and 1890: Official organ of the World's and National Woman's Christian Temperance Union
1893, 1895, and 1898: And World's White Ribbon.
1903: For God And Home and Every Land. (upper left); National and World's Woman's Christian Temperance Union (upper right); And World's White Ribbon (lower center).
1910 and 1912: (no motto)
1913, 1914, 1915, 1917, 1921, and 1922: Official Organ National Woman's Christian Temperance Union

Notable people

Editors have included: Mary Bannister Willard (January 1883 - July 1885), Mary Allen West (July 1885 - 1892), Frances Willard (1892 - February 1898), Lillian M. N. Stevens (February 1898 - April 1914), Anna Adams Gordon (April 1914 - October 1926), Ella Boole (October 1926 - October 1933), Ida B. Wise Smith (October 1933 - ).^[1]

Related Research Articles

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Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard was an American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist. Willard became the national president of Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) in 1879 and remained president until her death in 1898. Her influence continued in the next decades, as the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution were adopted. Willard developed the slogan "Do Everything" for the WCTU and encouraged members to engage in a broad array of social reforms by lobbying, petitioning, preaching, publishing, and education. During her lifetime, Willard succeeded in raising the age of consent in many states as well as passing labor reforms including the eight-hour work day. Her vision also encompassed prison reform, scientific temperance instruction, Christian socialism, and the global expansion of women's rights.

Anna Adams Gordon (1853–1931) was an American social reformer, songwriter, and, as national president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union when the Eighteenth Amendment was adopted, a major figure in the Temperance movement.

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The Woman's Temperance Publishing Association (WTPA) was a non-commercial publisher of temperance literature. Established in 1879 in Indianapolis, Indiana during the national convention of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), it was a concept of Matilda Carse, an Irish-born American businesswoman, social reformer and leader of the temperance movement.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union Administration Building is a historic building in Evanston, Illinois, United States. It has served as the publishing house and national headquarters of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union since its construction in 1910. The organization had an important role in the national discussion on prohibition and women's suffrage.

Mary H. Bannister Willard was an American editor, temperance worker, and educator from the U.S. state of New York. She was the founder of the American Home School for Girls in Berlin, Germany, earlier having served as editor of the Post and Mail and The Union Signal.

Mary Towne Burt was a 19th-century American temperance reformer, newspaper publisher, and benefactor from Ohio. Burt was identified with temperance work nearly all her life. She was the first president of the Auburn, New York branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and beginning in 1882, served as president of the New York State Society of the Union. In 1875, she became the publisher, and subsequently the editor, of Our Union, the organ of the society, and in 1878–80 was the corresponding secretary of the National Union. For several years, Burt had charge of the legislative interests of the union, and several laws for the protection of women and young girls resulted from her efforts.

Esther Pugh was an American temperance reformer of the long nineteenth century. She served as Treasurer of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), a Trustee of Earlham College, as well as editor and publisher of the monthly temperance journal, Our Union.

Mary Allen West was an American journalist, editor, educator, philanthropist, superintendent of schools, and temperance worker. A teacher in her early career, she served as superintendent of schools in Knox County, Illinois, being one of the first women to fill such a position in Illinois. An active supporter of the temperance movement, West served as president of the Illinois Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), and editor of the national paper, Union Signal. Her other roles within the WCTU included superintendent of the Training School for Temperance Workers, Illinois State Superintendent of Temperance in Schools of Higher Education, as well as Stockholder, Director, and Secretary of the Woman's Publication Association. She was the first president of the Illinois Woman's Press Association, a member of the Chicago Woman's Club, and director of the Protective Agency for Women and Children. West was the author of Childhood: Its Care and Culture (1887). She died in Japan, in 1892, while training temperance workers in organization and promotion reform efforts.

Jennie Fowler Willing was a Canadian-born American educator, author, preacher, social reformer, and suffragist. She married a lawyer and Methodist pastor at age 19. In 1873, she and her husband became professors at Illinois Wesleyan University. In addition to teaching, she was a leader in the temperance movement. Willing came to notice when she joined the Illinois Woman's State Temperance Union, serving as its leader for some years. She and Emily Huntington Miller were involved with creating and presiding over the First Woman's National Temperance Convention of 1874 in Cleveland where the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union was formed. She served as the editor of the national organization's journal for a period. In 1895, she created the New York Evangelistic Training School. Willing wrote several books including From Fifteen to Twenty-five: A Book for Young Men and serials for newspapers.

Caroline Brown Buell was an American activist who lectured and wrote on behalf of temperance and suffrage. She served as the assistant recording secretary (1878–80), corresponding secretary (1880–93), and a member of the Our Union publication committee (1876–83) of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU); as well as the president (1904) and corresponding secretary (1875–86) of the Connecticut WCTU. She also originated the plan of the Loyal Temperance Legion, the children's society of the WCTU. Buell wrote extensively for temperance publications, and other papers and magazines. She made her home in East Hampton, Connecticut.

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The Third Annual Meeting of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union (N.W.C.T.U.) was held in Newark, New Jersey, October 25-28, 1876. Twenty-two State unions were represented at this meeting, and local unions were reported as having been formed for the first time in Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas, preparatory to State organizations. No officer of the N.W.C.T.U. received a dollar for services or traveling expenses during the year. Robert's Rules of Order was adopted as the parliamentary authority for the N.W.C.T.U.

References

1 2 Jimerson, Randall C.; Blouin, Francis X.; Isetts, Charles A. (1977). Guide to the Microfilm Edition of Temperance and Prohibition Papers. University of Michigan. pp. 368–69. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
↑ "Woman's Christian Temperance Union | Changing America | A Nation of Joiners | Explore | Join In: Voluntary Assocations in America | Exhibitions at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
↑ "CLIR Hidden Collections Registry". registry.clir.org. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
↑ "WCTU Publications". Wctu.org. 2008-11-01. Archived from the original on 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Stevenson, Katharine Lent (1907). A Brief History of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union: Outline Course of Study for Local Unions. Union Signal. pp. 114–16. Retrieved 26 February 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
↑ International Council of Women, ed. (1888). Report of the International Council of Women: Assembled by the National Woman Suffrage Association, Washington, D.C., U.S. of America, March 25 to April 1, 1888. National Woman Suffrage Association. p. 188. Retrieved 1 October 2023. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
↑ Judy Barrett Litoff, Judith McDonnell.European Immigrant Women in the United States, Taylor & Francis (1994), p. 51.
↑ Union signal. National Woman's Christian Temperance Union. 1894. Retrieved 27 February 2022.

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[JimersonBlouinIsetts-1977-1] 1 2 Jimerson, Randall C.; Blouin, Francis X.; Isetts, Charles A. (1977). Guide to the Microfilm Edition of Temperance and Prohibition Papers. University of Michigan. pp. 368–69. Retrieved 26 February 2022.

[2] "Woman's Christian Temperance Union | Changing America | A Nation of Joiners | Explore | Join In: Voluntary Assocations in America | Exhibitions at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2024-04-13.

[CLIR-3] "CLIR Hidden Collections Registry". registry.clir.org. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.

[4] "WCTU Publications". Wctu.org. 2008-11-01. Archived from the original on 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2012-06-05.

[Stevenson-1907-5] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Stevenson, Katharine Lent (1907). A Brief History of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union: Outline Course of Study for Local Unions. Union Signal. pp. 114–16. Retrieved 26 February 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

[Report1888-6] International Council of Women, ed. (1888). Report of the International Council of Women: Assembled by the National Woman Suffrage Association, Washington, D.C., U.S. of America, March 25 to April 1, 1888. National Woman Suffrage Association. p. 188. Retrieved 1 October 2023. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

[Judy_Barrett_Litoff_1994-7] Judy Barrett Litoff, Judith McDonnell.European Immigrant Women in the United States, Taylor & Francis (1994), p. 51.

[8] Union signal. National Woman's Christian Temperance Union. 1894. Retrieved 27 February 2022.

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