Belva Lockwood, National Equal Rights Party, 1884 & 1888

Belva Ann Lockwood, the second woman to run for President of the United States of America, was the National Equal Rights Party’s candidate in 1884 and 1888. By her early twenties, Lockwood was making choices that set her apart from typical women of her time. Recently widowed, Belva sent her young daughter to live with relatives while she attended Genesee College (now Syracuse University). Graduating with honors in 1857, Lockwood accepted the position of preceptress of the Lockport Union School in upstate New York, where she shocked parents by introducing public speaking and gymnastics courses for girls. Lockwood collaborated with Susan B. Anthony on an essay entitled “The Life School,” detailing her approach to girls’ education.

In the early 1870’s, Lockwood began a course of study at the National University Law School, along with fourteen other women. Severe restrictions were imposed on the women, and Lockwood was the only one to graduate. However, she was not awarded her diploma until she appealed to University President Ulysses S. Grant himself in 1873. Later, Lockwood diligently lobbied senators to get a bill passed allowing women to argue before the Supreme Court. When it was she sent small bouquets of flowers to the desks of all those who voted in her favor, causing a writer for the Nation to remark, “Let us hope that venal legislation at Washington will be extirpated by the rise of this beautiful custom.” She successfully appealed that reparations be made to the Cherokee Nation, and prepared an amendment to the statehood bill granting suffrage to women in Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Belva Lockwood was known as the Bicycle Lady of Washington, but it would be more accurate to call her the “Tricycle Lady,” as a large, carriage-like, three-wheeled pedal car was her preferred mode of transportation around Washington. During her long career, Belva Lockwood was an activist for peace on a global scale, and was on the nominating committee for the Nobel Peace Prize. Since 1986, Belva Ann Lockwood has been honored on a 17 cent stamp.