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Governor Chase S. Osborn sends a proclamation on Mother’s Day describing motherhood as “the sacred spring from which flows the stream of humanity.” Willing motherhood is a measure of a race’s vitality. Osborn requests the citizens of Michigan observe the holiday and read Theodore Roosevelt’s article “Race Decadence.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
5-14-1911
A newspaper article announcing May 14, 1911 as Mother’s Day in Michigan. The article highlights a speech given by Governor Chase O. Osborn and his ideas on mothers and motherhood.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-08
Dewitt Wise extolls the divine and virtuous nature of mothers in poetic verse.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-01
Margaret Sanger replies to former President Roosevelt’s article “Birth Control–From the Positive Side.” Sanger argues that birth control is necessary for all classes; however, it is most necessary for the working class. She criticizes Roosevelt’s approach, stating that widespread fertility should not be encouraged in order to prevent the “spawning of the slums.” She also takes issue with Roosevelt’s assessment that birth rates in France and Germany helped precipitate World War I. Finally, Sanger argues that women fear birthing children into poverty with the inability to care for them. For this reason, birth control dissemination is a necessity.
The Margaret Sanger Papers Project
1917-12
In her draft of a speech in response to her trial on The Woman Rebel dissemination, Margaret Sanger discusses social problems and the manner in which birth control can address these issues and help the working class. Sanger critiques anti-obscenity laws and the notion of birth control education as pornography. She asks whether former President Roosevelt is truly moral for encouraging large families and she is immoral for encouraging small families. Sanger also addresses the charge that her article concerning an assassination attempt incited murder. She includes quotations from well-known ancient orators and writers and also from Roosevelt, claiming that if these writings on assassination are not accused of inciting murder, she should not be accused of such either.
The Margaret Sanger Papers Project
1916-01
The Indianapolis Star reports on Margaret Sanger’s speech about birth control at the Claypool Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana. Sanger discussed the importance of providing birth control information to working class women in order to reduce and prevent infant and maternal mortality, poverty, abortion, and prostitution. She argued that if former President Roosevelt was allowed to travel the country and urge families to have many children, she should be allowed to give poor women the information they needed. In reference to Roosevelt’s concerns over race suicide, Sanger stated, “I say the race ought to commit suicide unless it can take care of its children better.”
The Margaret Sanger Papers Project
1916-05-16
Journalist Gene Frances Baker, who wrote under the name Gene Baker, reports on the crowd of women who “came in droves” to hear Margaret Sanger speak at the Hotel Oakland ballroom. Sanger, who Baker describes as “feminine” with “personal warmth,” scientifically and clearly described the issue of birth control. She criticized the censorship of the United States Postal Service and former President Roosevelt’s sense of morality. Sanger asked the audience who was more moral: she, for encouraging small, responsible families, or Roosevelt, for encouraging American couples to have many children? At this, Baker reports that Sanger received a great deal of applause, indicating that “the Rooseveltian theory would never win him many of the women’s votes.”
The Margaret Sanger Papers Project
1916-06-15