Portrait Gallery

Belva Ann Lockwood

Mrs. Lockwood Praised at Portrait Unveiling

Painting to Hang in Corcoran Art Gallery — To Give Up Legal Practice.

Men and women prominent in government and social circles, including many advocates of equal suffrage and universal peace, gathered at the New Willard last night to witness the unveiling of a portrait of Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood, which was painted by Mrs. Nellie Mathes Horne and which will be hung in the Corcoran Art Gallery. The portrait was unveiled amid the waving of handkerchiefs and small American flags. In the speeches that preceded and followed the unveiling Mrs. Lockwood was referred to as “the NationalPortia, the original impetus to the woman's suffrage movement, and the only woman who has twice been nominated for the presidency of the United States.”

Praises Mrs. Lockwood's Work.

Dr. William Tindell, secrtary to the District Commissioners, conveyed the best wishes of the District officials to Mrs. Lockwood, and praised her for the great work she has done in furthering the cause of women.

The speakers included Judge Stanton J. Peelle of the United States Court of Claims, Mrs. Emma S. Shelton, the Rev. Susanna Harris, the Rev. Olympia Brown, the Rev. W. J. McKenney, Mrs. Clinton Smith, Col. Henry Blount, Prof. Frank L. Gardner. Mrs. S. D. La Fetra and Mrs. R. L. Colby.

A letter was read from Mrs. Mary S. Lockwood expressing her regret at not being able to be present.

Mrs. W. A. Gibbs sang several vocal selections, all of which are the works of American women composers. John R. Monroe was her accompanist.

Mrs. Lockwood to Retire.

Mrs. Lockwood announced last night that after many years of active practice of law she has decided to retire from the bar.

“I have a great deal of work ahead that I wish to devote myself to,” said Mrs. Lockwood. “Therefore I shall step out of the practice of law just as soon as I can. It's a hard thing to do, you know, once you are in it, but I wish to work on problems of suffrage, universal peace, temperance and some other reforms in which I have a vital interest.

“June 15 I am to go to Europe as one of the twenty ambassadors the American Woman's Republic will send to carry a peace message to the women of Europe. We will go direct to Budapest and later to the other countries.

Message Concerning Balkans.

“Then, too, Saturday I received a message from the women of the United French Peace Societies concerning the Balkans, and this I wish to translate, that I may send, it over this country for the perusal of the women.

“A large part of my time I wish to devote to work in connection with universal peace. For twenty years I have been a representative of the international peace bureau at Berne. It is part of my duty to collect all legislation in this country regarding universal peace and send it to the bureau at Berne for distribution. I receive a large amount of literature from Berne every month.

“I also wish to work in the interest of suffrage and temperance, and to have the time I want I shall have to give up my law practice.”

Mrs. Lockwood Praised at Portrait Unveiling, The Evening Star, Washington D.C., No. 19,130, Tuesday, February 11, 1913, Page 18. (PDF)

See also: The Washington Post and The Washington Times.

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