WORCESTER — One hundred seventy-five years after the nation’s first organized demand for women’s full political and social rights, Worcester is preparing to mark the moment not just with nostalgia, but with urgency.
Organizers of the 175th anniversary of the First National Women’s Rights Convention say the two-day commemoration at Mechanics Hall on Oct. 22–23 is more than a milestone — it’s a reminder of how much work remains.
“The fact that Worcester had this reputation 175 years ago is something that we should be celebrating, not just this year but every year on Oct. 23 and 24,” said Barbara Guertin, one of the event’s organizers.
The convention, first held in 1850 at Worcester’s Brinley Hall, drew about 1,000 attendees and was hosted by a group of anti-slavery activists including Lucy Stone, Abby Kelley Foster and Paulina Wright Davis. Historians have noted that Worcester was chosen because it was seen as “a seething centre of all the reforms, a sympathetic place to hold a convention on such a radical topic as equal rights for women.”
This year’s celebration features keynote speaker Deja Foxx, a Gen Z social justice advocate, along with Celia Blue, Fredie Kay, John Kowal and Dr. Lauran Star. Historical performances and exhibits explore both the progress made since 1850 and the persistent inequities women still face.
The two-day event kicks off on Wednesday, Oct. 22, with a theatrical re-creation of the original 1850 Convention. The play “Angels and Infidels” dramatizes the urgency and passion of that historic gathering, featuring prominent voices of the time. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with live 19th-century music by the Providence Brigade Band and continues with the performance at 7 p.m.
On Thursday, Oct. 23, a full-day conference highlights the evolution of women’s rights through sessions such as “Women and Politics—Past and Present,” The Current State of Inclusion” and a keynote address by Foxx on reproductive health. Attendees can also experience “Dessert With the Dead Ladies,” a lively Q&A with reenactors of figures including Abby Kelley Foster and Frances Perkins and a historical fashion show titled “From Petticoats to Power Suits.” The event closes with a “Final Call to Action,” tying past struggles to today’s ongoing fight for equality.
“Things have not changed dramatically since 1850,” said Guertin, “and the Worcester Women’s History Project wants to call attention to the fact that the same issues that were prevalent in 1850 still exist today. She added that 2025 marks the first year in which women’s wages have decreased — “a step in the wrong direction.”
“The biggest takeaway is that we hope people will educate themselves about the history of our rights and the reason why we still need to keep our eye on the prize,” she added.
Following the original convention, early advocates such as Stone, Foster and Davis helped pave the way for reforms that allowed women to keep their property after marriage, control their own wages, and ultimately gain the right to vote.
“Commemorating this anniversary reminds us how far we have come and how important it is to keep pushing forward,” Guertin said.
Find more information and to register, go to worcesterhistory.org.
Jenna Foley is a communication and multimedia journalism student at Worcester State University, focusing on telling impactful stories through different forms of media. She can be reached at jfoley17@worcester.edu