Graceanna Lewis (August 3, 1821-February 25, 1912)

Today, August 3, 2021, is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Graceanna Lewis, an abolitionist, underground railroad station operator, women's rights advocate, artist, and natural scientist. If you have writings (such as letters and articles), photos, prints, artworks, or other material connected to her, please contact me. I've read the brief biography on her by Deborah Miller, Graceanna Lewis: Scientist and Humanitarian, and want to learn more.  

Hannah Wright Mifflin, a first cousin of my fourth great-grandmother Jane Wierman Funk, and Graceanna Lewis were good friends. In letters, Hannah called her Gracie. Both were Quakers raised in abolitionist families that were major participants in the underground railroad. Hannah grew up in the northeast part of Adams County, Pennsylvania, where Gettysburg is the county seat. Her parents, William Wright and Phebe Wierman Wright, as well as Gracie's family were among the underground railroad participants that William Still included in his book, The Underground Railroad (1872). 

Graceanna Lewis grew up near Philadelphia in Chester County. I suppose Hannah and Gracie met through their parents' underground railroad work and got to know each other better at Kimberton Boarding School for Girls, near Gracie's home and where they both studied. My impression from descriptions of the school is that it was similar to a progressive and STEM-focused school of today. 

More information on Graceanna Lewis: "Graceanna Lewis--Abolitionist to Natural Scientist" by Rob Lukens, March 21, 2013 

"From The Plumage Of Birds To The Classification Of The Natural Kingdom: The Life Of Ornithologist Graceanna Lewis" by Dale Debakcsy, March 3, 2021

One of the leaf charts she created for schools: