More than Temperance: The CU Woman's Christian Temperance Union

By Sara Linne

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was not only a temperance organization. Members were actively involved in politics, suffrage movements, and, as the name suggests, Christianity and temperance. The national WCTU was established in 1874 and by the late 19th century had the largest membership numbers of any women’s organization (1).

Its most famous and influential leader, Frances Willard, became president in 1879 and supported the idea of “Do Everything,” which gave local unions the chance to become involved in many avenues of social causes, including “prison reform, children’s temperance unions, public kindergartens, health and hygiene, homelessness, and unemployment” (2). Though temperance was a core tenet of the organization, members also had the agency to engage with different areas of society.

Fig 1: Frances E. Willard, depicted wearing a white ribbon, a symbol of the WCTU

The Champaign chapter of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union acted similarly. Throughout their active years, members of the organization were involved in topics ranging from children’s education to crime and prisons. The organization of Champaign was first called the Woman’s Temperance League in 1874 and likely transformed into or was folded into the WCTU by 1878. In its preamble, the League stated its mission:

Believing that the time has come, when all true Women should unite to overthrow the evils of intemperance in our midst, and believing that, in order to consummate this object, it is absolutely necessary to unite with moral suasion our power to influence voters, in order that the liquor traffic in our City may be suppressed (3).

Inherent in the creation of the League is the goal to influence voters to suppress the sales of liquor. As such, it provided women an avenue to engage in local politics and express their opinions directly.

Fig 2: 1884 By-Laws of the WCTU in Champaign

Courtesy of the Champaign County Historical Archives

Unlike many other communities in the United States, Urbana engaged in prohibition policies before the ratification of the 18th Amendment. In 1873, Urbana lifted its prior 1855 restrictions on the sale of liquor, meaning saloons could freely sell alcohol to customers. It wasn’t until 1907 that Urbana and Champaign reinstated liquor restrictions, leading to the closing of 12 saloons (4). As such, women of the WCTU had to navigate a shifting political landscape that at times supported their beliefs, while at other times opposed them. Several weeks before Urbana voted to go dry in 1907, the WCTU held a meeting at the University Place Christian Church to encourage people to vote. The Union made plans to send out members of the union to convince women to “lend all their strength in getting the men of the household to vote against the saloon (5).” Their actions, along with those of other temperance organizations, were integral in passing stricter liquor laws. 

In their meeting books, the Union often expressed its distaste for liquor, which often tied into Christian beliefs. In a December 1892 meeting, the members read a paper titled “What the Church Owes to the Saloon,” which expressed how the “modern institution” (saloons) were “against the gospel,” and “constantly invading ranks of the Church, and robbing it of its power” (6). To try to solve this issue, WCTU members gave temperance materials to pastors to be prayed on once a week. Similarly, in a January 1893 meeting, the union president discussed an advertisement posted by a local saloon as a "blasphemous travesty on the Ten Commandments” (7). Liquor was not just a moral issue to these women, but a religious one that threatened the Church and its beliefs.

Fig 3: Ephemera pasted in the Champaign WCTU minute books, depicting a plan to stop the traffic of liquor

Courtesy of the Champaign County Historical Archives

The meetings themselves were often held at churches, such as First Methodist Episcopal Church, the Congressional Church, and University Place Christian Church. Prayer was an important part of every meeting, so much so that the by-laws of 1884 included a clause that every meeting had to open with prayer (8). Reverends were also often present at meetings and gave prayers and speeches, often related to temperance. At one 1903 meeting, Reverend E.K. Towle of Rantoul said “the saloon is a bit, and a large bit, of licensed hell” (9). As such, the Church and its leadership provided members of the WCTU a space to voice their opinions and seek out support for their ideas.

Another supporter of temperance was Kentucky-born “Hatchet Granny” Carrie A. Nation. She passed through Champaign in 1902 and visited several saloons, lecturing local patrons on temperance and the evils of saloons. Speaking of Champaign saloons, she stated, “Your saloons here are no worse than they are other places. Two saloon keepers lost their respect for women and ejected me from their saloons, but that is nothing new to me” (10). Around 200 people gathered near the Illinois Central Depot to hear her speak. Though it's unknown what the local WCTU thought of this visit, Nation’s opinions aligned with how many members viewed the saloon as an inherent evil.

Fig 4 & 5: Carrie Nation's visit to Champaign in 1902

Courtesy of the Champaign County Historical Archives

Frances Willard was also an important role model for members, so much so that in the late 1890s, the Union named a schoolhouse after her. In the year of her death, 1898, members also dedicated a memorial service to her (11). Around a decade later, members spent a year raising $700 to erect a statue of her in front of the newly constructed Flat Iron building at the intersection of Main and Springfield in Urbana in 1907. At the bottom of the statue was a drinking fountain, and though the statue was meant to be a symbol of temperance, a 1930 news article claimed that people used the fountain as a ‘refrigerator’ for their alcohol. In 1921, a new sidewalk was constructed in front of the building, and the Willard statue was relocated to a “dingey storeroom” at Crystal Lake Park. After a few months, the statue was again relocated to Carle Park in front of Urbana High School and was ultimately replaced by a Lincoln statue in 1928 (12). Around WWII, the Courier claimed that the statue was melted for metal (13). Though an important symbol of temperance was destroyed, the local Union still survived and continued to advocate for temperance and prohibition throughout the majority of the 20th century.

Fig 6: Frances Willard statue in front of the Flat Iron building in downtown Urbana

Courtesy of the Champaign County Historical Archives

The activities of the Champaign Woman's Christian Temperance Union were often patriotic in nature. Not only did they have a temperance pledge to “abstain from all distilled, fermented, and malt liquors,” (14) they also read aloud the pledge of allegiance at programs. During a meeting in July of 1930, Grace Wolfe, president of the Urbana Union, read a paper titled “My Country.” In addition to praising the United States, she showcased the damage alcohol had done to the country, stating, “liquor was undermining our nation. It degenerates. It was the great destroyer of health, wealth, morals and happiness of our country” (15). The 18th Amendment was viewed as a great advancement for the nation, and those against prohibition were characterized as “enemies of our government.” Wolfe ended the paper by highlighting the need to stop misinformation and convince others of the merits of prohibition.

Though liquor and prohibition were a major topic of meetings and activities, the Union also created several departments over its time dedicated to other subjects. The list included juvenile work, social purity, literature, fair work, prison and jail, purity and mothers' meetings, and more. They also discussed a variety of topics at meetings, such as childraising, hygiene, and crime prevention, as can be seen in their program:

Fig 7: Pamphlet of topics and events of the Champaign WCTU in 1896, pasted in the organization's minute book

Courtesy of the Champaign County Historical Archives

Education was a common topic at their meetings and in their activities. In November of 1924, the social morality department placed several books in the Urbana public library. Some titles included Personal Help for Young Women, Personal Help for Men, Perfect Girlhood, Perfect Boyhood, and Child Culture (16). This type of initiative continued in October of 1930, in which members were encouraged to place the “latest and most scientific books” in public, school, and college libraries (17). In addition to libraries, members were also asked to educate children at public schools on the negative effects of alcohol and narcotics.

In the 1910s, the Champaign WCTU became more involved in the suffrage movement and was at one point even invited to attend a Woman’s Suffrage League meeting at a local church (18), which showcases the explicit ties between temperance and suffrage. In April of 1910, H.M. Dunlap of the Union gave a speech titled “Why Do You Wish to Vote?” in which she stated, “a woman cannot be for temperance without being in favor of equal suffrage” (19). Dunlap expressed that girls were neglected by education and that they would be given many advantages when women got the right to vote.

In September of the same year, the WCTU held a debate titled “Shall women vote in equal terms with men?” at their convention. Members of the Union also taught others about voting and politics with the hope that women would be more prepared to vote in the election for trustees at the University of Illinois (20). A speech titled “What Can Be Done to Win Prohibition of the Liquor Traffic Illinois” was also given by Dr. J.D. Mandeville (21).

Even when not directly voting or advocating for voting, members were still involved in politics. For example, on January 8, 1919, several months before the 18th Amendment was ratified, members held a Prohibition Rally at the Baptist Church, where they prayed for the “ratification of the national constitution prohibition amendment” (22). Multiple speeches were also given on the amendment. 

Champaign was not only a place for local Union activities. The annual Illinois Woman’s Christian Temperance Union held its 51st convention in Champaign in 1925. The event lasted four days and was held at the First Episcopal Church. State and national leadership attended the convention, including the national president, Anna Gordon. Union meetings, addresses, prayer, elections, and discussions on a variety of topics took place (23). As with other activities of the Union, focus was not only given to temperance and religion, and topics such as prison reform and social morality were also discussed.

Fig 8: Ribbon from the 1925 Illinois WCTU convention held in Champaign

From the Champaign County History Museum collection

Though the Union was particularly active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the organization continued to exist in the latter half of the 20th century. In 1969, several members of the WCTU spoke against the amendment in Urbana to revoke Dry Sunday. The vice president expressed that “drinking takes away desire and love for other people” (24). That same year, members raised money to buy soft drinks for boys in Vietnam (25).

In 1971, the Urbana WCTU still had 116 members, but the majority were elderly as the organization had failed to “recruit new membership from younger generations” (26). From the newspaper records, the Homer WCTU seems to have been more active in the 1970s and 1980s, and in 1978, members wrote to a brewery in St. Louis to protest a soft drink that contained 0.5% alcohol, which was “just enough it can’t be classified as alcohol” (27). As a result of protests, the brewery halted promotions of the drink. This highlights that the WCTU was still engaging in temperance activities even with fewer members and publicity. As of the 1990s, no mention of the Union was made in local newspapers, and it seems to have ceased as an organization, though a national Union still exists to this day. 

Though the local chapter no longer exists, the organization gave local women an opportunity to express their political views, advocate for voting rights, and form a community. In an environment where women had no right to vote, temperance organizations, such as the WCTU, were an integral pathway for women to express their political views and engage in larger community initiatives.

Bibliography

1. Novara, Elizabeth. “Temperance and Suffrage Movement Collections Connections.” Library of Congress Blogs. August 23, 2023. https://blogs.loc.gov/manuscripts/2023/08/temperance-and-suffrage-movement-collections-connections/. 

2.  Novara, Elizabeth.

3. Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Champaign, Ill.). Constitution, by-laws, and minute books, 1874-1905, Volume 1. Champaign County Historical Archives, Urbana, Illinois.

4. Morgan, Richard L.“A Short History of Demon Rum in Champaign County.” In Cornsilk and Chaff of Champaign County. Sesquicentennial Committee of Champaign County, 1969.

5.  Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Champaign, Ill.). Constitution, by-laws, and minute books, 1874-1905, Volume 2. Champaign County Historical Archives, Urbana, Illinois.

6. The Champaign Daily News. “Anti-Saloonists In Sunday Rally Enthusiastic Meeting at Which Several Encouraging Addresses Are Made.” March 25, 1907. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.

7. Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Champaign, Ill.). Constitution, by-laws, and minute books, 1874-1905, Volume 2. Champaign County Historical Archives, Urbana, Illinois.

8.  Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Champaign, Ill.). Constitution, by-laws, and minute books, 1874-1905, Volume 2. Champaign County Historical Archives, Urbana, Illinois.

9.  Urbana Daily Courier. “County Institute of W.C.T.U. in Session.” May 1, 1903. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.

10.  The Champaign Daily Gazette. “Now Carrie Nation She Brings Her Little Hatchet to Champaign.” August 11, 1902. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.

11.  Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Champaign, Ill.). Constitution, by-laws, and minute books, 1874-1905, Volume 4. Champaign County Historical Archives, Urbana, Illinois.

12.  Daily Illini. “W.C.T.U. Statute Stands Neglected.” March 27, 1930. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.

13.  Kuipers, Tom. “The mystery of the Francis Willard fountain.” December 12, 2021. In Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Illinois File, Champaign County Historical Archives. 

14.  Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Illinois File. Champaign County Historical Archives.

15.  Urbana Daily Courier. “W.C.T.U. Hears Prohibition Ably Defended.” July 5, 1930. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.

16.  Urbana Daily Courier. “W.C.T.U. Places Books in Library.” November 18, 1924. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.

17.  Urbana Daily Courier. “County W.C.T.U. Leaders Meet in Boner Home.” October 15, 1930. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.

18.  Champaign Daily News. “W.C.T.U. Elects Year’s Officers.” June 17, 1930. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.

19.  Urbana Courier-Herald. “W.C.T.U. Takes up Sex Suffrage.” April 16, 1910. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.

20.  The Champaign Daily News. “Women Taught Ways of Voting Practical Instruction is Given at County W.C.T.U. Meeting.” September 16, 1910. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections. 

21.  Champaign Daily News. “Annual Meeting Held at St. Joe.” September 9, 1910. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections. 

22.  Urbana Daily Courier. “Plan Prohibition Rally at Church.” January 8, 1919. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections. 

23. Daily Illini. “W.C.T.U. Delegates Will Be Twin City Convention Guests.” October 4, 1925. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.

24. Pettay, Bob. “Dry Sunday turning wet?” Daily Illini. November 6, 1969. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.

25.  The St. Joseph Record. “Class to Donate Thanksgiving Food Basket.” November 22, 1969. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.

26.  Conroy, John. “Down with alcohol: Temperance union old, but still fighting.” Daily Illini. November 24, 1971. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections. 

27. The St. Joseph Record. “WCTU Protests New Soft Drink.” December 21, 1978. Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.

Image Bibliography

1. “Frances E. Willard.” Photograph. In Chicago: its history and its builders, a century of marvelous growth, 1912. From University of Illinois Library.

2. Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Champaign, Ill.), Constitution, by-laws, and minute books, 1874-1905, Champaign County Historical Archives, The Urbana Free Library, Urbana, Illinois.

3. Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Champaign, Ill.), Constitution, by-laws, and minute books, 1874-1905, Champaign County Historical Archives, The Urbana Free Library, Urbana, Illinois.

4. “Women’s Christian Temperance Union" Photographs Envelope, Champaign County Historical Archives, The Urbana Free Library, Urbana, Illinois.

5. “Women’s Christian Temperance Union" Photographs Envelope, Champaign County Historical Archives, The Urbana Free Library, Urbana, Illinois.

6. “Flat Iron Building (Urbana)" Photographs Envelope, Champaign County Historical Archives, The Urbana Free Library, Urbana, Illinois.

7. Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Champaign, Ill.), Constitution, by-laws, and minute books, 1874-1905, Champaign County Historical Archives, The Urbana Free Library, Urbana, Illinois.