Alva Vanderbilt Belmont

Alva Vanderbilt Belmont (1853-1933) - a social reformer, and architect.

Alva Vanderbilt Belmont was born in Mobile, Alabama. She was one of the American suffragists  who financed and led women's suffrage (the right to vote) and women's rights movements.

Alva Vanderbilt Belmont was twice married into great wealth. Her writings through the years show a deep devotion to women's equality. Alva Vanderbilt Belmont together with Alice Paul (another leader of the women's rights movements) are famous for saying :"Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction."

Alva Vanderbilt Belmont formed her own women's rights party in 1910. She donated more than a million dollars to the cause of suffrage and women's rights. She led the 1912 New York parade for suffrage. She was president for life of the National Women's Party.

She was the founder of the Political Equality League. She is famous for saying "Pray to God. She will help you." When women finally got the vote in 1920, she refused to vote because no woman was running for president.

In her later years she became a noted architectural designer and was one of the first women ever elected to the American Institute of Architects. Belmont spent much time in her last years in France, where she owned several houses. When she died at the age of 80 in 1933, a long line of women went to her funeral.

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