Swisshelm's Life And Accomplishments

Jane Grey Swisshelm was a native born Pittsburgh girl. Her influential personality made a massive impact on journalism, abolitionist, and women’s rights during the Civil War. Her impact on Pittsburgh lead to a neighborhood being named after her - Swisshelm Park in southeast Pittsburgh. Some of Swisshelm’s biggest accomplishments include, writing for several Pittsburgh newspapers, working for the New York Tribune, and creating several newspapers to support women’s rights and abolition.
Jane Grey Swisshelm was born on December 6, 1815 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Swisshelm learned at a young age how to be independent when her father died. This became a problem when she married James Swisshelm in 1836. He expected complete submission from his

She wrote of her opinions on freedom no matter of skin color or gender. Because of her conflicting views, she wrote under the pseudonym, Jennie Deans. A lot of Jane Grey’s work consisted of stories, poetry, and articles. She took most interest in personal property ownership. She did not like that any land that belonged to women was transferred over to the husband when married. Swisshelm began a campaign for women's right to own property which later brought more attention to the Married Women’s Property Law in 1848. Her writing was recognized nationally and achieved a circulation of over 6,000. Editors’ started to become hesitant of publishing Swisshelm’s controversial opinions, so in 1847 she created her own newspaper, The Saturday

In a 1853 article she wrote, “The efficient remedy for this class of evils is education; an equal education! If you wish to maintain your proper position in society, to command the respect of your friends now, and husbands and children in future, you should read, think, study, try to be wise.” This and controversial writings criticizing Southerners who brought their slaves into free land got her into some trouble. One night, her newspaper office was broken into, and someone had thrown her printing press into the Mississippi river. Still, Swisshelm could not be silenced. She persevered and, with the help of her loved ones, was able to buy a new printing press and opens St. Cloud Democrat. This newspaper became famous for it’s articles about feminism. Women all around were inspired by what Swisshelm wrote in St. Cloud Democrat. They began writing letters to the paper about women’s role in society which Swisshelm promptly replied to in print. She urged every women to get an education and to love themselves so they can find their own self