PERKINS, EDNA BRUSH (25 Mar. 1880-11 Oct. 1930), social reformer and painter, organized and lectured for woman's suffrage (1912-20), chaired the Woman's Suffrage Party of greater Cleve. (1916-18), helped found the WOMEN'S CITY CLUB (WCC) of Cleve. (1917), and exhibited at the CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART (CMA) May Shows (1927-30). Perkins was also a poet, published travel writer and pianist.

Born in Cleve., the oldest daughter of Mary Morris and CHAS. FRANCIS BRUSH† and sister of Helene and Chas. F. Brush, Jr., Perkins attended HATHAWAY BROWN and Miss Hersey's school in Boston and took courses at the Women's College of West. Res. U. On 14 Nov. 1905, she married ROGER GRISWOLD PERKINS†, M.D.; the couple lived on E. 46th St. before settling at 1481 East Blvd. They resided in Mantunuck, RI in the summers. Perkins promoted local Liberty Loan and food conservation drives during WWI. She worked for the Anti-Tuberculosis Leag. and served on the founding boards of the BRUSH FOUNDATION and the Mat. Health Assn. (1928-30) as well as the boards of the CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE (1927-30) and the Welfare Fndn. of Cleve., and the advisory committee of the Cleve. Sch. of Art.

Perkins began her art career in mid-life. She studied painting at the Cleve. Sch. of Art and in Provincetown, MA, and maintained studios in Provincetown and New York City. Her work, also exhibited in Wichita, KS., Provincetown and Akron, OH., received hon. mention in the 1928 and 1929 CMA May shows. She was buried in LAKE VIEW CEMETERY. She left three children, Maurice, Roger G. and Chas. Brush Perkins; another son, John, died in 1927.

Perkins, Charles Brush. Ancestors of Charles Brush Perkins and Maurice Perkins (1976).

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