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The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

SHERWIN, BELLE - The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

SHERWIN, BELLE (20 Mar. 1868-9 July 1955), noted reform and feminist leader, was born in Cleveland to Frances Mary Smith and Henry Alden Sherwin, a founder of SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO.; received a B.S. degree from Wellesley College in 1890, where she was chosen Phi Beta Kappa; and studied history for a year at Oxford University from 1894-95. Returning to the U.S., she taught 4 years in Boston at St. Margaret's and Miss Hersey's School for Girls. In 1900 she returned to Cleveland, serving as the first president of the CONSUMERS LEAGUE OF OHIO. During the period before WORLD WAR I, Sherwin was active in numerous Cleveland welfare organizations, serving as director of the Public Health Nursing Assoc. and a member of the Fed. for Charity & Philanthropy and Council for Social Agencies. Following World War I, she was director of the Cleveland Welfare Fed. (1900-14), and from 1921-24 was vice-president of the Natl. League of Women Voters, serving as league president from 1924-34. Sherwin was a founder of the WOMEN'S CITY CLUB in Cleveland. She received honorary degrees from Western Reserve University (1930), Denison University (1931), and Oberlin College (1937). Sherwin never married.


Belle Sherwin Papers, Radcliffe College.

Last Modified: 22 Jul 1997 02:12:04 PM

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