Who was Annie Turner Wittenmyer?

Annie Turner Wittenmyer (1827–1900) was an American reformer and relief worker who supplied medical aid to army hospitals during the Civil War. As president of the Iowa State Sanitary Commission, she organized women to collect hospital supplies. She opened special diet kitchens at army hospitals, an idea adopted by the army medical department by the war's end. In 1874, Wittenmyer became the first president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) , but she lost the position to Frances Willard in 1879 due to differing views on women's suffrage. Wittenmyer also served as president of the Woman’s Relief Corps (1889–90) and campaigned for Civil War nurse pensions, receiving one herself in 1898.

What kind of work did Annie Wittenmyer do during the Civil War?

During the Civil War, Annie Turner Wittenmyer devoted herself to relief work, becoming secretary of the Keokuk Soldiers’ Aid Society. She visited troop encampments and organized a statewide system of local aid societies to collect hospital supplies, effectively becoming the state's distributing agency. Wittenmyer was appointed a paid state sanitary agent in September 1862 and, in October 1863, became president of the Iowa State Sanitary Commission. She established special diet kitchens at army hospitals with support from the United States Christian Commission, starting in Nashville, Tennessee. Her trained women established similar kitchens at other hospitals, leading to the army medical department generally adopting her idea by the war's end.

Why is Annie Wittenmyer called a relief worker and reformer?

Annie Turner Wittenmyer is called a relief worker and reformer because of her efforts to supply medical aid and dietary assistance to army hospitals during the Civil War and her influential role in the temperance movement. As secretary of the Keokuk Soldiers’ Aid Society, she organized a statewide system of local aid societies to collect hospital supplies. She also established special diet kitchens at army hospitals, which were soon adopted by the army medical department. Later, Wittenmyer became the first president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and lectured widely on temperance. She also led the Woman’s Relief Corps and campaigned for Civil War nurses' pensions.

How did Annie Wittenmyer help soldiers and their families?

Annie Turner Wittenmyer significantly aided soldiers and their families through her relief work during the Civil War. As secretary of the Keokuk Soldiers’ Aid Society, she gathered hospital supplies and visited troop encampments. She established a statewide system of local aid societies, becoming the de facto distributing agency for Iowa. Wittenmyer also created special diet kitchens at army hospitals, supported by the United States Christian Commission. Additionally, she worked with the Iowa Orphans’ Home Association during and after the war. Later, as president of the Woman’s Relief Corps, she advocated for Civil War nurses and veterans' families, helping to establish homes for nurses, widows, and mothers and lobbying Congress for nurses' pensions.

What organizations or movements was she involved in after the Civil War?

After the Civil War, Annie Turner Wittenmyer became involved in several organizations and movements. In 1868, she helped organize the Ladies’ and Pastors’ Christian Union and became corresponding secretary of the General Conference Society in 1871. Wittenmyer joined the Woman's Crusade in 1873-74 and was elected the first president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) in 1874, a position she held until 1879. Later, she opposed the WCTU's politicization and supported the Non-Partisan Woman's Christian Temperance Union, serving as its president from 1896 to 1898. Additionally, Wittenmyer was president of the Woman's Relief Corps from 1889 to 1890 and led efforts to establish homes for Civil War nurses and veterans' families.

How did Annie Turner Wittenmyer's work influence future social reforms in America?

Annie Turner Wittenmyer was an American reformer and relief worker who significantly influenced future social reforms through her work during and after the Civil War. Her efforts in supplying medical aid and dietary assistance to army hospitals set a precedent for organized relief efforts. Wittenmyer's leadership in the temperance movement, particularly as the first president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), helped pave the way for women's involvement in social and political issues. Additionally, her advocacy for Civil War nurses and veterans laid the groundwork for subsequent pension and relief programs.

Annie Turner Wittenmyer

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Quick Facts

Née:: Annie Turner

Born:: Aug. 26, 1827, Sandy Springs, Ohio, U.S.

Died:: Feb. 2, 1900, Sanatoga [now in Pottstown], Pa. (aged 72)

Role In:: American Civil War

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Annie Turner Wittenmyer

American relief worker and reformer

Also known as: Annie Turner

Written and fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

History

Top Questions

Who was Annie Turner Wittenmyer?
Annie Turner Wittenmyer (1827–1900) was an American reformer and relief worker who supplied medical aid to army hospitals during the Civil War. As president of the Iowa State Sanitary Commission, she organized women to collect hospital supplies. She opened special diet kitchens at army hospitals, an idea adopted by the army medical department by the war's end.

In 1874, Wittenmyer became the first president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), but she lost the position to Frances Willard in 1879 due to differing views on women's suffrage. Wittenmyer also served as president of the Woman’s Relief Corps (1889–90) and campaigned for Civil War nurse pensions, receiving one herself in 1898.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Annie Turner Wittenmyer
2. Woman’s Christian Temperance Union
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What kind of work did Annie Wittenmyer do during the Civil War?
During the Civil War, Annie Turner Wittenmyer devoted herself to relief work, becoming secretary of the Keokuk Soldiers’ Aid Society. She visited troop encampments and organized a statewide system of local aid societies to collect hospital supplies, effectively becoming the state's distributing agency. Wittenmyer was appointed a paid state sanitary agent in September 1862 and, in October 1863, became president of the Iowa State Sanitary Commission.

She established special diet kitchens at army hospitals with support from the United States Christian Commission, starting in Nashville, Tennessee. Her trained women established similar kitchens at other hospitals, leading to the army medical department generally adopting her idea by the war's end.
1 Britannica Source
1. Annie Turner Wittenmyer
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Why is Annie Wittenmyer called a relief worker and reformer?
Annie Turner Wittenmyer is called a relief worker and reformer because of her efforts to supply medical aid and dietary assistance to army hospitals during the Civil War and her influential role in the temperance movement.

As secretary of the Keokuk Soldiers’ Aid Society, she organized a statewide system of local aid societies to collect hospital supplies. She also established special diet kitchens at army hospitals, which were soon adopted by the army medical department. Later, Wittenmyer became the first president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and lectured widely on temperance. She also led the Woman’s Relief Corps and campaigned for Civil War nurses' pensions.
1 Britannica Source
1. Annie Turner Wittenmyer
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did Annie Wittenmyer help soldiers and their families?
Annie Turner Wittenmyer significantly aided soldiers and their families through her relief work during the Civil War. As secretary of the Keokuk Soldiers’ Aid Society, she gathered hospital supplies and visited troop encampments. She established a statewide system of local aid societies, becoming the de facto distributing agency for Iowa. Wittenmyer also created special diet kitchens at army hospitals, supported by the United States Christian Commission. Additionally, she worked with the Iowa Orphans’ Home Association during and after the war. Later, as president of the Woman’s Relief Corps, she advocated for Civil War nurses and veterans' families, helping to establish homes for nurses, widows, and mothers and lobbying Congress for nurses' pensions.
1 Britannica Source
1. Annie Turner Wittenmyer
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What organizations or movements was she involved in after the Civil War?
After the Civil War, Annie Turner Wittenmyer became involved in several organizations and movements. In 1868, she helped organize the Ladies’ and Pastors’ Christian Union and became corresponding secretary of the General Conference Society in 1871.

Wittenmyer joined the Woman's Crusade in 1873-74 and was elected the first president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) in 1874, a position she held until 1879. Later, she opposed the WCTU's politicization and supported the Non-Partisan Woman's Christian Temperance Union, serving as its president from 1896 to 1898. Additionally, Wittenmyer was president of the Woman's Relief Corps from 1889 to 1890 and led efforts to establish homes for Civil War nurses and veterans' families.
1 Britannica Source
1. Annie Turner Wittenmyer
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did Annie Turner Wittenmyer's work influence future social reforms in America?
Annie Turner Wittenmyer was an American reformer and relief worker who significantly influenced future social reforms through her work during and after the Civil War. Her efforts in supplying medical aid and dietary assistance to army hospitals set a precedent for organized relief efforts. Wittenmyer's leadership in the temperance movement, particularly as the first president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), helped pave the way for women's involvement in social and political issues. Additionally, her advocacy for Civil War nurses and veterans laid the groundwork for subsequent pension and relief programs.
1 Britannica Source
1. Annie Turner Wittenmyer
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Annie Turner Wittenmyer (born Aug. 26, 1827, Sandy Springs, Ohio, U.S.—died Feb. 2, 1900, Sanatoga [now in Pottstown], Pa.) was an American relief worker and reformer who helped supply medical aid and dietary assistance to army hospitals during the Civil War and was subsequently an influential organizer in the temperance movement.

Wittenmyer and her husband settled in Keokuk, Iowa, in 1850. At the outbreak of the Civil War, having shortly before been left a widow with a considerable estate, Wittenmyer devoted herself to relief work. As secretary of the Keokuk Soldiers’ Aid Society, she visited troop encampments and organized a statewide system of local aid societies to promote the collection of hospital supplies, and soon the society became the de facto distributing agency for the state.

Under a state law of September 1862, Wittenmyer was appointed a paid state sanitary agent to carry on the work she had begun. In October 1863 she was elected president of the Iowa State Sanitary Commission, a group organized to resist an attempt by the all-male Iowa Army Sanitary Commission to take over the work of the Iowa women. The rivalry continued into 1864, when opponents falsely accused Wittenmyer of mismanagement and corruption. After refuting the charges and fighting off the threat to her position, she resigned as state agent in May 1864.

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On her own Wittenmyer proceeded with a plan to open special diet kitchens at army hospitals. Supported by the United States Christian Commission, she began with a kitchen in Nashville, Tennessee. Women trained by Wittenmyer soon established similar kitchens at other hospitals, and by the end of the war Wittenmyer’s idea had been generally adopted by the army medical department. During and after the war she also worked on behalf of the Iowa Orphans’ Home Association.

In 1868 Wittenmyer led in organizing the Ladies’ and Pastors’ Christian Union, an organization of Methodists interested in aiding the sick and needy. She was chosen corresponding secretary of the successor General Conference Society in 1871. About that time she moved to Philadelphia and founded the periodical Christian Woman, of which she remained editor for 11 years.

Wittenmyer joined in the “Woman’s Crusade,” the largely unorganized wave of temperance fervour that swept over parts of western New York, Ohio, and other midwestern states in 1873–74. In November 1874 she attended the Cleveland, Ohio, convention at which the national Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was organized, and she was elected the union’s first president. For the next year she and Frances Willard, the WCTU’s corresponding secretary, traveled widely to lecture on temperance and to organize local and state branches.

Wittenmyer also saw to the founding of Our Union, the WCTU’s journal. She was reelected president regularly until 1879, when she lost to Willard, with whom she had split over the question of taking up the cause of woman suffrage in addition to temperance. Wittenmyer continued to oppose the politicization of the WCTU and supported the formation in 1890 of the splinter Non-Partisan Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, of which she served as president (1896–98).

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She was also president of the Woman’s Relief Corps (1889–90), an auxiliary of the Grand Army of the Republic. She led a campaign to establish a National Woman’s Relief Corps Home for Civil War nurses and the widows and mothers of veterans, and she served as a director for such homes established in Ohio and Pennsylvania. In 1892 Wittenmyer lobbied Congress on behalf of a bill to provide Civil War nurses with pensions, and in 1898 she herself received a special pension. Among her written works are Woman’s Work for Jesus (1871), History of the Woman’s Temperance Crusade (1878), Women of the Reformation (1884), and Under the Guns (1895).

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Annie Turner Wittenmyer

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