Sarah J. Eddy

• Name — Sarah J. Eddy • Birth Name — Sarah James Eddy • Born — 3 May 1851 • Birthplace — Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. • Died — 29 March 1945 • Place of death — Portsmouth, Rhode Island, U.S. • Occupation — Artist Abolitionist Suffragette • Years Active — 1890–1945 • Alma Mater — Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Art Students League

Eddy was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to James Eddy, who worked as a painter and engraver, and Elisa Eddy (née Jackson). Her maternal grandfather was the abolitionist, Francis Jackson, and her maternal great uncle was Massachusetts politician, William Jackson, who was also against slavery. On her paternal side, Eddy comes from a large New England family that originally came from Cranbrook, Kent. Eddy studied painting and sculpture at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and New York's Art Students League. One of her teachers was Christian Schussele. Eddy began exhibiting photographs in 1890, at nearly 40 years of age. Her most important exhibitions were at the New School of American Photography and the selection of American Women photographers at the Paris Universal Exposition of 1900.

In 1883, Eddy painted a portrait of African-American social reformer, Frederick Douglass. In the portrait, Douglass holds a baton that symbolizes his authority during his tenure as marshal of the District of Columbia. Douglass sat for the portrait twice during the summer of 1883. Eddy also painted a portrait of Susan B. Anthony, a copy of which was donated to Bryn Mawr College in 1920.

Eddy's mother and other family members were active in the anti-slavery and suffrage movements. Eddy herself was a member of the National American Woman Suffrage Association.

An animal welfare activist and vegetarian, Eddy founded the Rhode Island Humane Education Association. Between 1899 and 1938, Eddy wrote or compiled five children's books on animals and their care, which featured photographs of her own felines. At her death, she was the director of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Eddy financed the 1894 American edition of Henry Stephens Salt's book Animals' Rights.

Eddy, who never married, died in her Bristol Ferry, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, home, on March 29, 1945, at age ninety-three. She was buried in the North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island.

• Illustration — Sunny Kitchen (19th Century) • Illustration — Sitting in the sun (1893) • Illustration — The fishermans home (1 Aug 1893) • Illustration — A welcome interruption (1896) • Illustration — Contentment (1896) • Illustration — Peace (1897) • Illustration — Mother and child (1900) • Illustration — The old mill (1900) • Illustration — Woman sitting in chair holding an infant (1900) • Illustration — Susan B Anthony 80th Birthday (1903) • Illustration — Votes for women buttons by Mrs. Alice Park (1922)

• Illustration — Chess – The Problem • Illustration — Kuni, Kito and Their Mother • Illustration — Ready for a Ride • Illustration — A Happy Home • Illustration — The Uninvited Guests • Illustration — Chess – The Move • Illustration — Meditation • Illustration — Confidence • Illustration — "Who Are You?" / The Challenge • Illustration — Illustration used with "Why We Need Cats" published by The Animal Rescue League • Illustration — Morning Toilet • Illustration — A Quartette • Illustration — Surprise • Illustration — A Well-Filled Basket