Fall River Female Anti-Slavery Society
The Fall River Female Anti-Slavery Society was an abolitionist group in Fall River, Massachusetts, formed in 1835. It was the second female anti-slavery society in the city. One of its founding members was Elizabeth Buffum Chace (1806-1899). Origins The association formed after a controversy over interracial membership divided its predecessor, the "Fall River Anti Slavery Sewing Society." Three free black women had been attending meetings and applied to join the Fall River Anti Slavery Sewing Society as real members. Some of the existing members, who were all white women, opposed the black women's inclusion. Elizabeth Buffum Chace, who supported the black women's petition to join, described the opposition as being preoccupied with custom and decorum: "they were willing to help and encourage them [the black women] in every way, but they did not think it was at all proper to invite them to join the society." Elizabeth Buffum Chace, along with her sisters, allowed the black women to become members. Those who opposed the black women's admission left the society, and the group renamed itself, replacing the word "Sewing" in its name with the word "Female." While the original society was focused on abolition of slavery, Elizabeth Buffum Chace and