Lila Meade Valentine Biography

Lila Meade Valentine

Valentine campaigned actively for women's rights, higher public health standards, and improved public education. She was a founding member and president of the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia, which was established in 1909 to fight on the state level for the right of women to vote. The organization was renamed the Virginia League of Women Voters when women won the right to vote in 1920 through ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Valentine was also active in the National Women Suffrage Association.

Valentine and Mary Cook Munford created the Richmond Education Association, which set up kindergartens and occupational training in the Richmond public schools.