Exhibits:

When Women Vote: The Old Barracks And the Anti-Suffrage Movement

A Family Divided

Georgianna Hoadley Smith Breese
January 17, 1883 – November 17, 1939

The story of Georgianna Smith Breese is one of changing times. Her journey from socialite to activist to divorced career woman demonstrates the breaking down of the private and public spheres.

Daughter of a wealthy stockbroker and from one of Plainfield’s oldest families, Georgianna Smith moved to Trenton when in 1911 she married Edward Yarde Breese, son of Josephine Breese. The couple had two sons and were an active part of Trenton society.

Trenton Evening Times, September 16, 1915

By the middle of 1913, Georgianna Breese took over leadership of the NJAOWS. She served as its president from 1913-1914, when she most likely had to take a step back from public life due to the birth of her second son in June 1914.

She did not remain inactive for long though, and in March 1915 she returned to a leadership role when the current president could no longer perform her duties. Breese remained president of the NJAOWS through the special election in October 1915. Georgianna was an enthusiastic activist. She was often featured in the newspaper campaigning for the anti-suffrage cause and would even attend pro-suffrage events to confront speakers.

Georgianna Smith Breese (Mrs. E. Yarde Breese) attending a meeting of the Mercer County Suffrage Committee and the New Jersey Suffrage Association in order to openly question their speaker, Miss Alice Carpenter, about her associations and militant suffrage views.
Trenton Evening Times, June 13, 1913

Above: Letterhead of the NJAOWS featured in the Plainfield Daily Press, May 23, 1914
Below: Georgianna Breese agrees to resume her role as president of the NJAOWS in 1915 when the current president, Mrs. Jamieson, is unable to continue.
Trenton Evening Times, March 23, 1915

Despite her strong beliefs about preserving the private sphere and her established way of life, Georgianna’s home life was not going well.

The marriage between her and E. Yarde Breese started to deteriorate at some point, and by July 1918 the marriage was over in all but name. Her husband filed for divorce in July 1922, alleging Georgianna had deserted him. According to a deposition of their children’s governess, Emilie Ehinger, who had been employed by the couple from November 1919 to April 1921, the couple did not sleep in the same room, were not affectionate toward one another, and did not go out together socially. Georgianna even allegedly stated to her husband in front of Ehinger that she “would never return to live with Mr. Breese under any condition.”

By the time the paperwork was submitted, Georgianna had moved away with her children and did not fight any of the proceedings. On July 17, 1922 Georgianna was found guilty of willful, continued, and obstinate desertion and the divorce was granted.

Left: Georgianna’s husband E. Yarde Breese
Above: E. Yarde Breese with his sons, mother (Josephine Breese), and brother, 1916
Left to Right: E. Yarde Breese, Edward Yarde Breese, Jr., Josephine Breese, William Palmer Smith Breese, James B. Breese, Jr.
Right: Trenton Evening Times, January 23, 1922

After her divorce, Georgianna moved with her children to her hometown of Plainfield and cut off ties with all of her ex-husband’s family.

From there she began a successful career in banking, working first for Federal Reserve Bank where she helped establish an employees’ welfare department. Then she spent 14 years as a bond saleswoman at Bonbright and Company.

In 1933 she founded the Plainfield Country Day School and for seven years served as principal and director.

Georgianna Smith Breese passed away in 1939 following a surgery.