Unlimited Priorities, acting in its capacity as sales and marketing agent for Accessible Archives, has coordinated the sale of the Lily database to the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), a consortium of thirteen research universities: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin and the University of Chicago.

The Lily, the first newspaper for women, was edited by Amelia Bloomer from 1849 to 1854 and by Mary Birdsall during 1855 and 1856, after which it ceased publication. Conceived as a temperance journal – writing deemed the best way for women to work for reform – it gradually began to include articles about other subjects of interest to women, such as child-bearing and education. However, coverage soon turned to the issue of women’s rights, with articles about laws unfair to women and demanding change. Many of these were penned by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a driving force behind the first women’s rights convention, who played a leadership role in the women’s rights movement for fifty years.

All CIC members will receive permanent access to The Lily.

The Accessible Archives press release is here: CIC Purchases The Lily Database