Lizzie Crozier French, teacher, lecturer, and woman suffragist, was the originator of a movement to change Tennessee laws to provide more freedom for women. The Woman's Emancipation Act of 1919 was passed largely as the result of her efforts in the area of women's rights. She was born in Knoxville, May 7, 1851, the daughter of Mary Ethelred and John Hardy Crozier. Her father followed the practice of law after teaching in his early years. A noted scholar, he served as a trustee of the University of Tennessee and Knoxville Female College.

Lizzie received her education in the Convent of Visitation in Georgetown, District of Columbia, and in the Episcopal School at Columbia, Tennessee. She later took a special course in elocution in New York.

In 1872 Miss Crozier was married to William B. French, the grandson of Hugh Lawson White. This marriage was to last but a brief time, due to Mr. French's untimely death. Afterwards, in September, 1885, Mrs. French established Knoxville Female Institute, of which she was principal. Five years later she organized a special school of elocution, doing much of the teaching herself. In 1897 she published a Manual of Elocution. Of her work in the field of speech, The South Western Journal of Education had this to say: "Don't think you can't get fine instruction in Elocution in the South. Mrs. L. Crozier French is a teacher with a reputation that is not confined to her own state, but covers the South. Her School of Elocution offers every opportunity for complete study without the necessity of a student's going far from home. Her Manual of Elocution (now in its second edition) is a great success."

Mrs. French's compelling interest in culture and learning inspired her in 1885 to organize the Ossoli Circle, the first woman's club in the state. The purpose of the club was "to stimulate intellectual growth and moral development and to be of mutual benefit to women of literary taste and ability." A number of years later, Mrs. French founded the Writers' Club of Knoxville; she was also founder of the Woman's Educational and Industrial Union. As a charter member of the Knoxville Art Museum and the Knoxville Lyceum, she was instrumental in providing unusual cultural opportunities for the citizens of her native city.

Always an ardent advocate of rights for women, Mrs. French was the first woman to run for a position on the city council. Though her bid for the post was position on the city council. Though her bid for the post was unsuccessful, she continued her interest in civic matters as well as women's rights. In 1910 after being elected state president of the Federation of Women's Clubs she began a crusade for woman suffrage. In 1912 she was made president of the Tennessee Suffrage Association. Her enthusiasm and splendid ability as an organizer enable her to make a unique contribution to the promotion of women's rights.

Lizzie Crozier French died in Washington, D. C., May 14, 1926, seven days after her seventy-fifth birthday. She had gone to Washington to lobby for the passage of a bill to benefit working women and to attend the dedication of the Tennessee room in the new National Women's Party Building which was to be decorated in her honor.

The Knoxville Sentinel had this to say of Mrs. French: "She is, beyond doubt, the most brilliant woman in Tennessee today, and one of the most enthusiastic women in philanthropy of any of her sex."

Lizzie Crozier French, noted educator and civic leader, gave freely of her time and energy to improve the status of women. She is honored by people everywhere for her vision and her courage in hastening the progress of women's rights.

Source: Light from Many Candles: A History of Pioneer Women in Education in Tennessee, by Lucille Rogers. Published by Xi State, Delta Kappa Gamma.McQuiddy Printing Company, Nashville, 1960. Transcribed for this site by Char.

See also Bio of Lizzie Crozier French in the TN Encyclopedia.