“P” is for the Pollitzer sisters

“P” is for the Pollitzer sisters. Educators, suffragists, reformers. Carrie, Mabel, and Anita Pollitzer were all born in Charleston. Carrie Teller Pollitzer (1881-1974) was a tireless campaigner for women's rights. She was a charter member of the Charleston Equal Suffrage League and was active in the National Woman's Party (NWP). In1929 Mabel Louise Pollitzer (1885-1975) obtained legislation establishing the Charleston County Free Library. A charter member of the Charleston Equal Suffrage League, Mabel served as its publicity chair for many years. Anita Lily Pollitzer (1894-1975) was the youngest of the three sisters. She attended Columbia University in New York. As a student Anita became involved in the radical wing of the woman's movement. Beginning in 1918 she held numerous NWP offices, including national chair from 1945 to 1949. All three Pollitzer sisters were graduates of Charleston’s Memminger Normal School.