Elmina Shepard Taylor

Elmina S. Taylor
1st general president of the Young Women
June 19, 1880 – December 6, 1904
Called by	Brigham Young
Successor	Martha H. Tingey
Personal details
Born	Anstis Elmina Shepard September 12, 1830 Middlefield, New York, United States
Died	December 6, 1904 (aged 74) Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Resting place	Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37″N 111°51′29″W / 40.777°N 111.858°W
Spouse(s)	George H. Taylor
Children	7, including:   Mae T. Nystrom
Parents	David S. Shepard Rosella Bailey
Website	Elmina Shepard Taylor

Anstis Elmina Shepard Taylor (September 12, 1830 – December 6, 1904) was the first general president of what is today the Young Women organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and was a founding member of the National Council of Women.

Biography

Anstis E. Shepard was born in Middlefield, New York to David Spaulding Shepard and Rosella Bailey. Following her graduation from public school and Hardwick Academy, she left home in 1854 to teach school in Haverstraw, New York, where she met John Druce, a member of the LDS Church. She was taught by Druce and baptized into the church on July 5, 1856. On August 31, 1856, she married George Hamilton Taylor in Haverstraw. They left New York for Utah on April 15, 1859, and arrived in Salt Lake City on September 16.

At a meeting of the LDS Church's organization for adolescent girls held June 19, 1880, in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square, Taylor was appointed the first general president of the Young Ladies' National Mutual Improvement Association, the original name of the church's Young Women organization. Taylor was the general president of the organization until her death in 1904. Under her direction, Susa Young Gates founded the Young Woman's Journal, which began publication in 1889. Just prior to Taylor's death, she shortened the name of the YLNMIA to the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association. Taylor was succeeded by her second counselor, Martha H. Tingey.

In 1888, Taylor and others met with Susan B. Anthony in Seneca Falls, New York and participated in the founding of the National Council of Women, an organization dedicated to promoting the rights of women. In 1891, Taylor was appointed an ex officio vice president of the organization, a position she held until her death. Taylor died at her home in Salt Lake City.

See also

• Mae Taylor Nystrom, daughter
• Margaret Young Taylor, counselor

References

• Janet Peterson and LaRene Gaunt (1993), Keepers of the Flame: Presidents of the Young Women, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book.
• Susa Young Gates (1911), History of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association, Salt Lake City: General Board of the YLMIA.
• Jenson, Andrew (1936). "General Board of the Young Woman's Mutual Improvement Association". Latter-day Saint biographical encyclopedia: A compilation of biographical sketches of prominent men and women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 4. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Andrew Jenson Memorial Association (Printed by The Deseret News Press). pp. 267.

External links

• Elmina Shepard Taylor at Find a Grave