CASSEDAY, Miss Jennie

Jennie Casseday, who was born in Louisville, Kentucky on June 9, 1840, was injured as a young woman. As a result, she was bedridden for most of her life. Determined to brighten the lives of others in her situation, she created the Louisville Flower Mission.   

During the early years of the Flower Mission, Jennie was contacted by the Harper Brothers, successful New York publishers, to write about her Flower Mission for Harper's Young People.  Responding to the publishers, Jennie wrote: 

"The mission of flowers has such possibilities, such deep meaning, so much cheer and brightness for the sick, the aged, the poor, the shut-ins, and for the missionaries themselves, that I find my heart bounding with gladness at tne new avenue you have opened for its enlargement"(Duncan, 22). 

Word spread about Jennie's mission, and Frances Willard asked Jennie to be the founder of the WCTU's National Flower Mission.  Her National and Annual Flower Mission Day, an event on her birthday, June 9, which resulted in flowers in the cells of prisoners throughout the country, continued even after Jennie's death on February 8, 1893.

In addition, Jennie organized the Shut-In Band, a community of people who, like her, were invalids, and provided a way for them to communicate through the periodical Open Window. 

She also supported the Louisville Training School for Nurses and the Rest Cottage "for tired girls and women who have to support themselves" (161), and established a Louisville chapter of the Order of King's Daughters (Duncan, 43). 

• The Hartford herald. (Hartford, Ky.), 15 Feb. 1893. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84037890/1893-02-15/ed-1/seq-2/>

• The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.), 30 May 1901. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86069201/1901-05-30/ed-1/seq-3/>

• Aberdeen herald. (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.), 06 June 1895. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87093220/1895-06-06/ed-1/seq-1/>

• Herald and news. (West Randolph, Vt.), 15 June 1893. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86082061/1893-06-15/ed-1/seq-8/>

• Pittsburg dispatch. (Pittsburg [Pa.]), 19 Nov. 1891. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024546/1891-11-19/ed-1/seq-5/>

• Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]), 28 Aug. 1892. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn99021999/1892-08-28/ed-1/seq-4/>

• The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.), 14 Nov. 1888. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026853/1888-11-14/ed-1/seq-3/>

• Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.), 20 March 1890. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn89066695/1890-03-20/ed-1/seq-2/>

• Pittsburg dispatch. (Pittsburg [Pa.]), 10 July 1892. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024546/1892-07-10/ed-1/seq-16/>

• The daily dispatch. (Richmond [Va.]), 01 June 1884. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024738/1884-06-01/ed-1/seq-2/>

• Infirmary for Women  http://www.hauntedhouses.com/states/ky/infirmary_louisville.htm

• Jennie Casseday Find A Grave