LILA MEADE VALENTINE

(1865 - 1921)

Born in Richmond(Virginia) on February 4, 1865, Lila Meade Valentine was to be known for her staunch beliefs involving women's rights, education standards, and public health.

Due to the fact that she wanted to raise the standards of Richmond public schools, Mrs. Valentine and Mrs. Mary-Cook Munford formed the Richmond Education Association. It introduced kindergartens and occupational training in Richmond public schools. A few years later, her home was the meeting place where the Instructive Visiting Nurses Association was created.

Lila Valentine was also an active participant in the May campaign of 1905, a campaign by women for better schools in Virginia. As a result, the Cooperative Education Association, a statewide agency, was started.

Focusing on public health, Mrs. Valentine also worked on the elimination of tuberculosis in Richmond. She also pointed out the rats and filthiness of the Richmond High School(which, at the time, was Richmond's only high school) and a new high school, John Marshall High School, was built.

As Valentine was also a staunch supporter of women's rights, it was no wonder that she was chosen to be the president of the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia. Because of her outstanding efforts and leadership, there is a marble plaque in her honor at the Capitol. She is the only woman honored thus.