She and her sisters Lucy and Mary Crozier founded the Knoxville Female Academy in 1885. She wrote the book "Manual of Elocution", which was used as a textbook in the school's public speaking classes. Considered a great public speaker, many felt she got that gift from her father, Congressman John Crozier. As French began to devote herself more to the cause of Womens' Rights, she closed the school in 1898. Unafraid to state her opinions on the injustices in the lack of rights for women, she made a name for herself in the suffrage movement. She founded the "Women’s Educational and Industrial Union." As the founder of that group, she became the first woman to address the Knoxville City Council. After that, she became the first woman to address the Tennessee State General Assembly and the Tennessee Bar Association. She soon became a national speaker on the subject. The speech before the Bar, an "Address on Women’s Rights" became one of the most quoted speeches used by Suffrage groups. As the 19th Amendment (also called The Susan B. Anthony Amendment) was sent to states for ratification, the now 68 year old French and her well organized groups kept in constant contact with Tennessee legislators. When a state congressman changed his vote from no to yes, thus breaking a tie, the amendment was passed, making Tennessee the 36th state to pass it. (36 states was the number needed to make it a new Constitutional law.) French continued her fight for women's rights up until her death. She died while lobbying in Washington, D.C.
She and her sisters Lucy and Mary Crozier founded the Knoxville Female Academy in 1885. She wrote the book "Manual of Elocution", which was used as a textbook in the school's public speaking classes. Considered a great public speaker, many felt she got that gift from her father, Congressman John Crozier. As French began to devote herself more to the cause of Womens' Rights, she closed the school in 1898. Unafraid to state her opinions on the injustices in the lack of rights for women, she made a name for herself in the suffrage movement. She founded the "Women’s Educational and Industrial Union." As the founder of that group, she became the first woman to address the Knoxville City Council. After that, she became the first woman to address the Tennessee State General Assembly and the Tennessee Bar Association. She soon became a national speaker on the subject. The speech before the Bar, an "Address on Women’s Rights" became one of the most quoted speeches used by Suffrage groups. As the 19th Amendment (also called The Susan B. Anthony Amendment) was sent to states for ratification, the now 68 year old French and her well organized groups kept in constant contact with Tennessee legislators. When a state congressman changed his vote from no to yes, thus breaking a tie, the amendment was passed, making Tennessee the 36th state to pass it. (36 states was the number needed to make it a new Constitutional law.) French continued her fight for women's rights up until her death. She died while lobbying in Washington, D.C.
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