Anna Marie Jarvis worked to establish Mother's Day in the United States after being inspired by her mother Ann Jarvis' work helping other mothers through Mothers' Work Day Clubs during and after the Civil War. Anna started a letter writing campaign to get influential people to promote the idea of a Mother's Day holiday to Congress. She was eventually successful in getting it signed into law in 1914, but later regretted its commercialization and spent her life trying unsuccessfully to return it to its original sentimental meaning.

1. Anna Marie Jarvis: The Mother of Mother's Day By Mary Lynn Bushong <br />1 Mothers are important to everyone; after all, where would we be without them? While their contributions were known, there was little support to celebrate their efforts until Anna Marie Jarvis came along. 2 Anna, born on May 1, 1864, was the daughter of Ann Jarvis, a West Virginia homemaker. It was Ann's life and work that made such an impression on Anna. 3 Even before the Civil War, Ann Jarvis looked for ways to help other mothers. She understood that disease could be stopped with proper sanitation. She started organizing Mothers' Work Day Clubs in several towns in 1858. They worked to help provide money, medicine, and housekeeping assistance for women who were ill. They were so successful that after two years doctors were endorsing the formation of more groups. 4 Ann strongly urged the Mothers' Work Day Clubs to remain neutral during the Civil War. The Clubs cared for and fed soldiers from both the Union and the Confederacy. She wanted the soldiers on both sides of the conflict to be helped. Her idea was that it would help build places of peace during a terrible war. 5 Ann herself did not have an easy life and lost eight of her twelve children before they reached adulthood. Perhaps it was because of these tragedies that she could identify with others going through hardship. 6 After the war, Ann Jarvis organized Mothers' Friendship Day to help bring together a community shattered by war. It was held annually for several years. 7 Anna Jarvis had a strong example of what a woman can do to help those around her. Anna never married, and when her mother died, she dedicated herself to getting a day established to honor all mothers. 8 While everyone had a mother, few were interested (at first) in having a day set aside to honor them. The first memorial for mothers was celebrated in Jarvis's home town of Grafton, West Virginia, a year after Ann's death. It's now the location of the International Mother's Day shrine. 9 Anna and others began a letter-writing campaign trying to get influential people to promote the idea to Congress. It was slow going until John Wanamaker, philanthropist and merchant, joined her. 10 By 1909, Mother's Day was celebrated in 46 states in addition to Canada and Mexico. Anna never gave up trying to get the holiday recognized and even quit her job so that she could dedicate her life to the effort. 11 In 1912, West Virginia was the first state to officially adopt the holiday. Finally, in 1914, the holiday honoring mothers was signed into law by Woodrow Wilson. It was to be celebrated on the second Sunday of May. 12 That was not the end of the story, though. Shortly after Mother's Day became official, cards, flowers, and candy were being marketed with that day in mind. 13 Anna Jarvis was concerned over the commercialism. She said, quot;
I wanted it to be a day of sentiment, not profit.quot;
She also thought that cards should be handmade so they could better express what sentiment was felt. 14 She even tried to stop a celebration by suing the governor of New York in 1923, but it was thrown out of court. Anna continued her efforts to de-commercialize the holiday she had worked so hard to get. Eventually she was sorry she'd ever worked to get Mother's Day established. 15 Anna spent all of her money trying to get Mother's Day changed back to the holiday she'd worked so hard for. She died on November 24, 1948, embittered and living in poverty. 16 In spite of the difficulties Anna experienced, she left us with the legacy of Mother's Day. What do you do to let your mother know you appreciate her?<br />Anna Marie Jarvis: The Mother of Mother's Day By Mary Lynn Bushong <br />conflictadditionphilanthropistshrinehomemakerbetterde-commercializelocationlegacypromotecampaigndiedsentimentcommercialismhousekeeping<br />Directions: Fill in each blank with the word that best completes the reading comprehension. Mothers are important to everyone; after all, where would we be without them? While their contributions were known, there was little support to celebrate their efforts until Anna Marie Jarvis came along. Anna, born on May 1, 1864, was the daughter of Ann Jarvis, a West Virginia (1) _______________________ . It was Ann's life and work that made such an impression on Anna. Even before the Civil War, Ann Jarvis looked for ways to help other mothers. She understood that disease could be stopped with proper sanitation. She started organizing Mothers' Work Day Clubs in several towns in 1858. They worked to help provide money, medicine, and (2) _______________________ assistance for women who were ill. They were so successful that after two years doctors were endorsing the formation of more groups. Ann strongly urged the Mothers' Work Day Clubs to remain neutral during the Civil War. The Clubs cared for and fed soldiers from both the Union and the Confederacy. She wanted the soldiers on both sides of the (3) _______________________ to be helped. Her idea was that it would help build places of peace during a terrible war. Ann herself did not have an easy life and lost eight of her twelve children before they reached adulthood. Perhaps it was because of these tragedies that she could identify with others going through hardship. After the war, Ann Jarvis organized Mothers' Friendship Day to help bring together a community shattered by war. It was held annually for several years. Anna Jarvis had a strong example of what a woman can do to help those around her. Anna never married, and when her mother died, she dedicated herself to getting a day established to honor all mothers. While everyone had a mother, few were interested (at first) in having a day set aside to honor them. The first memorial for mothers was celebrated in Jarvis's home town of Grafton, West Virginia, a year after Ann's death. It's now the (4) _______________________ of the International Mother's Day (5) _______________________ . Anna and others began a letter-writing (6) _______________________ trying to get influential people to (7) _______________________ the idea to Congress. It was slow going until John Wanamaker, (8) _______________________ and merchant, joined her. By 1909, Mother's Day was celebrated in 46 states in (9) _______________________ to Canada and Mexico. Anna never gave up trying to get the holiday recognized and even quit her job so that she could dedicate her life to the effort. In 1912, West Virginia was the first state to officially adopt the holiday. Finally, in 1914, the holiday honoring mothers was signed into law by Woodrow Wilson. It was to be celebrated on the second Sunday of May. That was not the end of the story, though. Shortly after Mother's Day became official, cards, flowers, and candy were being marketed with that day in mind. Anna Jarvis was concerned over the (10) _______________________ . She said, quot;
I wanted it to be a day of (11) _______________________ , not profit.quot;
She also thought that cards should be handmade so they could (12) _______________________ express what sentiment was felt. She even tried to stop a celebration by suing the governor of New York in 1923, but it was thrown out of court. Anna continued her efforts to (13) _______________________ the holiday she had worked so hard to get. Eventually she was sorry she'd ever worked to get Mother's Day established. Anna spent all of her money trying to get Mother's Day changed back to the holiday she'd worked so hard for. She (14) _______________________ on November 24, 1948, embittered and living in poverty. In spite of the difficulties Anna experienced, she left us with the (15) _______________________ of Mother's Day. What do you do to let your mother know you appreciate her? <br />Name _____________________________ Date ___________________ <br />Anna Marie Jarvis: The Mother of Mother's Day<br />1. Anna Marie Jarvis helped establish ______. a. Mother's Friendship Day b. Father's Day c. Mother's Work Day Clubs d. Mother's Day2. Anna's mother was a big influence in her life.a. Falseb .True3. Anna's mother started Mother's Work Day Clubs to help other mothers.a. Falseb. True4. What was started to bring the community together after the Civil War? a. Mothers against War Day b. Mother's Work Day Clubs c. Mother's Day d. Mother's Friendship Day5. Anna started working on getting the holiday before her mother died.a. Falseb. True6. What was the initial response to having Mother's Day?7. How did Anna get people interested?a. She faxed letters.b She wrote letters.c. She made phone calls.d. She e-mailed people.8. Anna was disturbed by the commercialization of Mother's Day.a. Falseb. TrueName _____________________________ Date ___________________ <br />Find each of the following words.<br />BETTERSHORTLYPHILANTHROPISTCOMMERCIALISMLEGACYSUCHCAMPAIGNPEACEREMAINSANITATIONCONFLICTADDITIONAPPRECIATESHRINEBETTERLETTER-WRITING<br />HCUTLMRAPRECIATECADDITIONSMSELIACREMMOCSTCTUNBNDAONRTTHEELIGACYMELTRWAHSHAHAECSHRINEMLETTIR-WRITINGHREOIRALRIIONTREOTIREMAINUEETTEPCEIEOSTRSOYCAGELMASALTAATAOTPATNAHSYIITTATCTDICTITIIMTAETUENGMEECICLSDMTSECIDIMEEDAHTNISAINAYIIUINGBENHOEREURCYTBTLILTPTPNTRENRAPRR-YEYOEGENACIOTIRAGONNPSERCWHWLTASOAITROTNILLAIYPECEIRETTEBCRAAHISPGTATHITARERAILARAGNNITNCOAIPICNMMICTILTFYOILRCNNMCENATUPNCMARETIIHEHIIEAIUEECEPS-AIANSCTTSNNCSMILEENTMLMMASTISSOTSEMGRCDNIFTECPTEEATANEIOCTOBIEROTHOBEIIPSLICGCCTANYIPLNANTPIEACONFLICTNRIAEIRSNTSCSGCIMGGCCULNLCIOSREAANI<br />Happy Mother’s day!<br />Happy Mother’s day! <br />Happy Mother’s day!<br />Happy Mother’s day! <br />