author
Annie Wittenmyer
1827–1900
Best remembered for her Civil War relief work, she helped transform hospital food service for Union soldiers and later became a major force in temperance and charitable reform. Her life joined practical compassion with determined public leadership.
2 Audiobooks
Under the guns : A woman's reminiscences of the Civil War
by Annie Wittenmyer
History of the Woman's Temperance Crusade
by Annie Wittenmyer
About the author
Born in Ohio in 1827 and later based in Keokuk, Iowa, Annie Wittenmyer became known for turning concern into action. Before the Civil War, she opened a free school for children from poor families, showing the hands-on style of service that would define the rest of her life.
During the war, she organized aid for Union soldiers and became especially influential through the creation of special diet kitchens in military hospitals, helping improve care for sick and wounded men. After the war, she continued her public work through efforts for orphans, veterans, and women’s reform causes.
Wittenmyer later served as the first national president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and also held national leadership roles in the Woman’s Relief Corps. She was also a writer, and her career reflects a remarkable mix of humanitarian work, religious commitment, and organizational skill.