Catharine A. Fish Stebbins (August 17, 1823 - 1904) was an American abolitionist and suffragist. She lectured against slavery and fought for her right to vote in New York and Michigan.
Stebbins became a teacher in Rochester.[1] In 1842, she joined the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society (WNYASS).[3] She married Giles Badger Stebbins in August 1846 in Sodus Bay.[2] Her husband was an abolitionist as well, and together, they lectured and were involved in peaceful demonstrations for women's suffrage and the end of slavery.[4] In 1848, Stebbins was at the first Woman's Rights Convention, where she was an active participant and contributed a resolution to the convention.[2] In the early 1850s, she and her husband moved to Michigan.[2]
When the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) was founded in 1861, she joined.[1] She and her husband also spoke that same year at the Michigan State Anti-Slavery Society.[4] She was also anti-war and was opposed to her brother joining the Union during the Civil War.[5] She helped refugees from the war.[2]
In 1871, Stebbins attempted to register to vote in Michigan, but was denied.[2] She then went with Nannette B. Gardner, who was asserting her right to vote as a widow and a taxpayer.[2] Gardner was given the right to vote, but Stebbins was never able to register.[2] In 1880, Stebbins was in charge of the Detroit NWSA convention.[6] Stebbins was also on the committee to work on The Woman's Bible.[7]