Louie Felt & May Anderson Romantic Partners; The "David & Johnathan of the Primary" [Part 22] (1 gen 1890 anni – 1 gen 1930 anni)

Descrizione:

Sarah Louise “Louie” Bouton Felt was the first general president of the children’s Primary organization, a calling she faithfully served and dedicated her time to from 1880 to 1925. She was also the co-founder and frequent writer of The Children’s Friend, the pioneer edition of the current Friend magazine.

On September 14, 1878, Louie B. Felt was chosen by Eliza R. Snow to be the president of the Primary Association in the Salt Lake 11th Ward of the church. On June 19, 1880, Felt was selected as the first general president of the Primary by John Taylor, who was then the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the acting church president. Felt was set apart by Taylor, who was assisted in the blessing by Eliza R. Snow.

It is widely believed that Louie Felt was also a lesbian.

Latter-day historians also believe that May Anderson, her successor in the General Primary Presidency, was her romantic partner. May Anderson was not the only woman Louie Felt fell affectionately for. Journal entries and personal stories reveal that Felt had intense and committed relationships with other women as well.

Historians are confident that at least one of these relationships was romantic.

When Louie was 16 years old, she married Joseph Felt, a man much her senior. According to a biographical sketch published in 1919 in Children’s Friend, Louie “fell in love with” Lizzie Mineer a single woman, in 1874, and from that love, encouraged her husband to marry her as a plural wife. Louie’s affection to Lizzie was in part to bring children into the family (Louie herself was infertile), and for the loving companionship that Louie desired in her life. Joseph agreed and married Lizzie Mineer a year later in 1875, and in 1881 married Elizabeth Tidwell.

Shortly after the 1890 Manifesto against polygamy was signed, Louie’s polygamous husband Joseph, moved out of the family home and shortly thereafter May Anderson moved in. Louie and May continued to live together, sleeping in the same bedroom of a multi-room home, for 40 years until Louie’s death.

Within the Church they were often referred to as the “David and Jonathan of the Primary,” a term they embraced.

May Anderson never married during her life. Even after the death of one of Joseph’s junior wives, Elizabeth Tidwell, Louie and May raised the children of Joseph and Elizabeth together.

Journals from those step-children detail the close relationship of Louie and May, including the acknowledgement that each shared “an affinity for each other.”

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