When she first assumed the presidency at MHC, Mary Woolley was quite reserved when it came to the suffrage debate. She refused to endorse a lecturer from the College Equal Suffrage League in 1905. Yet just one year later, President Woolley represented Mount Holyoke at "A Tribute of Gratitude from Representatives of Women's Colleges," held in Baltimore in honor of renowned suffragist
Susan B. Anthony .

President Woolley was also a friend of social activist and suffragette Jane Addams, and invited her to speak at commencement in 1907 and again the following year to give a lecture on suffrage.