This and That: Wrapping Up

If you've been watching the Democratic Convention, then you may have seen the Tennessee delegates place their nomination on Tuesday evening.  The delegates were all women and they were at the historic Hermitage Hotel.  The hotel is  where suffragists established their headquarters and tried to convince lawmakers to join their cause.  Apparently there was a lot of fistfighting in the hotel as well between "Suffs" and "Antis" supporters.  There is a great article about it here.  It's also where the amazing young ladies (above) attended the suffrage centennial event.  Libby wrote to me that the girls were more impressed with the ballroom than one day being able to vote (LOL!!!)  They deserve to be seen twice because after all, they are the reason we continue to fight for equal rights!

Rarely are women memorialized in this country.  But there is a great statue of Febbs and Harry Burns in Knoxville, Tennesee.  There is a wonderful image of it here that you should check out!

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Late to The Party!

Connecticut ratified the 19th Amendment on September 14, 1920.

It wasn't until February 8, 1921 that Vermont ratified the amendment.

Florida finally ratified the amendment on May 13, 1969.  

Louisiana followed and approved on June 11, 1970.

North Carolina joined the following year.

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Afterwards

Mary Church Terrell continued to fight for women and civil rights after the amendment was passed.  As an original founder of the NAACP, she continued to fight--even at age 86 when she challenged segregation in public places in Washington DC.  It was a fight she won in 1953, in an historic ruling that stated segregation was illegal in public spaces.  See:  District of Columbia vs. John R. Thompson Co.

The National Association of Colored Women's Clubs continues to fight for equality and is housed in Washington D.C.

Catherine Chapman Catt, president of the National American Association for Woman's Suffrage founded the League of Women Voters on February 14, 1920.  She served as it's president until her death in 1947.  Her home in Iowa is now a museum.

Alice Paul authored the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923.  It has yet to be passed.  She also spent her life advocating for women and equal rights.  The building where the National Woman's Party was centered is now a national monument, The Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument.

Lucy Burns retired from public life after the amendment was passed.  The Lucy Burns Museum was established most recently and highlights not only the struggle of white women but of the African American suffrage movement.

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On August 26, we will celebrate the centennial of when the 19th Amendment became official.  

On November 2 of 1920, approximately 8 million women voted in the Presidential election.  It seemed like women had finally achieved citizenship rights.  Or had they?

The Morning Call, Allentown Pa, November 3, 1920.