Local Suffrage Heroine — Sarah Latimer Finley
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Upcoming Events 2019: Panel Discussion: The Building of Highway 101 through Santa Rosa; 1940/50 Housing Survey HSSR is a 501 (c)(3) public charity Tax ID 46-2740806 Vol. 6, No. 2 Spring 2019 Founded 2012 Local Suffrage Heroine — Sarah Latimer Finley by Leasa Graves California State Suffrage Campaign movement and educated the reader as to why the “anti” beliefs Archival evidence shows were flawed. substantial numbers of local Finley wrote at least ten editorials for the Press women and men throughout Democrat between June and October of 1911. Some the United States contributed of her articles were distributed county-wide, even to the 72-year campaign, to making an appearance in the Ukiah Press, a institute voting rights for notoriously anti-suffrage paper in the town of Ukiah. women. With the 2020 Finley’s approach was aligned with the CESL’s Women’s Suffrage Centennial emphasis that, “in all of the work, it should be borne on the horizon, Sonoma in mind that a suffrage campaign is an educational County researchers are campaign and must be kept clear-cut, clean and dedicating their time and open.” Finley’s editorials focused on educating talents to highlight the readers on the importance of granting women the heroines and heroes of the vote and the need to do so, for the sustainability of campaign efforts in the American democracy. In one editorial, she equated County. Mrs. W.A. Finley of the original laws governing the vote as “...swaddling Santa Rosa was an important clothes which in the course of development have suffrage advocate who is been disregarded one by one, until we have but one overdue for substantial remnant left —the ‘male citizen’”. Sarah Finley recognition. would devise a weekly suffrage topic, in which to After the failed 1896 “educate” the people of Sonoma County. Like her Woman’s Suffrage Campaign contemporaries at the state level, her writing, in California, state organizers challenged the for suffrage reconvened in idea that women 1911 to fight for the vote. did not possess Fearful the liquor lobby the necessary Sarah Elizabeth Latimer as a young woman intelligence and would once again interfere Sonoma Heritage Collection with the suffrage efforts the disposition to be state leaders prepared their counter attack. Prominent women trusted with the were recruited throughout the state to assist with the campaign. vote. Sarah In Sonoma County, Sarah Latimer Finley was one of several Finley used her suffrage leaders enlisted in the California efforts. Mrs. Finley’s column to regular contributions to the Press Democrat reached the readers eloquently of Sonoma County throughout the second-half of the 1911 fight describe the for the vote. unfortunate state Effective Contribution of being a woman who was Finley was appointed County Press Chairmen by the denied the vote. College Equal Suffrage League of Northern California (CESL) and her first known public writing on the topic of suffrage The Press appeared shortly thereafter. She utilized her exceptional skills Democrat as an educator, writer and public speaker to champion the cause reported on of suffrage. As a prominent member of the community, Sarah suffrage Finley, was part of the Women’s Club Movement and a member meetings of the Saturday Afternoon Club in Santa Rosa. On June 25, throughout 1911, Mrs. Finley wrote in her column that, “The anti is afraid 1911. Sarah of this new world (and the new woman) but she is not unlovely Sarah Latimer Finley in later years Finley alongside and will find her place.” Never losing her compassion, Sarah Sonoma Heritage Collection Finley’s writing challenged the beliefs of the anti-suffrage …Continued page 11 A Message from the HSSR Board of Directors Hello HSSR members and readers, In celebration of women’s Spring is finally upon us. March marked history this edition features a Women’s History Month as designated by handful of women who impacted presidential proclamation. It began as Santa Rosa’s first 100 years — or Women’s History Week over 40 years ago. so. We hope you enjoy reading these The National Women’s History Project, co- stories as much as our contributors founded by Sonoma County Native, Molly enjoyed researching and presenting McGregor helped organize what has become them. We invite all interested to a month-long celebration of history contribute to our efforts in throughout the Nation. The effort to make chronicling and sharing local this a reality has deep roots in Santa Rosa. history. Our newsletter can be a We’re also quickly approaching the rewarding place to share a Santa 100th anniversary of women gaining the Rosa-centric story, factoid, or vote throughout the Nation. Events and memoir. Teachers at Santa Rosa’s Fourth Street School, 1887 celebrations have already begun. In March Sonoma Heritage Collection The Board is always looking for the Sonoma County History and Genealogy partners to contribute to our goals. Library sponsored a free event honoring the suffrage movement. Please contact a current Board Member or email us at Representatives of the National Women’s History Alliance [email protected] if you’re interested in presented “Ripe for the Picking: The Impact of the Sonoma County learning more. Suffrage Campaign.” The HSSR Board of Directors Visited Welcome New HSSR Members Newsletter Our Website Yet? Contributors Start with a password Ron Barbieri reset using the email Steven Fichera Kelly Carrillo Fernández address you receive Maurice Hodgen Ann Galantine communication from us. Ann Upjohn Leasa Graves Denise Hill Not receiving our emails? Please let us Robin Hoffman know. Lisa Kranz Email us at: The HSSR Acknowledges Katherine Rinehart info@HistoricalSociety Our Donors: Karen Stone SantaRosa.org Rose Zoia Rick & Paulette Gomes Alana Kelly Our events and programs are made Want to Contribute possible through the generosity of our members and community partners. Content for the Warning: The unauthorized HSSR Newsletter? reproduction or distribution The HSSR seeks Santa Rosa of this copyrighted material Centric memoirs and research is prohibited. No part of Become a Member! Historical Society of Santa based pieces for our newsletter. Join or Renew at: Rosa materials may be Contact us at reproduced or distributed Newsletter@HistoricalSociety HistoricalSocietySantaRosa.org/ without the express Santa Rosa.org for more store/ permission of the Society’s Board of Directors. All information. rights reserved. HSSR Board of Directors Doug Bower Will Dunn Robin Hoffman Nick Tipon Larry Carrillo Ann Galantine Lisa Kranz Bill Turner Kelly Carrillo Fernández Denise Hill Bryan Much Karen Weeks Karen Stone !2 Century Old Santa Rosa Poem Welcomes Springtime Written in 1920 in Santa Rosa, Dorothy Wolf s poem remains timely as it describes the end of the rainy season and the welcoming of Spring. Awakening by Dorothy Wolf Why must Spring break into bloom My senses, that so long asleep, In one short day this year, Have startled in their quiet dream When I have made a friend of gloom To find, at dawn, a rolling sweep And rain at last; and cheer Of hills has spread a cloak of green. Myself with winds’ weird tune, There is a wordless pain to see And stoically have learned to bloom Acacia’s gold-crowned beauty there. With shadowed hills of noon; There is a too great a poignancy And share their deepest mood A circa 1915 postcard depicts a Sonoma County In early Spring to bear, When lifting mist-veils weave and prune orchard in bloom, a scene from the past When carelessly before my eyes trace Hill Family Collection The year shrugs off her sly disguise. Like smoke before a thoughtful Buddha’s face? Luda: A Leader in Law a Century Ago by Rose Zoia Reprinted with permission from the Sonoma County Bar Barham . pass[ed] very successful examinations to the bar. Association, Bar Journal, Fall 2009 edition. She holds a certificate which entitles her to practice before all Many Sonoma County women attorneys can be proud to courts.” Luda and Edwin certainly was the first husband and claim “firsts.” The one with the claim to be the first woman wife team to practice law in Sonoma County. attorney in Sonoma County is Luda Fulkerson Barham. At In 1903, the couple and their surviving son, John Stuart, the age of 23, Ms. Fulkerson may also claim lived at 552 B Street in Santa Rosa. Their other son, Louis, to be the youngest Sonoma County person to died at an early age of diphtheria. John be admitted to the practice of law. She also Stewart was the first local Piper Cub airplane became an attorney before women had voting dealer. The couple's grandson, John L. and most common rights. Barham, still is a Sonoma County resident. Luda Fulkerson was born on July 8, While Luda was a teacher prior to entering 1872 in Santa Rosa to John Fulkerson of the law, her husband was a candymaker, Sonoma and Rachel Cannon of Missouri. The having first owned the Candy Kitchen in Fulkerson family members were renown Napa at 18 years old, then the Palace of early residents of Sonoma County. Luda Sweets at Santa Rosa. He then “studied” law taught in Sonoma County public schools for about two years while employed in the during her late teens and early twenties. Her office of his father, the congressman. One stature in Santa Rosa must have been source credits Edwin as “a young man of increased by the fact that she owned a piece good habits, always found in his office, a of property, deeded by her father on thorough student, and with a bright future November 12, 1892. before him.” He did not live to prove the After teaching for three years, Luda accolades true, having passed at the young commenced the study of law.