2021 NWHA Magazine
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Women’s History NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY ALLIANCE I 2021 Extending the Women’s Suffrage Centennial through 2021 What’s Happening Statues & Memorials Equality Day Resolution Black Suffragists 2021 Honorees Women’s History Forum Women’s History Resource Catalog Inside 2 WOMEN’S HISTORY SUSAN WARE A Timely & Compelling History MARCHED in my first feminist “Why haven’t I heard movement is an important part of that demonstration on the historically story. significant date of August 26, 1970 – this history before?” was Even without the disruptions caused theI fiftieth anniversary of the passage of a refrain I encountered by the pandemic, extending the com- the Nineteenth Amendment – as a col- memoration of the centennial of the lege student newly awakened to the time and again. Nineteenth Amendment into 2021 and powerful ideas of modern feminism and beyond makes sense. The questions and the excitement of women’s history. Suf- lessons this history raises don’t have an ham Clinton at the White House also frage has been part of my life ever since. expiration date. They remain timely and created a political climate where ques- Probably earlier than most, I fixed my compelling. I very much look forward tions of feminism, women’s political to joining with the National Women’s activism, and voting rights were very History Alliance to keep this conversa- much front and center. It was not hard to tion going. get audiences to draw parallels between the suffrage struggle and contemporary Susan Ware is the Honorary Women’s Suf- movements for social change. frage Centennial Historian at Radcliffe’s Schlesinger Library. She is the editor of the An Ongoing Struggle Library of America anthology American Women’s Suffrage: Voices from the Long As a historian I was privileged to be part Struggle for the Vote, 1776-1965 (2020). of many of these events. During my time on the suffrage hustings, I was able to OMEN S ISTORY Suffragists march in Washington D.C. on share with audiences the powerful stories W ’ H March 3, 1913. of those women – and men – who were March 2021 Number 1 part of the long fight to win the right to Published by the National eye on the upcoming centennial in 2020, vote. “Why haven’t I heard this history Women’s History Alliance hoping to be part of a larger national before?” was a refrain I encountered © 2021 NWHA conversation about questions of citizen- time and again. All rights reserved. Reprint inquiries welcome. ship, gender, and voting. Things didn’t work out quite as I had expected. Editors: Molly Murphy MacGregor, Robert P. J. Cooney, Jr. Design & Production: Vicki Dougan/Sales Feminism Front and Center Promotion, Robert Cooney Graphic Design Thank you to all our national contributors, First, the election of Donald Trump in writers, artists and photographers. 2016 robbed feminists of the chance to celebrate the centennial of the Nine- National Women’s History Alliance 730 Second Street #469 teenth Amendment with our first woman Santa Rosa, CA 95402 president. Then the planning suffered a (707) 636-2888 second blow when the global pandemic https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org caused by COVID-19 upended so many [email protected] of the activities planned to mark the The Women’s March in Washington D.C. on January 21, 2017. Individual copies $2.50 Multiple copies can event. Nevertheless, we persisted. be ordered for $15 for 10 copies plus ship- Around the country there was a robust ping through the NWHA online store: agenda of virtual events, symposia, and I was also able to point out how in- www.nwha1980.org. commemoration that allowed the public complete the legacy of the Nineteenth Amendment was, especially for African Cover photograph: STAND, A monument at large to engage in the vital historical th American women and other women of celebrating the 100 anniversary of the questions raised by the long suffrage passage of the 19th Amendment struggle and make connections to our color, an equally important takeaway Artist: © Barbara Grygutis 2020 point. I would always conclude my talks contemporary political landscape. Computer render by Katie McCann Ironically the very election of Donald by pointing out that feminism is an on- Commissioned by Breaking the Bronze Trump that deprived us of the chance to going struggle and it will always be nec- Ceiling, Lexington, Kentucky celebrate with President Hillary Rod- essary. And the women’s suffrage WOMEN’S HISTORY 3 Celebrating Women’s History Throughout 2021 2021 is a year full of hope and promise that offers us an extended opportunity to celebrate what women accom- plished one hundred years ago and ever since. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, many plans for celebrating the women’s suffrage centennial - exhibits, performances and events of every kind - had to be cancelled, often after years of preparation. Now, to make up for lost time, many groups have extended suffrage celebrations through 2021. A Year to be Proud of 2020 was a very difficult year and yet a year to be proud Image courtesy of Bria Goeller and WTF America-Good Trubble. of. Despite the impact of the pandemic, Americans Vice-President Kamala Harris walking with the shadow of Ruby Bridges, who integrated a New throughout the country paid tribute to the dedicated suffra- Orleans elementary school in 1960. gists who won Votes for Women 100 years ago. By the end of the year, there had not only been thousands of both CONTENTS live and virtual centennial events but also the election of the first woman as Vice-President of the United States. A Timely and Compelling Women’s history, a central part of American history, was History, Susan Ware 2 written before our eyes. Plan a Parade 4 Throughout the year, the National Women’s History Alliance played an important role. We supported the Rose 2021 Highlights 5 Parade centennial float, serving as fiscal sponsor for that Women’s Equality Week 10 and for the Women’s Vote Centennial Initiative. We con- 2021 Valiant Women of vened a National Networking Conference in January and the Vote Honorees 12 published “Women Win the Vote,” our third gazette aimed at building interest in the centennial. NWHA 2021 Partners 15 Women Who Refused Heralding Women’s Achievements to be Silenced 17 The Alliance also created lists of state groups, catalogs of WOMENS HISTORY FORUM centennial merchandise and updates on events throughout The Fruits of Our the country. These efforts supported established and new Democracy, Krysta Jones 19 groups, artists and many other individuals and helped keep the suffrage centennial visible in a difficult time. The Challenge of Telling Now we plan a year heralding women’s achievements Complex History, today as well as 100 years ago. This year's theme, Valiant Robert P. J. Cooney, Jr. 20 Women of the Vote - Refusing to Be Silenced, emphasizes The Shaming Must Stop, the resilience of multicultural women working for the vote Myriam Miedzian 21 both in the suffrage movement and later. Women’s largely Black Women Marched in unheralded accomplishments are what the NWHA has cel- The 1913 Parade, ebrated for 40 years. Martha S. Jones 23 Women’s history is something happening today, a cur- rent and ongoing source of inspiration and power. It is an Statues and Memorials 24 overlooked part of our national history that has a chance to Women’s History Resources come forward now and shine as never before. Catalog 27 4 WOMEN’S HISTORY MAKE WOMEN’S LIVES VISIBLE IN 2021 Plan or Join a Parade The Women’s Suffrage Centennial Float in the Pasadena Rose Parade, January 1, 2020 F WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH millions watched the Rose dressed in white in rows of theme of hope. to have 4th of July Parade on January 1, 2020, ten. Alice Paul organized a Parades in 2021, please as the float that launched the On the float were the parade for suffrage through I Centennial celebration of descendants of suffragists Washington D.C. on March join one and bring the spirit of the suffrage movement to a women in the United States including Elizabeth Cady 3, 1913, one day before the larger crowd. If not the 4th of winning the right to vote Stanton, Ida B. Wells and inauguration of President July then on August 26th came into view. The crowds Frederick Douglass. The Woodrow Wilson. The have your own hometown cheered as Years of Hope, magnificent, flower covered parade hosted 8,000 partici- parade in honor of the 101st Years of Courage – the float was over 50 feet long pants, nine marching bands, 20 floats, and a anniversary of women 1913 Suffrage Parade, Washington, D.C. performance in in the United States front of the winning the vote. Once Treasury Building. it is safe, let’s bring This Sonoma the celebratory spirit County, California, of women’s history to parade (left) on our communities by March 10, 1979. decorating cars and dressing Women’s Suffrage and featured a 20-foot tall helped launch what would as suffragist or other women Centennial Rose Parade Float Statue of Liberty covered in become the National in history. Maybe the local – began the 5½ mile route. eucalyptus leaves. Women’s History Project/ high school marching band Right behind the float was The vibrant, colorful float Alliance. It was a county- would like to participate. a contingent of 100 won the Theme Award for wide event which included a Throughout the world, contemporary suffragist all best representing the parade’s local junior high school band. WOMEN’S HISTORY 5 Members of Long Beach Suffrage 100 launched their centennial effort on August 24, 2019, under artist Dina Saadi's vibrant mural that reflects both the boldness and serious purpose that marked centennial celebrations throughout the country.