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Home , Alice Paul, Gloria Steinem, League of Women Voters, Lucy Stone

Books About Women’s Movement, Women’s Rights, , and Related Children’s Books

Woman’s Suffrage The Woman’s Hour: The Great The book covers the struggle Fight to Win the Vote between opposing forces at the by Elaine Weiss (2018) apex of the struggle for women’s suffrage in 1920, after a seven- decade effort. You feel like you are there in this exciting format. It all comes down to Tennessee…

Note: A television movie in collaboration with Hillary

Rodham Clinton is in the works for 2020. Mr. President, How Long Must This book explores the We Wait?: , Woodrow interaction of suffragist Alice Paul Wilson, and the Fight for the and President , Right to Vote as women demonstrated for the by Tina Cassidy (2019) right to vote in front of the . It combines details about Ms. Cassidy is local and may be “what it was like” with in depth available to discuss her book. descriptions of the backgrounds of the two personalities.

Consider watching the HBO movie also, about the same period and events. A Woman’s Place Is at the Top: A Thoroughly enjoyable book about Biography of Annie Smith Peck, a little-known mountain climber Queen of the Climbers and suffragist. by Hannah Kimberley (2017)

Ms. Kimberley is a member of the Cape Ann League and has spoken at several League events in the North Shore area. www.hannahkimberley.com

1 The Women’s Suffrage Movement This book is a diverse anthology by Sally Roesch Wagner (2019) of women’s voices both known and unknown related to the The author is the founding history of women’s director of the Matilda Joslyn enfranchisement, including Gage Foundation, and serves on African American suffragists and the New York State Women's Native American women with a Suffrage Commission. foreword by .

Massachusetts in the Woman The struggle for women’s right to Suffrage Movement: vote took over 70 years. This is Revolutionary Reformers the story of some lesser known by Barbara F. Berenson (2018) heroes of the movement such as , that centered in Ms. Berenson lives in the including the area. She is speaking in Boston-based American Woman Needham on March 15 (see Suffrage Association and LWV-Needham.org). Woman's Journal

Fighting Chance: The Struggle This is an in depth scholarly work over Woman Suffrage and Black on the intersection of abolition, Suffrage in Reconstruction women’s suffrage, racism and the America choices made by leaders to by Faye E. Dudden (2014) achieve their ends.

Why They Marched: Untold The author provides a vivid Stories of the Women Who history of the diverse group of Fought for the Right to Vote everyday women who supported by Susan Ware (2019) the right to vote, profiling nineteen women who worked for Ms. Ware is from the Boston the cause. area and may be available to speak at League events.

2 Votes for Women: A Portrait of A beautiful book conveying how Persistence suffragists used portraiture to by Kate Clarke Lemay (2019) recruit others. The book highlights those underrepresented in the usual histories of the movement; published in association with the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC

Century of Struggle: The This book covers women’s long Women’s Rights Movement in the struggle for enfranchisement and the tremendous effort required by Eleanor Flexner and Ellen for success. Fitzpatrick (1959, 1975)

Ms. Fitzpatrick is at University of New Hampshire

The Ideas of the Woman Suffrage The author explores the Movement 1890 – 1920 principles that provided the by Aileen S. Kraditor (1965, foundational ideas for the 1981) women’s suffrage movement and the development of other The author is at Boston rationales over the course of the University push for women’s enfranchisement.

One Woman, One Vote: The companion book to the film Rediscovering the Women’s of the same name is comprised of Suffrage Movement 19 articles written to cover the by Marjorie Spruill Wheeler diversity of those in (1995) movement and those who supported them, including scandals and bigotry.

3 Voting Down the Rose: Florence This book traces the story of Brooks Whitehouse & Maine’s Florence Brooks Whitehouse of Fight for Woman Suffrage Maine as she works toward by Anne B. Gass (2014) women’s suffrage, despite a variety of hardships. It is written Ms. Gass lives in Maine and is by her granddaughter, who available for public speaking. assembled historical artifacts for the story.

Winning the Vote: The Triumph This book was created in of the American Woman Suffrage celebration of the 85th Movement anniversary of the approval of the by Robert P. J. Cooney, Jr. (2005) 19th amendment in association with the Women’s History Project. It chronologically traces the history of the movement from 1848 to 1920 with photos, essays and pictures of artifacts of the period.

New Women of the New South This book profiles eleven by Marjorie Spruill Wheeler Southern suffragist leaders, their (1993) motivations, ideals and interactions with their northern sisters.

Woman Suffrage and the New The author examines the Democracy effectiveness and tactics of the By Sara Hunter Graham (1996) National American Women’s Suffrage Association as the first single–issue pressure group formed to pass the 19th Amendment.

4 Not for Ourselves Alone: The The book was created to Story of accompany the film of the same & Susan B. Anthony name that traces the friendship of by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Stanton and Anthony over the Burns (1999) decades as they heroically fought for women’s suffrage.

Women’s History, Rights, and Movements Born for Liberty: A History of This book traces the social and Women in America political history of the struggle of by Sara M. Evans (1989, 1997) women in America over time. It is used as a textbook for Women’s history classes.

Divided We Stand: The Battle A fascinating look at how the Over Women's Rights and Family battle over women’s rights in Values That Polarized American America split political parties, Politics perhaps serving as the initial by Marjorie Spruill (2017) fissure leading to today’s political polarization, beginning with the 1977 National Women’s Conference.

Idols, Victims, Pioneers: Virginia’s The book covers the history of the Women from 1607 women of Virginia from 1607 by James Wamsley with Anne starting with Virginia’s English Cooper (1976) colonization via the Company, through the 18th Century, Civil War and modernity.

5 The Paradox of Equality: This book examines the role of How American Women’s Groups women in politics and political Gained and Lost Their Public movements along with changing Voice reasons for civic involvement. by Kristin A. Goss (2013)

League of Women Voters : Feminist Biography of the founder of the Politician League of Women Voters, who by Robert Booth Fowler (1986) had a major role in the suffrage movement.

For the Public Record: A This book uses and includes Documentary History of the documents from national and League of Women Voters local Leagues to detail the by Barbara Stuhler (2003) evolution of the League of Women Voters over the first 50 years.

In League with Eleanor: Eleanor This book was produced with the Roosevelt and the League of League of Women Voters of New Women Voters 1921-1962 York. was an by Hilda R. Watrous (1984) early member of the League of Women Voters , as the League’s vice-president of legislative affairs.

6 In the Public Interest: The League The book provides an in depth of Women Voters 1920 – 1970 look at how the League by Louise M. Young (1989) transformed the energies of women’s suffrage into an organization promoting political participation of women and good government, all the while navigating changing political climate. It is a scholarly work with importance as a historical

reference. Sustaining the League of Women This book follows the ups and Voters in America downs of this grassroots by Maria Hoyt Cashin (2012, organization promoting civic 2013) engagement.

Children, Teens, and Young Adults Two Friends Susan B. Anthony Children ages 4-8 years and by Dean Robbins, Sean Qualls, A picture book of about the Selina Alko (2016) friendship between two activists who worked for equality.

So Tall Within: 's Children ages 4-8 years Long Walk Toward Freedom by Gary D. Schmidt and Daniel A biography told in a picture book Minter (2018) about a woman who began life as a slave and became a leader in the fight for rights for blacks and women. Ida B. Wells: Let the Truth Be Children ages 4- 8 years. Told by Walter Dean Myers and This is a child’s biography picture Bonnie Christensen (2015) book of the multitalented Ida B. Wells, a woman writer who fought against slavery and then for suffrage.

7 Miss Paul and the President: The Children ages 5- 8 years Creative Campaign for Women's Right to Vote The story of Alice Paul, a woman by Dean Robbins (Author), who sought women’s rights and Nancy Zhang (Illustrator) dramatically finished the push for (2016) women’s suffrage, organizing a parade, picketing the White House, being arrested, asking President Wilson for the vote for women. Around America to Win the Vote: Children ages 5- 8 years Two Suffragists, a Kitten, and 10,000 Miles Hardcover A true story of two suffragists, by Mara Rockliff (Author), Nell Richardson and Alice Burke, Hadley Hooper (Illustrator) traveling the country in a yellow (2016) car seeking votes for women in a picture book format.

Elizabeth Started All the Trouble Children ages 6- 9 years by Doreen Rappaport (Author), Matt Faulkner (Illustrator) A picture book that shows the (2016) beginning of the women’s suffrage movement and role of Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

My Name Is Truth: The Life of Children ages 6-10 years. Sojourner Truth by Ann Turner and James Isabella Baumfree once was a Ransome (2015) slave, and became Sojourner Truth and effective orator and preacher who was critical to the abolitionist movement and later to women’s suffrage. This biography is told in her own voice. Elizabeth Leads the Way Children ages 6-10 years. by Tanya Lee Stone (Author), Rebecca Gibbon (Illustrator) This is a picture book biography (2010) of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, showing what it was like for women and what she was up against seeking the vote for women.

8 Susan B. Anthony: Fighter for Children ages 6- 8 years Women's Rights (Ready-to-read SOFA) Fact –filled biography of Susan B. by Deborah Hopkinson and Amy Anthony details growing up with June Bates (2005) different rights for men and women and her push for women’s suffrage.

Bold & Brave: Ten Heroes Who Children ages 6-9 years Won Women the Right to Vote by Kirsten Gillibrand and Maira The stories in a picture book of Kalman (2018) ten leaders who sought rights for women.

Women's Suffrage (Blast Back!) Children ages 7-10 years by Nancy Ohlin and Roger Simó (2018) A book that surveys the women’s suffrage movement in America in the context of women’s rights.

I Could Do That!: Esther Morris Children ages 7-9 years. Gets Women the Vote by Linda Arms White and Nancy Esther Morris was a real women Carpenter (2005) with a can-do attitude who was instrumental in getting the vote for women in the state of Wyoming.

If You Lived When Women Won Children ages 7- 10 years Their Rights by Anne Kamma and Pamela Author details life in a time when Johnson (2008) women could not go to college or even ride a bike and the beginning of the women’s rights movement and the many women leaders.

9 : The Battle for Children age 7-10 years Equality by David Roberts (2019) The author covers key moments in the women’s suffrage movement as it emerged in and America.

With Courage and Cloth: Teen and Young Adult Winning the Fight for a Woman's Right to Vote The author creates a detailed by Ann Bausum (2004) story of the women’s suffrage movement including the conflict between internal factions of the movement.

Carrie Chapman Catt: A Life of Teen and Young Adult Leadership by Nate Levin (1999) This biography of Carrie Chapman Catt (1859-1947), leader of the woman’s suffrage movement and founder of the League of Women Voters.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Teen and Young Adult Susan B. Anthony: A Friendship That Changed the World This is the story of friendship by Penny Colman (2016) between Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony and the founding of the women’s suffrage movement.

Last Update Aug 5, 2019; LWVMA

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