Dedication Planned for New National Suffrage Memorial
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Equality Day is August 26 March is Women's History Month NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY ALLIANCE Women Win the Vote Before1920 Celebrating the Centennial of Women's Suffrage 1920 & Beyond You're Invited! Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote Learn What’s Happening in Your State and Online HROUGHOUT 2020, Americans will celebrate the Tcentennial of the extension of the right to vote to women. When Congress passed the 19th Amendment in 1919, and 36 states ratified it by August 1920, women’s right to vote was enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Now there are local, state and national centennial celebrations in the works including shows and © Trevor Stamp © Trevor parades, parties and plays, films The Women’s Suffrage Centennial float in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, was seen by millions on January 1, 2020. On the float were the and performers, teas and more. descendants of suffragists including Ida B. Wells, Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Ten rows of Learn more, get involved, enjoy the ten women in white followed, waving to the crowd. Trevor Stamp photo. activities, and recognize as never before that women’s hard fought Dedication Planned for New achievements are an important part of American history. National Suffrage Memorial HE TURNING POINT Suffra- were jailed over 100 years ago. This gist Memorial, a permanent marked a critical turning point in suffrage Inside This Issue: tribute to the American women’s history. Great Resources T © Robert Beach suffrage movement, will be unveiled on Spread over an acre, the park-like A rendering of the Memorial August 26, 2020 in Lorton, Virginia. Memorial will allow visitors to stroll 100 Suffragists The outdoor Memorial, just south of through landscaped gardens marked with Catt, Mary Church Terrell, and Alice Paul. African American 19 learning stations that tell the story of Turning Point will be the only Washington D.C., is located near the national Suffragists site of the Occoquan Workhouse where the suffrage movement. Three life-size memorial to all those who fought for the suffragists who picketed the White House statues will honor leaders Carrie Chapman 19th Amendment. suffragistmemorial.org Nationwide Events CA ,C R S OSA ANTA . 585 N P O ERMIT PAID U.S. P U.S. OSTAGE Santa Rosa, CA 95402 CA Rosa, Santa . O RG 730 Second Street #469 Street Second 730 -P N ROFIT ON National Women’s History Alliance History Women’s National 2 nwhanews.orgnwha1980.org National Women's History Alliance Project 19 Skydiver Tournament of Roses Parade Float Illuminated Governor’s Mansion COURTESY OF PROJECT 19 SHYRA ARRINGTON RICHMOND, VIRGINIA Seizing a Golden Opportunity centennial float in the Rose Women’s drive then was very similar us of suffragists’ deliberate attempts to be able through womensvote100.org.) Parade, a record-setting jump by to women’s drive today. recognized. Memorials and statues of suf- From the festive, prize-winning women skydivers, civic build- This celebration of women’s free- fragists are in the works across the country, centennial float in the Rose Parade to the Aings bathed in suffrage colors – all these dom also recognizes the great nonviolent and what suffragists did is taking on new events that will mark the final weeks of are part of the 2020 Women’s Suffrage movement that women built to win that relevance in the face of today’s realities. 2020, this will be a remarkable year that Centennial celebrations. freedom. The suffrage movement is a One lasting part of the centennial recognizes multicultural women’s history Throughout the year, the 100th an- central part of our national story and this is deeper scholarship and research, and as never before. After 40 years of work, niversary of Votes for Women and passage centennial should cement its place in new recognition of minority women who the National Women’s History Alliance is of the 19th Amendment will be recognized American history and culture. were significant in the suffrage drive. certainly ready to celebrate. by Americans across the country. It offers The historic advance we celebrate Many centennial groups have produced a golden opportunity to learn about the this year reminds us that the struggle for biographical profiles, new curricula and Join Together for the Future women’s rights movement, remember what freedom and justice still continues. Not a wide variety of online resources for suffragists achieved, and honor multicul- all women gained their civil rights as women’s history, state history and civic Looking to the future, the NWHA would tural women’s history in the United States. citizens on August 26, 1920. Many were engagement. like to encourage and organize the The extensive variety of events, ex- still blocked from voting by racist and abundant energy released during 2020. hibits, online resources and so much more discriminatory laws that took decades to National Plans for 2020 The many people and groups that have will ensure that the celebration continues overturn. There is still so much to do, appeared throughout the country have throughout 2020. Since women’s drive and in so many areas, that suffragists’ Suffrage celebrations have been planned drawn new attention to local women and for the vote occurred in every part of our historic example of organization, dedi- nationally throughout the year. Check, women’s history. nation, it is fitting that commemorations cation and perseverance takes on new since some are rescheduled from the We invite those whose interest has will be held in cities and towns in every importance. Their love of democracy dates listed here. In July, through Project been sparked by the centennial to join state. Check them out on your own; the should inspire us anew. 19, over 100 skydivers will meet in Chi- with the NWHA. Over the years, the leads here are just the beginning. For more cago to set a world record: the largest all- Alliance, formerly the National Women’s information, visit womensvote100.org. Making a Permanent Impact female vertical formation while traveling History Project, has been a catalyst that to the Earth at up to 180 mph. has aided a multitude of efforts – books, Autonomy, Independence and Liberation This anniversary year is full of exciting On August 26, Equality Day, major films, projects and more. It also offers the events to inform and entertain us. Wom- centennial celebrations are scheduled for opportunity for individuals and groups Professor Ellen DuBois made the point en’s drive for freedom will be brought to cities and towns throughout the country. to network, promote and build a stronger that “freedom” might be a better slogan Broadway, broadcast on television and The Central Park statue will be unveiled women’s history movement together. for suffragists than “equality.” As she recognized in institutions and federal and the Turning Point Suffragist Memo- We continue to “write women back into wrote, what women were really seeking buildings across the country. rial will be dedicated. In the evening, history” because we know that our histo- was emancipation from their subordina- License plates will reflect the cen- civic buildings nationwide are to be lit in ry is our strength. In every way we can, tion to men. It was always about auton- tennial, roadside markers will highlight suffrage purple, white and gold colors – we use the power of women’s stories, omy, independence, and liberation – not women’s historical sites, and white dresses and many private buildings will follow women’s accomplishments and women’s just the vote or women’s legal position. with colorful sashes and pins will remind suit. (These color gel screens are avail- vision to build a positive future. Women Win the Vote Multiple copies can A Special Gazette published by the National Women’s History Alliance be ordered through the NWHA online store: Volume Two, April 2020 © 2020 National Women’s History Alliance www.nwha1980.org. The cost is $15 for 25 All rights reserved. Reprint inquiries welcome. copies plus shipping. Edited by Robert P. J. Cooney, Jr. Co-Editors: Molly Murphy MacGregor, Leasa Graves Thank you to all our national contributors, writers, artists and photographers. If you link to the NWHA or products in our web Design: Robert Cooney Graphic Design Production: Vicki Dougan/Sales Promotion and Dylan Dockstader store, please update the National Women’s History Alliance, 730 Second Street #469, Santa Rosa, CA 95402 links since our addresses (707) 636-2888 https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org [email protected] have changed. Thank you. Cover photograph courtesy of Trevor Stamp, [email protected]. Our sincere thanks to our friends at SEIU Local 1000 who sponsored this publication. Women Win the Vote nwha1980.orgnwhanews.org 3 What's Happening in Your State? Centennial Celebrations Underway Nationwide ver the past few years, residents of many states have organized Owomen’s suff rage centennial organizations, occasionally with state funds. These groups are the hubs of planning in each state with events, activities, projects including statues and highway markers, and many other eff orts. Their websites are rich with content – history, information, calendars, biographical profi les, research, teacher guides, curriculum, products and much more. Spend some time at each one and you’ll be surprised at what you fi nd. And this is only part of what’s happening. The experiences and conditions of Black and minority women are being examined and honored as never before. There has never been such activity at the state and local levels and it shows how the The Renaissance Society (RP), breadth and depth of the three-generation, the life-long learning organization in national women’s suff rage movement is Sacramento, is part of a 19th Amendment fi nally being recognized.