WINNING WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN WESTERN NEW YORK
A Movement for Generations
NYS Constitutions
Four state constitutions: 1777; 1821; 1846; 1894
All defined voters as “male” when written.
NYS Constitution 1777
1 Some Calls for Woman Suffrage Prior to 1848
Petitions for suffrage sent to constitutional convention 1846.
Not much study of this.
Ginzberg’s book looks at six women of Jefferson Co.
Univ. of N. Carolina Press. 2005
Seneca Falls Convention
1848—first women’s rights convention called in Seneca Falls. Heart of “Burned Over District” which emphasized reform. Home to Elizabeth Cady Stanton and near network of reforming women.
Supported by Fredrick Douglass and most abolitionists. 11 equality resolutions passed—right-to-vote resolution almost failed to pass.
2 Wesleyan Chapel, Seneca Falls, NY Site of 1848 Women’s Rights Convention
Seneca Falls Convention 1848 A Mixed Reception
The Liberator Sep. 15, 1848 New York Evening Post Aug. 12, 1848
3 Charlotte Woodward Pierce
Only person present at Seneca Falls in 1848 who lived to see the 19th Amendment.
Traveled from DeWitt, Onondaga Co.
One of 68 signers of declaration.
Too ill to vote in 1920.
Died in 1921 (age 92)—never voted.
Library of Congress
Rhoda Palmer 1816-1919
Attended Seneca Falls Convention from Geneva.
Lived all her life in Geneva- Junius area.
Not a Quaker but strongly attached.
Only woman at the 1848 convention who lived to vote.
Democrat & Chronicle Jun. 16, 1918
4 Woman Suffrage Advocates Divided After Civil War Much of division related to wording 14th and 15th Amendments.
Pitted old abolition friends against each other.
Two rival groups formed from old American Equal Rights Assn: American Woman Suffrage Assn. (Lucy Stone, et al) National Woman Suffrage Assn. (Anthony, Stanton, et al) Felt men in AERA had betrayed them.
Groups merged in 1890.
Susan B. Anthony Trial 1873
Portrait from North Court House at time of Courtroom Gallery. Anthony’s trial.
Ontario County Times Jun. 18, 1873
5 Belva Ann Lockwood October 24, 1830 – May 19, 1917
Royalton, Niagara Co., NY
First woman to practice before the US Supreme Court.
First woman to campaign for president on an official party ballot— National Equal Rights Party.
Ran for president 1884; 1888.
Graduate Genesee Wesleyan Seminary & College (1857); National Univ. Law School (1873).
Belva Ann Lockwood October 24, 1830 – May 19, 1917
Democrat & Chronicle. Rochester, NY. Oct. 19, 1887
6 NYS Grants Partial Suffrage to Women 1880-1906
1894 NYS Constitution A Setback for Woman Suffrage
7 New Leadership & Tactics Begin 1890s
Carrie Chapman Catt
Anna Howard Shaw
New York a Suffrage Prize As More Western and Mid-Western States Granted Suffrage Largest population.
Most Representatives in Congress.
Home of Suffrage movement.
Center of Anti-Suffrage movement.
Winning suffrage in New York would force debate on a federal amendment.
8 Bold, New, Second Generation Leaders Take Action
1908 Canal Campaign
New York Sun May 13, 1908
Leaflets were dropped over Staten Island and other places.
9 Failure in 1911
Democrat & Chronicle Jan. 18, 1911
No vote by the legislature! Two consecutive votes required.
Legislature finally approved twice in 1913 & 1914
New York Times Jan. 16, 1913
Ithaca Journal May 2, 1914
Renewed Campaigning by Suffragists
Carrie Chapman Catt
Democrat & Chronicle Rochester, NY Apr. 29, 1915
10 1915 Campaign Failed
Louisville, KY Courrier-Journal Feather River Bulletin Feb. 10, 1915 Quincy, CA Nov. 4, 1915
Campaign for 1917 Began Immediately
No part of the state untouched.
Images from 19th Amendment Special Collections. Bryn Mawr College
11 NAWSA Divided Once More Congressional Union (1913) Formed Became National Women’s Party 1916
Alice Paul Militancy modeled on Brittish “suffragettes.”
Valentine Campaign 1916
Greeting cards very popular after 1900.
Most of them are post cards.
Suffragists (and Anti-Suffragists) produced and used many cards.
1916 militant suffragists organized a Valentine Card campaign.
New York Times. Feb. 14, 1916
12 A Valentine War 1916
New York Sun St. Louis Post-Dispatch Feb. 14, 1916 Feb. 15, 1916
13 14 15 16 17 ADVERTISEMENT FOR SECOND STATE VOTE 1917 Geneva Daily Times Nov. 3, 1917
18 Catt Promotes “Winning Plan” Avoiding Confrontation—Education Promoting Women’s Role in War Effort Working for State and Federal Amendments
5.4 million men and women enrolled for war service in New York 1917.
1917 Campaign a Success
A million signatures on parade. New York City. Oct. 27, 1917.
19 Suffrage Victory in 1917 NY City, Erie, Albany Counties Carry State
A Change in the NYS Constitution
“Every citizen of the age of twenty-one years…” 1918+
20 Victory in NY led to 19th Amendment
Carrie Chapman Catt returning to New York City after signing of the 19th Amendment. 1920
One Last Hurdle Challenging the 19th Amendment Supreme Court Approved Based on 15th Amendment 1919-1922
Joint Resolution of Congress Leser v. Garnett May 19, 1919 US Supreme Court Feb. 27, 1922
21 Story Not Complete Without Anti-Suffragists Anti-Suffrage tent. Rochester Exhibition. 1915
Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin Univ. of Illinois Press. 2013 Apr. 19, 1913.
Researched and Produced by Preston E. Pierce, EdD
Museum Educator Ontario County Historical Society & Ontario County Historian Department of Records, Archives and Information Management Services 2017
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