Tag Archives: 2020 suffrage centennial

Headlines about Women’s Suffrage News & Centennials on Vimeo.

“How Women Won the Vote” is the theme of the National Women’s History Project’s “Gazette,” a 24-page special issue. It includes a valuable “Call to Action” to alert citizens from coast to coast to get ready for the 2020 national suffrage centennial. A single copy is free. A total of 25 copies can be purchased for $10 from the NWHP store online.

The National Women’s History Project’s 2017 special edition devoted to the women’s suffrage grassroots movement is a pivotal and groundbreaking marker in time alerting Americans to write women back into history. This has been the vision of the NWHP for the past 35 years.

The “Call to Action” editorial doesn’t mention the debates that will inevitably surface with the passage of time on the national level. The focus instead is on recognizing the significance of this dramatic social movement and rally individuals and organizations to recognize our history for what it is—all of it. There is a great deal to acknowledge. The Gazette editorial reads in part:

“The Women’s Suffrage Centennial honors this specific part of American history. We encourage celebrations to keep the focus on the women who won the vote and not leave them behind in discussions of contemporary history. The anniversary is not the time for such general approaches as ‘women in America’ or ‘women in protest.’ Rather, it should mark the start of many shows, exhibits, discussions and art on the historic and spiritual importance of multicultural suffragists…”

To keep a 2020 national suffrage commission focused on history rather than politics will be a challenge. Some political operatives are already turning the 2020 national centennial into an ideological battleground with the appointment of those who will serve on the commission. It wasn’t long ago that most Americans didn’t understand the meaning of or they couldn’t pronounce the word “suffrage.” Even fewer were aware of what it meant. This is changing.

Don’t forget that the “How Women Won the Vote” issue is available for bulk distribution through the National Women’s History Project’s store. Prior issues of the NWHP’s publication have been popular among educators and organizations.

Follow SuffrageCentennials.com on Facebook page, Twitter, email subscription, and the Quarterly Newsletter. Sign up for email on this web page. Stay up to date with postings, audio podcasts, and videos. Plan for your suffrage centennial event.

Wyse Talk – Kenneth Florey: 5/19/2016 from Branford Community Television on Vimeo.

Scholar and collector of women’s suffrage materials Kenneth Florey discusses his published books and is generous when sharing his knowledge and love of the women’s suffrage movement. The above video from Vimeo is one such example. Check out Kenneth Florey’s website.

Highlights from Kenneth Florey’s book on suffrage movement postcards.

“American Woman Suffrage Postcards” by Kenneth Florey on Vimeo.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Suffrage activist Alice Paul used the title “Toward Equality” for her 1928 law school thesis. The volunteer task force planning the national 2020 centennial has chosen “Toward Equality” for its logo and campaign theme. The Minnesota History Center Museum is working on a suffrage exhibition to travel across the nation in 2020. The Lake George, NY Historical Association opened its exhibit on women’s suffrage in May of 2017. Increasing amounts of suffrage-related jewelry is now available on the market. Performances of suffrage songs from history are also popular. Performer Linda Allen from the state of Washington is one example.

The 2020 Women’s Vote Centennial has a listserv. An update on a federal bill to establish a 2020 suffrage centennials is being monitored. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission Act into the 115^th Congress in April. The bill is co-sponsored by 15 of the 21 female senators; 14 of the 15 Democratic women co-sponsored (plus Republican Susan Collins of Maine).  The bill has been included in the FY 17 omnibus spending measure with a $2 million appropriation attached.  It must still pass the House and be signed by the president.

HISTORY OF NYS SUFFRAGE COMMISSION (Courtesy, Humanities New York!)

June 2015: Two bills establishing the commission (A01019A/S02388-A) passed unanimously by both the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate with the support from Senator Little and Assemblymember Gunther.

November 2015: Governor Cuomo signed the bills into law.
March 1, 2016: Governor Cuomo appointed Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul to the Commission and proclaimed March Women’s History month in New York.
August 22, 2016: the Commission held its first meeting at The M’Clintock House in Waterloo, NY where Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul was nominated Chair.
March 1, 2017: Commission met at Albany, NY to unveil the new website and outline plans for the year ahead.
June 2017: Meeting of Suffrage Commission in New York City.
Follow SuffrageCentennials.com on Facebook page, Twitter, email subscription, and the Quarterly Newsletter. Sign up for email on this web page. Stay up to date with postings, audio podcasts, and videos. Plan for your suffrage centennial event. And don’t forget to pass on women’s suffrage storytelling to the next generation. Suffrage Centennial videos on Vimeo.