Barbara Robison's Blog, page 2

The Formation of the League of Women Voters

One hundred years ago the National American Woman Suffrage Association began winding down its work because it was about to achieve its goal...the right for women to vote in national elections.

President Carrie Chapman Catt  and some of her colleagues felt it would be too bad to disband such a large, organized, enthusiastic group of women across the country. Carrie had always felt that next to getting the vote for women was helping educate them on the facts of governing.  She wanted the nation to be filled with educated women voters. She urged that the League must be nonpartisan and all partisan.

So, the League of Women Voters was founded, encouraging members of the suffrage organization to join. Carrie was asked to lead the group but declined, saying they needed someone younger. Maud Wood Park, well educated on the operations of government due to her work with the suffrage association, became the first chairman.

Today, the League works to register voters, provide voters with election information through voter guides as well as candidate forums and debates. In the past it sponsored popular presidential candidate debates seen throughout the country.  The league envisions a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge and the confidence to participate.

To learn more about how the league works with over 700 state and local leagues to improve our democracy visit the League of Women Voters website. The league's assistance is invaluable as we approach a presidential election in November of this year.

Celebrate the Suffrage Centennial

LET'S CELEBRATE! On August 26, 1920, American women received the right to vote in national elections. It took many years and a great deal of hard work and sacrifice on the part of thousands of women and their supporters to get that vote.

However, more important than a celebration is being sure you cast a vote in the upcoming November presidential election. You should get out and vote and encourage your friends to join you.

As Carrie Chapman Catt said 100 years ago, when the vote was finally ours, "Prize It." 

Aletta Jacobs, The Netherlands First Woman Doctor

 Dutch activist Aletta Jacobs needed to get the personal authorization of the country's prime minister to pursue a higher education due to her sex. In 1879 she became the Netherlands' first woman doctor. Her medical expertise centered on the health and welfare of women and children. Over the years she was an active woman suffragist, healthcare reformer and peace advocate.

Aletta and American Carrie Chapman Catt traveled together around the world in 1910-1911, working with women's groups in many countries to help them better their situations. To discover more about this outstanding European pioneer and her Dutch colleagues visit the website of the Groninger Museum in Groningen, the Netherlands. It featured a 100 years of Women's Suffrage exhibit in 2019. There are some wonderful photographs included.

You might also enjoy reading Memories , a translated biography of Aletta Jacobs published by the Feminist Press of the City University of New York.  

Photo courtesy of Atria, institute on gender equality and women's history, Read more about Alette Jacobs.

The National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House

The American suffragists had no hash tags to urge them on. However, they fought courageously over decades to secure the right to vote for women in 1920. The leading suffragist was Susan B. Anthony, who headed the National American Women Suffrage Association for many years. Her home in Rochester, New York, was the headquarters for the Association when she was its president.

Today her former home, built in 1866, has become the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House. The house includes a collection of artifacts Susan had during her life. A photo gallery, a museum shop and many interesting programs are offered.

Due to limitations during the COVID-19 pandemic the Museum is closed. But it looks forward to a time it can once again welcome guests into the home to see and hear an inspiring story.

Visit the museum website to learn more about an amazing woman and her suffrage friends.

The National 19th Amendment Society

Thirteen-year old Carrie Lane, growing up on a Charles City, Iowa farm, discovered her mother and other American women couldn’t vote to decide who would be next president of the United States.

She vowed she would do something about it and did. She became the head of the National American Woman Suffrage Association when the 19th Amendment was passed. It was a hard struggle over many years to accomplish that feat.

In 1991, the National 19th Amendment Society was founded and purchased Carrie’s girlhood home to honor the memory of Carrie Chapman Catt. The Charles City home has been restored and is now utilized as a center for the study of contemporary issues springing from the fields of interest to which Carrie devoted her life.

To learn more about the adventures of Carrie and how a small local group of Charles City women, with the assistance of many friends, developed the center, visit the Society's website .  You’ll find the Society provides interesting and unusual programs for adults and children.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic the National 19th Amendment Society is closed. However, it is looking forward to the time when it can open its doors and welcome visitors to the interesting exhibits and fun programs provided.