Ballots for Belva: The True Story of a Woman's Race for the Presidency

by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, Courtney A. Martin (Illustrator)

A timely true tale for the 2008 presidential election

In 1884, when men were the only people allowed to vote in national elections, Belva Lockwood took a bold but legal step: She ran for president! Women did not have the same rights as men, but Belva went on undeterred—and she got votes! Her run for office was based on experience and merit: Unlike many women of the time, she went to college, then to law school, and even argued cases before the Supreme Court.

Though her campaign was difficult, Belva never wavered in her commitment to equality, earning the respect of many fellow citizens. A little-known but richly deserving American historical figure, Belva is an inspiration for modern-day readers. Despite all the changes in society since Belva's time, there is still a lot to fight for, and Belva shows the way. The book also includes a glossary and a timeline of women's suffrage events.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, History, Nonfiction, Childrens, Feminism, Politics

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen is an award-winning children's book author whose books include Duck Duck Moose, Chicks Run Wild, Pirate Princess, Hampire!, and the forthcoming Orangutangled. She visits schools around the country to talk about the craft of writing to children of all ages. "Every book is an autobiography" is a favorite saying of hers, and a big part of her message is that everyone, grownup or child, has a story that is interesting and compelling—if you can find the right words to tell it. Sudipta lives outside Philadelphia with her children and an imaginary pony named Penny. You can learn more about her and her books on her website www.sudipta.com or at her blog www.NerdyChicksRule.com.

Reviews

[Ben Truong]

Ballots for Belva: The True Story of a Woman's Race for the Presidency is a children's picture book written by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and illustrated by Courtney A. Martin. It is centered on Belva Lockwood, a candidate for the President of the United States, during a time when women couldn't vote.

Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood was an American attorney, politician, educator, and author. She was active in working for women's rights, including women's suffrage. Lockwood overcame many social and personal obstacles related to gender restrictions. After college, she became a teacher and principal, working to equalize pay for women in education. She supported the movement for world peace, and was a proponent of the Temperance movement.

Bardhan-Quallen's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Bardhan-Quallen’s simply told narrative argues effectively for Lockwood’s place in history books. Backmatter includes an author's note, glossary, timeline, and bibliography. Martin’s illustrations are stiff and unconvincing, however, and, rather mysteriously, almost always picture Lockwood with her cat – even in law school.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. In 1884 Belva Lockwood ran for president, although as women she and her female running mate could not vote. She actually received some history-making votes in the election that Grover Cleveland won. The path to the 1884 election was not smooth: Widowed and remarried with a daughter, Belva went to law school where she was not allowed to take classes with men and where her degree was withheld until she wrote to President Grant, who was also president of the law school, and demanded her diploma. She was the first woman to practice law in federal courts and the first to argue a case before the Supreme Court.

All in all, Ballots for Belva: The True Story of a Woman's Race for the Presidency is an informative and useful biography of a little known feminist icon in Belva Lockwood.

[Lisa Vegan]

Excellent! Inspiring!

I learned so much about Belva Lockwood in this book. She was amazing. She was not only the first woman to actually get votes during a U.S. presidential elction, but she was the first woman to graduate from her law school and accomplished a huge amount. What I loved about her was that she was a champion of human rights, not just for herself or for women, but also for African-Americans and for Native Americans, and she worked for their rights too, very successfully on the 2 occasions specified in this book.

I have to say that I love cats in books but the cats that appear with Belva in almost every picture are a bit disconcerting. I’m not sure I’d take seriously any law student who came to class accompanied by a cat, especially when being a woman was a huge strike against her at the time.

This is a wonderful biography of a fascinating woman and also works as an American history book. At the end of the book there is a very interesting timeline that shows the progress of the women’s suffrage movement in the United States interspersed with dates of importance in Belva’s lifespan. There is also a general author’s note, a glossary, and a selected bibliography.

Belva, even today, is someone to root for, and President Grant was very cool too. I found myself very curious about Belva’s husband, who isn’t really given any page space in this book.

I liked the illustrations too. They look as though they belong to the period. I especially enjoyed seeing Belva on her tricycle (another bold action of hers) and the facial expressions of Belva and others, and also the way light is used in the pictures, and I loved the cats, even though I did wonder about their appropriateness in some scenes.

This is yet another superb non-fiction biography/history picture book for children.

4-1/2 stars

[QNPoohBear]

Having already read about Belva Lockwood in another picture book I was aware of most of the facts presented in this book but not all of them. The information about voting fraud and how Belva may have won the popular vote! She is an inspiring woman: teacher, lawyer, activist for minorities and women, suffragist, second woman to run for President of the United States, single mother- all in the period before women had the right to vote.

The illustrations are nice. The clothing styles look period correct. The pictures just aren't all that remarkable.

[Abigail]

In this picture-book biography of Belva Ann Lockwood, a nineteenth-century educator, lawyer, and woman's rights activist who deserves to be better known, Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen tells the story of a remarkably determined, courageous woman, one who never let injustice stand in her way, and who believed that she could do anything - even become the president of the United States of America. One of the first practicing woman lawyers in the country - she was in the first class of women admitted to the National University Law School, but despite finishing her coursework, had to petition then president Ulysses S. Grant (also president of the school) in order to receive her diploma - Lockwood was the first woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court, and was a tireless advocate for expanding the political and social rights available to women, including the franchise. Although not able to vote herself - the 19th Amendment, which extended suffrage to women, was passed in 1920, three years after Lockwood's death - she ran as a presidential candidate in the election of 1894, becoming the first woman candidate to receive documented popular votes.

This is an extraordinary tale, and Bardhan-Quallen does justice to her subject in Ballots for Belva, which really highlights the extraordinary lengths to which Lockwood often had to go, in order to get something approximating the same chance as her male counterparts. I found it amazing that she had to write to President Grant in order to obtain her diploma, and wondered why, if the school didn't intend to grant the diploma, they allowed her to enroll in the first place (perhaps they assumed she'd fail?). I also appreciated the fact that the author doesn't gloss over the fact that many other women's rights advocates didn't agree with Lockwood's actions, and that she mentioned that another woman (Victoria Woodhull) had previously run for president, although there is no documentation of any (possible) votes for her. All in all, this is a strong biography of a strong woman! I don't know that the artwork did that much for me, but it didn't detract from my reading experience, and the text was sufficiently involving that I didn't care. Recommended to young readers with an interest in American history and the (ongoing) struggle for women's rights!

[Kathryn]

All I could think as I read this book was "You go, girl!!!" Belva is most known for being the first female presidential candidates to win any votes, but she was "moving mountains" long before that in law school and elsewhere. I think part of the joy of this book is discovering all she did so I won't say too much except that I wish more people knew about Belva and that more people today possess her indomitable spirit. The author's note is excellent as is the timeline of women's suffrage. The illustrations are nice and I especially loved the cat that kept appearing with Belva; I wish the author's note had clarified if she loved cats of if this was just artistic license ;-) Highly recommended!

[Jenny]

Fascinating look at Belva Lockwood's determination and hard work to overcome challenges. (This would be a great book for perseverance/determination as well as growth mindset!) Belva was the first woman to graduate from National University Law School, the first to practice law in federal courts, the first to argue in front of the Supreme Court and the first to earn votes as a female candidate for president. The text includes an author's note, glossary, bibliography and a timeline of women's suffrage.

[C.A.]

Although I just so happen to be the illustrator, my reason for liking this picture book is entirely due to the uniqueness of Belva's story and the strength and quality of her character.

Every so often I browse around and read the reviews of this book--the good and bad alike. Some people like the illustrations, some don't. But fortunately most agree that Belva is a woman worth remembering, and for that I am thankful to have played a small part in sharing her story. Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen does well in telling what could easily have become a rather dry biography. She infuses a bit of heart and humor to the facts comprising this deserving story.

Illustrating Belva: My Personal Experience

Ballots for Belva was my very first professional assignment after finishing art school. In an ideal world it would have been beautifully illustrated and perfect in capturing Belva's spirit and the era in which she lived. But the world is not always so kind to us picture book artists! I was given just eight weeks to complete this book, from the day I first read the manuscript to the day my final art was handed to the publisher. (FYI-illustrators typically have several months to work on a picture book.) So for what it's worth, I did my best under the circumstances.

For any of you still curious about Belva's cat:
This picture book was geared toward a young audience. Being historical in nature with a well-seasoned woman as the main character, it's not exactly the most outwardly appealing story to this age group. The cat was introduced as a symbolic companion to Belva, a device to humanize an otherwise stoic figure and to make her relatable to children. While some adults dislike the unexplained appearance of Belva's furry friend, the target audience seems to enjoy it well enough to justify its inclusion. It is a bit of whimsy in an otherwise straightforward biography. Looking back, I definitely agree that we could have cut back on the frequency of his appearances and I am surprised that it made it past the editor and art director as is. C'est la vie.

Fun tidbit: The manuscript came to me as "Belva for President," and on my suggestion it was renamed "Ballots For Belva." Never thought I'd get to name someone else's book!

[SamZ]

A lot of really great information about a woman who I didn't know much about. I also really appreciated the timeline and bibliography at the end. It's always so interesting to read about historical figures who fought for equity, as well as a shame that things are still so disparate today.

[Kim Gardner]

I did not know Belva Lockwood was the first woman to run for president and receive popular votes in an election. This is a very timely book. With the right intro and classroom support, it could be a great read aloud when teaching about the presidential election.

[Rachael Boyt]

Genre: Non-Fiction/ Informational
Awards: This book has not won an award.
Audience: K-5

Belva was the first woman to graduate from National University Law school and one of the first women to run for the presidency. She fought opposition most of her life, but never gave up on the fight for women’s rights.

1.The topic of this book is women’s rights and equal rights for all people, despite gender or race.

2.The illustrations are soft and cheery, which help make this difficult subject easier to grasp. There is also a cute cat with Belva throughout the book which adds a playful touch to the story.

3.The text uses a variety of type sizes to indicate when the text is a written letter Belva is reading, versus a narration of events taking place in Belva’s life. There is also a glossary at the back of the book and a timeline of events in the women’s suffrage movement.

4.The book can be used to discuss the equal rights all human beings should have. It should be used when children are beginning to learn more about America’s history and seeking to understand it’s past. I would read this book in a group setting with both boys and girls and host a group discussion after.

[Diane]

“I can not vote ... but I can be voted for.”

Belva Lockwood always believed she could move mountains and as a woman in the 1800s, she had plenty of mountains blocking her way. Women weren’t supposed to go to law school, after doing the coursework, the school wouldn’t give her diploma. She was the first woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court of the United States and the first woman to ride around Washington DC on a tricycle, making it an acceptable thing to do. But her biggest mountain was trying to get elected as President of the United States.

A compelling story that includes an author’s note, timeline and bibliography.

[Jessie]

The story is almost entirely about Lockwood's adulthood: going to law school, becoming a lawyer, running for president. (Even then, it skips a lot that seems relevant/significant?) The main focus is her first presidential run.

The notes about votes for her being thrown away or not correctly recorded are interesting. I'd also be interested in knowing more about some of the major suffrage organizations not supporting her (and thinking she was actively hurting their cause).

I found the "moving mountains" framing very odd.

[Vivian Madrid]

Genre: Biography
Connection: Text-to-Teach
This is a great book for 1st to 5th grade. It is great to use for social studies, students can create a timeline of Belva journey to running for president. This could be a great way to get students excited about government, maybe divide the class in half and have an election or campaign for a new law to pass. The campaign idea can incorporate creativity of art posters, brochures, or flyers. Students can write a summary of events Belva's life.

[Tara]

Loved the illustrations and the overview of her life. I enjoyed that the book tied the overall message to her belief as a young girl that she could move mountains with enough faith. It showed her determination and work ethic. Nice summary of her life in the back-matter and a timeline of women’s suffrage in the United States. Also recommend A Lady Has the Floor.

[Amy]

Focus is more on Belva Lockwood's run for president than some of her other accomplishments, but it is still a great introduction to the first woman to legally run for president. (I particularly appreciate the highlight on the election corruption.)

[Viviane Elbee]

Interesting book about Belva, the first woman candidate for US President, who actually received votes.

[Margo Tanenbaum]

Hilary Rodham Clinton, of course, was not the first woman to run for president. But did you know that way back in 1884, years before women won the right to vote, a daring woman ran for president, and even received thousands of votes?


Ballots for Belva: The True Story of a Woman's Race for the Presidency, by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illustrated by Courtney A. Martin (Abrams, 2008), tells this remarkable story in an easy-to-follow picture book format, which can be enjoyed by all ages.

After working as a teacher and starting a suffrage group, Belva Lockwood decided she wanted to be a lawyer at age 39. But no law school would admit a woman in those days, except the newly formed National University law school. Belva enrolled there with fourteen other women, but was one of only two who finished the courses, since the women were made to feel uncomfortable by the male students. But when she finished, the school refused to give her a diploma, and she had to petition President Ulysses S. Grant, who was also president of the law school, in order to receive it.

Belva was a woman who accomplished many "firsts." She was the first woman to practice law in federal court and the first woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. She was an activist for women's rights who tried unsuccessfully to get the Republican Party to put women's suffrage on its official platform. In frustration at being ignored, she realized that there was no legal basis preventing women from running from office, even though they couldn't vote. And in 1884, she was nominated by the Equal Rights Party of the United States. She selected another woman, Marietta Stow, as her running mate, and began campaigning across the country, working hard to raise money and organize supporters.

Although she was ridiculed by the press and even by many of her fellow suffragettes, Belva persisted. And indeed, she won 4,711 votes, cast in nine different states, despite the fact that some vote counters threw away ballots with her name on them, not believing anyone would vote for a woman. This made her the first woman to run for president who actually got people to vote for her--and men, since they were the only ones voting at the time. [An earlier female presidential candidate, Victoria Woodhull, ran in 1872, but had to drop out before the election due to lack of funds.]

Belva was certainly ahead of her time, believing that some day a woman would occupy the White House as president and proving that women had the determination and courage to campaign for the position.

The book includes an author's note, glossary of terms, a useful timeline of women's suffrage in the United States, and a selected bibliography.

Bardhan-Quallen offers us an inspiring story of a true pioneer in women's rights, one that would be a terrific story to share with young girls today. The book is handsomely illustrated as well, with attractive two-page spreads that give a monumental quality to Belva's story.

[Venus]

Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum

In 1884, when men were the only people allowed to vote in national elections, Belva Lockwood took a bold but legal step: She ran for president! Women did not have the same rights as men, but Belva went on undeterred—and she got votes! Her run for office was based on experience and merit: Unlike many women of the time, she went to college, then to law school, and even argued cases before the Supreme Court. Though her campaign was difficult, Belva never wavered in her commitment to equality, earning the respect of many fellow citizens.

Although I typically only review new books, I recently snatched this one up because of one of my reader's email suggestions. Can I tell you how angry I am with my history curriculum as a child? Or myself for that matter. How did I not know about this? Why did no one tell me that another woman had tried to run for president before? Why did this not come up when Hilary Clinton was in the chute for possible candidacy? How is this not considered important? Not only that, but this book is great at showing how our electoral college and voting process works.

My view of women in history, the one painted by the history books, was purely male-centric. I was aware that there were spitfire women out there, but they were often labeled as extremists or outsiders. People voted for Belva! And not just one or two people, either. This must have been a huge deal in 1884, before women were even allowed to vote. Poor Belva. Her whole life was dedicated to pushing the boundaries on women's rights, yet I can't remember ever hearing about her. Never. Until I read this book, I didn't even know such a person existed, which is the wonder and magic of a book, although it makes me sad that I didn't know this important piece of history.

Thank you, dear reader for pointing the way to this great book.

[sweet pea]

i am one of the few people who count Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood as one of my heroes. hopefully this will soon change - when others are inspired by her work. this book is a good overview of her career and does a good job of explaining the intricacies of an election in an understandable style. the illustrations are soft and pleasing. a helpful womyn's suffrage timeline is in the back of the book. the "author's note" helps dispel myths about the "newness" of womyn running for president and vice-president.

as per usual, i have several gripes. Belva is frequently pictured with her cat. check. in one illustration, Belva is looking into the all-male classroom at law school. she is holding...her cat. right. most people bring their cat with them to law school. the text focuses on things relevant to youth. but that doesn't explain the tragic underselling of possibly her greatest accomplishments. both the fact that she was the first womyn lawyer to practice in front of the Supreme Court and also fought for the right of the first African American lawyer to do so (both in 1880!) are given one sentence each. in contrast, her riding a tricycle is given a whole paragraph. the fact that she won a case that awarded the Cherokees $5 million (in 1906!) is mentioned in the "author's notes" at the end. while i realize the book focuses on her two campaigns for the presidency, holy sweet jesus christ! these accomplishments deserve more than passing mention! the latter would be remarkable even today.

i hope this book sparks an interest in Belva Lockwood's legacy. i'm afraid it will get lost in all the election hoopla. if only it came out six months ago...

[Jackie]

In 1869 at the age of 39, Belva Lockwood decided to enter law school. One problem: Law Universities did not accept women. Belva set out to change that and was accepted in National University Law School. But, the school made it difficult for the young women who were admitted...only Belva and one other woman made it through the courses in order to graduate. One small mountail moved.

In 1884, Belva decided to run for president, even though women could not vote. But, her determination and fiestiness was Belva's greatest strength. She got her name on the ballot, ran for president and according to historical records she received anywhere between 4149 and 4711 votes. Many of her votes were thrown out as the counters didn't believe a woman should for president. But, Belva did. Another small mountain moved.

Belva was the first woman to graduate from law school, to practice law in Federal Courts, argue a case before The Supreme Court and run for president. More mountains moved. Ballots for Belva: The True Story of a Woman's Race for the Presidency is an inspirational true story about a determined and fiesty young woman who had a small part in changing the voting laws for woman in the United States.

[Jillian]

A very interesting look at a very interesting lady!
I enjoyed the strong focus on her work and career, instead of getting bogged down with her life before entering the public eye at thirty-nine - although I would have enjoyed learning about her husbands, and what they thought of being married to such a powerful woman! Did they support her? Did they try to reign her in? What were her reactions? (I wholeheartedly agree with giving Belva her own story, and not looking at her through the lens of the men in her life, but it's still something that just seems like it got skipped.)
I also thoroughly enjoyed the bibliography, timeline, and author's note at the end. I'm a firm believer that children's nonfiction titles should always have additional reading recommendations, so that kiddos who've gotten "the spark" about a subject can continue learning about it.
Extra bonus points for the recurring phrase "moving a mountain." It gives younger readers a real theme and lesson to hang onto, which is repeatedly demonstrated in the text!

[Michelle]

As a child, Belva Ann Lockwood believed that with enough determination she could move mountains. Of course, she could not move real mountains. But as Belva grew older, she did her best to move the mountain-like obstacles that often blocked her way. She was the first woman to attend law school, although she had to petition President Ulysses S. Grant for her diploma. By law she could not vote, but there was nothing prohibiting her from running for president. So she did - becoming the first woman to run for president and receive votes. Belva’s life was devoted to advocating for women’s rights.
This picture-book biography for young readers is timely in its introduction of women’s suffrage and a woman’s presidential run from over a century ago. Although a bit bland and dry, this title does provide basic information on the accomplishments of a historical figure for whom there is little written. A sense of the times and Belva’s grit are conveyed via the genteel illustrations. An author's note, glossary, timeline, and bibliography are included.

[Laura]

Belva Lockwood, a women's rights activist, was the first woman to run for president and receive votes. She also sponsored an African American lawyer to argue before the Supreme Court and fought for Native American equality. This nonfiction story clearly presents Lockwood as an American hero and my 5th graders learned a lot from this upper elementary appropriate text. The illustrator included a cat in nearly every illustration of Belva. After a bit of online research (no citations!), I don't think that there is any real historical basis for including the cats, though my students really enjoyed the different cats that appeared in the book.

I used this book as a basis for a persuasive writing assignment. My students had to choose a way to honor Belva (coin, stamp, park, national holiday, etc.) and then make an argument, using evidence from the text, to support their suggestions. The entire lesson and read aloud took 35 - 40 minutes.

[Linda]

In this time before our next presidential election, more news is appearing about candidates who are running, candidates who are already making bloopers in the news, and talk about who are really going to be the next frontrunners. In this book, Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen writes of the not-so-known story of Belva Lockwood, the first woman to run for president, even before women could vote. The story of her life is extraordinary, first to graduate as a lawyer, first to argue before the Supreme Court, and finally, first female presidential candidate. And she received votes! Controversy seemed always to be in Belva’s life, but she just kept pushing to gain what she knew was her right. It’s an inspiring story that hasn’t often been in history books. Courtney Martin’s full page illustrations of all the parts of Belva’s life and those expressions of dismay from both women and men show what Belva had to face.

[Samantha]

Long before Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin and Geraldine Ferraro, there was Belva Lockwood who ran for president before women could even vote. She also was the first woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court, she fought for the ability of the first black man to argue before the Supreme Court, and she represented the Eastern Cherokee Indian Nation over the "Trail of Tears" that they were forced to march and won them five million dollars. I had never heard of her until this book, but I think she's someone that everyone should know.

(Sadly, not a Smithie. She went to Genesee College, which is now Syracuse University.)

[Janice Durante]

Girls need inspiring true stories like this one. As a woman in 1884, Belva Lockwood might not have been allowed to vote, but that didn't stop her from running for president!
All her life, Belva defied society's restricted role for women and stayed true to her self. She found a way to earn a law degree and argued a case against the Supreme Court. And later, though people scoffed and laughed, she earned the respect and the votes of thousands of (male) citizens. Martin's expressive illustrations add to the appeal of this well-paced biography. An author's note, as well as a glossary, timeline, and bibliography, provide useful information for young report writers.

[Kate Hastings]

Hillary Clinton was not the first woman to run for President. Belva Lockwood ran for President before women even had the right to vote. The Constitution kept women from voting-- but it didn't say anything about nominating and voting FOR a woman to be President.

She was the first female lawyer, earning her degree at the age of 39. She spent the rest of her life fighting for women's rights-- and equality for all.

The only fault of the book was taking the analogy of "Moving Mountians" a little too far. Other than that, the content was very interesting, and the narrative smooth.

[Matthew]

This is a must have picture book biography. Not only does it chronicle the life of an otherwise unknown historical figure; it does so extensively and without allowing itself to be obscured by jargon or forgotten terminology. Its author note contains further information on the times from which Belva Lockwood came and how her impact affected the country. I was very impressed with the timeline of women's sufferage at the end. This book is among the finest works I've read this year in that regard. Truly outstanding.

[Pat Salvatini]

A wonderful picture book biography about Belva, a women of firsts. First women to graduate from National University Law School, first women to practice law in federal courts, first women to argue a case before the Supreme Court of the United States, first to ride around Washington, D.C. on a tricycle. She was also the first women to run for president AND receive votes, even when the law did not allow a women to vote. The book also features an author’s note, glossary, and brief time line of the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

[Michelle]

This book is amazing for many reasons.

First and foremost, the illustrations were fabulous. OK OK I might be a leetle biased (Courtney Martin is one of my best friends), but they are truly amazing spreads!

Secondly, I think that it is an important book for anyone to read due to the historical importance of Belva Lockwood running for president.


Seriously though. . . big golden one ton kudos for Courtney on her first book!