"Votes for Women" postcard, from the collections of the Library of Congress.
One hundred years ago the passage of the 19th Amendment, establishing the constitutional right of women to vote, had a profound impact on our nation as a whole and within our communities. This achievement was a hard-won victory for generations of suffragettes and an important step towards equal voting rights for all. In celebration of this centennial, undergraduate student curators and librarians and McIntyre Library have created an online exhibit that celebrates the local history of the 19th Amendment. This online exhibit, created in Summer 2020, brings together documents and photos to tell the stories of Chippewa Valley women and the suffrage movement.
View the Online Exhibit: uwec.ly/nineteenth
The exhibit focuses on people and moments in the Chippewa Valley that help illustrate the local history of the women’s suffrage era. “Visit” the exhibit from the comfort of your home to learn about local women’s suffrage organizations, anti-suffrage sentiments, the Wisconsin 1912 referendum, women in WWI, and the winning of the vote. Explore this exhibit to reflect on the passage of the 19th Amendment and its significance for women then and now. As many of us prepare to cast our votes in the 2020 election, take a moment to look back at some of the stories of Chippewa Valley women who fought for (and against) women’s suffrage in the early 20th century.
