Suffragist Spotlight

By Sara Schliep, Archivist and Cataloger, Folger Shakespeare Library Gertrude Lynde Crocker was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on January 7, 1884 to

Advocate who Picketed for Women’s Voting Rights By Kathleen Bowen Simons November 19, 2021 Although my little sister and I called her Aunt Mary,

By Edith P. Mayo, Curator Emerita of the Smithsonian Museum of American History Phoebe Apperson Hearst played a major role in the suffrage movement

By Edith P. Mayo, Curator Emerita of the Smithsonian Museum of American History Alva Belmont, often referred to as Mrs. O.H. P. Belmont (1853-1933),

By Dr. C Elisabeth Palmer Johnson, Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Honorary Board Nellie May Quander, a native of Washington, DC, was the

By Nancy E. Tate, Co-chair, 2020 Women’s Vote Centennial Initiative Mary Morris Hall Lockwood’s suffrage work in Virginia included founding the

By Edith Mayo, for the Turning Point Suffragist website African American Women Leaders in the Suffrage Movement Terrell was a writer, educator,

By Liz Almlie, Historic Preservation Specialist, South Dakota State Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office Jane Elizabeth Van Meter

The first governor of the Territory of Alaska made his mark on suffrage history by putting his signature on legislation extending the right to vote

By Lynne Garvey-Hodge, Fairfax County History Commissioner, 2019 Dr. Kate Waller Barrett built a legacy of contributions to suffrage in Virginia and

By Liz Almlie, a member of the South Dakota League of Women Voters, and Historic Preservation Specialist with the State Historic Preservation Office.

By Sophie Meredith Sides Cowan, great granddaughter of Sophie Meredith In 1851 Sophie Gooding Rose was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts to John

Katharine Houghton Hepburn, mother of actress Katharine Hepburn, was an ardent suffragist and head of the Connecticut Woman’s Suffrage Association.

Lorena King Fairbank, who was a member of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae (ACA) and the Association of American University Women (AAUW) for

Maud Wood Park, née Maud Wood, (born Jan. 25, 1871, Boston, Mass., U.S.—died May 8, 1955, Melrose, Mass.), American suffragist whose lobbying

by Roxie Olmstead Many heroines from the suffragist movement made the right for women to vote for the first time in 1920 possible after ratification

A lifelong resident of Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to graduating from Cleveland Law School in 1912, Grossman served as a legal secretary for 16 years. In

Felice Cohn was born in Carson City, Nevada and graduated from Washington Law School. Cohn was one Nevada’s first women lawyers, admitted to the

Gertrude Weil was a lifelong resident of Goldsboro, North Carolina from a prominent family. She never married. Weil was inspired by Jewish teachings

Stokes was born in Augustova, Poland. At a young age Stokes moved with her mother to England where they lived with family in the slums. Due to the

Kohut became committed to women’s suffrage through her Jewish identity. She found that women in the Torah and Jewish women leaders of the past

Maud Nathan was an advocate for women’s rights and better conditions for working women. She was born into an old, privileged New York Sephardic

Selina Solomons devoted her life to women’s suffrage and was a key player with California passing its eighth amendment that granted women the right

By Cora B. Arney, Public History Consultant, Cincinnati, Ohio. Women’s Rights Journalist “Author, Traveler, Scholar.” These are the terms

By Lisa Giordano of Virginia NOW A dedicated activist who helped forge change in America’s political and economic inequalities, Dr. Caroline E.

A lifelong women’s rights advocate, author, and friend of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Matilda Joslyn Gage was born to physician

Organizer, writer, speaker and early supporter of a movement that would become the NAACP, Mary Morris Burnett was born in Oberlin, Ohio, to Cornelius

A national and state leader in the women’s suffrage movement, Anne Dallas was the daughter of a prominent Nashville family. She attended Ward

Although Frances Willard was known for her leadership in the temperance movement, she was also a prominent suffragist and social progressive who

The daughter of leading African-American abolitionists James and Charlotte Forten, Harriet Forten Purvis was a powerful 19th century voice for equal

Born into wealth and privilege in New York City in 1819, Julia Ward was a self-educated woman whose modern (considered by some to be radical) ideas

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was among the best known and most independent advocates for women’s rights of the 19th century. According to historian

One of the 20th century’s most powerful and celebrated advocates for civil rights and suffrage was born in 1875 on a cotton farm near Mayesville,

In 1848, she and James visited the Seneca Indian Reservation in upstate New York.  They both had been long time supporters of Native American

by Her Granddaughter Patricia McDonald On my maternal side, I am honored to have a grandmother who also was committed to a revolutionary cause—the

A teacher of physical culture from Buffalo, New York, Janet Fotheringham was 26 years old when she traveled to Washington to participate in the 1917

A native of England, Edith Ainge was from Jamestown, New York.  She came to the US as a child and was brought up in a family of nine brothers and

2004 (rev. 2014) Dear Christopher, I am writing to pass on to you what my family has told me about my grandmother’s contribution to the women’s

Katharine Rolston Fisher, Washington, D. C., native of Massachusetts. Great-great granddaughter of Artemas Ward, ranking Major General in

Maud Jamison of Norfolk, Virginia, was an active and inexhaustible participant in almost all of the key National Woman’s Party (NWP)

November 2015: Suffragist of the Month Meet Maud Wood Park (b. Jan. 25, 1871 – d. May 8, 1955), the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial

By Annie Schneiderman Valliere, grandniece of Rose Schneiderman Rose Schneiderman was born Rachel Schneiderman in Savin, Poland in 1882 and

Though born in Delaware, she considered herself a Philadelphian by the time she became active in the suffrage movement. After graduating from the

by Paige Hackett, her great, great, granddaughter Dorothy Jones was born June 12, 1870 in South Trenton, NY, to Edward G. Jones of Wales and Ann

Carrie Chapman Catt is one of the key leaders of the suffrage movement. She succeeded Susan B. Anthony as president of the National American Woman

Beatrice Reynolds Kinkead of Upper Lake, California, 100 miles North of San Francisco, was a continent away from the infamous Occoquan Workhouse in

Anna Julia Cooper was a prominent African American scholar and a strong supporter of suffrage through her teaching, writings and speeches. She was

Paula O. Jakobi, a New Yorker, was an active suffragist and playwright. Paula Owen married Leo C. Jakobi, a manufacturer. They had two daughters,

Maude Malone was a New York suffragist and an avid supporter of the campaign for a national woman’s suffrage amendment. Malone had little fear of

Amy Juengling, born and raised in Buffalo, NY, was active in the National Woman’s Party and participated in the NWP’s picketing of the Woodrow

Cora Week was an artist from New York City. She was engaged with the National Woman’s Party (NWP) at several key events. She was among those who

Formerly of Cincinnati, she lived in New York City and was a professional dancer. She came from a family in which duty to country was valued. Her

Dora Lewis was born in 1862 and was a member of a prominent Philadelphia family. While working with the National Woman’s Party she was among those

Natalie Gray was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1894 and was the daughter of the treasurer of Colorado branch of the National Woman’s Party

Julia Emory was a Maryland-born suffragist who was incredibly active in the National Woman’s Party (NWP) and the fight for women’s suffrage. She

Iris Calderhead was born in Marysville, Kansas in 1889. She was the daughter of William Alexander Calderhead, a U.S. Representative to Congress from

Edna Dixon was the daughter of a physician and public school teacher of Washington DC. She served the National Woman’s Party as a “Silent

Eunice Dana Brannan was a prominent suffragist, being the daughter of Charles A. Dana, who was the founder and editor of the “New York Sun” and a

By Melissa J. Harshman, Genealogist Ada Louise Davenport was born March 31, 1867 in Elk Creek, Pennsylvania. After her parents divorced, she moved

Julia Hurlbut of Morristown, New Jersey, became involved in the suffrage movement around 1915. Identifying with the radical wing of the movement, she

By Lynne Garvey-Hodge, Fairfax County History Commission and re-enactor portraying Amelia “Mimi” Walker Born the second of six children to

Vida Milholland contributed far more to gaining suffrage for American women than has been recognized. During her childhood, when she was called

Alice Paul was, arguably, the most influential individual in the fight for women’s rights of the 20th century. Born on January 11, 1885, Paul was

Dorothy Day (1897 – 1980) was born in Brooklyn, NY, and lived in San Francisco with her parents until the 1906 earthquake, and then in Chicago. Her

Camilla Gertrude Whitcomb (1860 – 1949) from Worcester, Massachusetts was a suffragist in her hometown and in DC with the National Woman’s Party.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Doris Stevens graduated from Oberlin College in 1911. She worked as a teacher and social worker in Ohio and Michigan before

Margaret Fay Whittemore from Detroit, Michigan was a devoted suffragist worker since 1914. Her Grandmother, a Quaker, started suffrage work in

Joy Young, of New York City, formerly of Washington, D.C. was Assistant Editor of “The Suffragist,” the weekly organ of the National Woman’s

Mary Winsor was from Haverford, Pennsylvania and came from a family of pioneer Quaker descent. She was educated at Drexel Institute of Philadelphia,

Abby Scott Baker, of Washington, D.C., came from a multi-generational military family. She was one of Alice Paul’s earliest associates and helped

Mrs. Sarah Tarleton Colvin, of St. Paul, Minn., was a member of the well known Tarleton family of Alabama. Her husband, Dr. A. R. Colvin, was a major

Mary H. Ingham of Philadelphia, PA and graduate from Bryn Mawr College in 1903, was Chairman of the Pennsylvania Branch of the National Woman’s

Kettler was a young Romanian who lived in New York City. She was arrested for picketing Sept., 1917, and sentenced to 30 days in Occoquan workhouse.

Miss Virginia Arnold, of North Carolina, was one of six pickets arrested in June of 1917 and was sentenced to three days in District jail after

Annie Arniel was among the first suffragists jailed for three days on June 27th, 1917, for picketing the White House – choosing prison rather than

Katharine A. Morey of Brookline, Mass., was an officer of the Massachusetts State Branch of the NWP. She was the daughter of NWP organizer and state

Minnie Quay of Salt Lake City, Utah, was arrested Nov. 10, 1917, while picketing the White House in Washington, D.C., and sentenced to 30 days in

Mrs. Mary A. Nolan of Jacksonville, Florida, was often described as one of the oldest suffragists active on NWP picket lines. Of Irish descent, Nolan

Born Ruza Wenclawska in Poland, Rose Winslow was brought to the United States as an infant with her immigrant parents. Winslow’s father worked as a

Often referred to as “Mrs. Lawrence Lewis” in suffrage literature, Dora Lewis was from an influential Philadelphia family. She was part of the

Lucy Gwynne Branham was born in Kempsville, Virginia, and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, the daughter of a suffrage activist and a physician. A

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Doris Stevens graduated from Oberlin College in 1911. She worked as a teacher and social worker in Ohio and Michigan before

Matilda Young of Washington, D.C., was the sister of NWP activist Joy Young. She worked full-time for suffrage for several years. She was the

Famously identified as “The Prettiest Picket,” writer and organizer Beulah Amidon was born in Fargo, North Dakota in 1895 to U.S. District Judge

Superbly-educated and multi-lingual, Mary Church Terrell was well-equipped to fight for suffrage on two fronts: gender and racial equality. The

Mrs. Helena Hill Weed of Norwalk, Conn., was a graduate of Vassar College and Montana School of Mines. She became one of the first women geologists.

Matilda Hall Gardner, of Washington, D.C., formerly of Chicago, was the daughter of Frederick Hall, editor of the Chicago Tribune, and wife of Gilson

Mary Gertrude Fendall of Baltimore, Md., campaigned for the National Woman’s Party in the West in 1916 and was national treasurer of the NWP June

Abby Scott Baker, of Washington, D.C., came from a multi-generational military family. She was one of Alice Paul’s earliest associates and helped

Mrs. Sarah Tarleton Colvin, of St. Paul, Minn., was a member of the well known Tarleton family of Alabama. Her husband, Dr. A. R. Colvin, was a major

Catherine Flanagan of Hartford, Conn., was a state and national organizer for the National Woman’s Party. She was formerly secretary for the Conn.

Florence Bayard Hilles, of Newcastle, Del., was the daughter of Thomas Bayard, American ambassador to Great Britain and secretary of state under

Maud Younger was among the NWP leaders who came from upper-class circumstances but identified with working-class life. She was an independently

Anna Kelton Wiley was born in Oakland, California in 1877. She graduated from George Washington University, Washington, DC, in 1897 and worked in

Sue Shelton White, of Jackson, Tenn., was state chairman of the National Woman’s Party and one of the editors of The Suffragist weekly newspaper.

Lucy Burns was a versatile and pivotal figure within the National Woman’s Party (NWP). With distinctive flame-red hair that matched her personality

Born in Nebraska, Rheta Childe Dorr earned a reputation as a disobedient child, sneaking out of the house to attend a suffragist rally held by

Alison Turnbull Hopkins of Morristown, N.J., was New Jersey state chairman of the National Woman’s Party and a member of the NWP executive

Lavinia Lloyd Dock was a nurse and social reformer born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1858. From a well-to-do family, she chose to train as a nurse

Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1874, suffragist and local activist Pauline Forstall Colclough Adams was living in Brunswick County, North Carolina, by

Anne Henrietta Martin was born into a large Irish-German family in Empire, Nevada, near Carson City. She was the daughter of a prominent Populist

Mabel Vernon was born in Wilmington, Delaware. Her father was editor and publisher of the Wilmington Daily Republican. Part of a large

Anita Lily Pollitzer was from Charleston, South Carolina, where her father worked as a cotton exporter and civic reformer. Her mother, Clara

Lillian Ascough of Detroit, Mich., served as the Connecticut State Chairman of the National Womens Party. She studied for the concert stage in London

Lucy Ewing, of Chicago, Illinois was the Chairman of the National Woman’s Party, who served a thirty day sentence in the Government Workhouse at

Kate Heffelfinger, of Shamokin, Pennsylvania, was an art student and NWP activist. She was sentenced to six months in District Jail for picketing