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Photos: Women won the right to vote on Aug. 18, 1920, and Wisconsin had a starring role
- Teryl Franklin
- Updated
When the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, was ratified in 1920, Wisconsin played a starring role in the effort: it was the first state to ratify the measure on June 10, 1919. The last of the required 36 states ratified it on Aug. 18, 1920.
The women's suffrage movement worked diligently in Wisconsin for many years before ratification. And the Wisconsin State Journal chronicled its evolution. Here's a look at scenes from the state's suffrage movement.
Suffrage in Milwaukee
Suffragist members of the Political Equality League in Milwaukee ride in an early Ford automobile draped with bunting reading "Votes for Women" in this undated photo. In the front seat is Mrs. B.C. Gudden. In the back seat, left to right, are Ruth Fitch, Bertha Pratt King and Helen Mann.
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 7679'Bloomer Girls' support 'Votes for Women,' 1903
Ada James (kneeling, far right), of Richland Center, Wisconsin, with friends who support women's suffrage in 1903. They are dressed as "Bloomer Girls" and hold a sign proclaiming "Votes for Women."
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 9381Women's suffrage a 'danger,' 1912
An anti-women's suffrage poster from 1912 reads, "Danger! Women's Suffrage would double the irresponsible vote! It is a menace to the Home, Men's Employment and All Business!"
Wisonsin Historical Society Image 1932Ada James and women's suffrage supporters, ca. 1911
Ada Lois James, center, with other women's suffrage supporters around 1911 or 1912. James, of Richland Center, was a leader of the women's suffrage movement in Wisconsin and president of the Political Equality League.Â
Wisconsin Historical Society Image ID 1991Women's Suffrage in Wisconsin campaign, 1912
Maud McCreery speaking from the back seat of a car in 1912 during a Women's Suffrage in Wisconsin campaign. McCreery was a women's suffrage activist who worked as a county organizer for the Political Equality League.
Wisconsin Historical Society image 115814Milwaukee suffrage office, 1912
Two women sit at desks with typewriters in the Milwaukee Women's Suffrage office. A calendar on the wall indicates it is June 1912. Another poster advertises speakers in support of women's suffrage and a suffrage automobile.Â
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 89662Suffragists on the Wolf River, 1912
Suffragists sit aboard the Mary E. dockside on the Wolf River in 1912. The boat sports a banner reading "Votes for Women."
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 7667Oshkosh Equal Suffrage League, 1912
Members of the Oshkosh Equal Suffrage League participate in their 4th of July parade in 2012. In November of that year, the state would reject a women's suffrage referendum, but seven years later the state would be the first to ratify the 19th Amendment.
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 5157Wisconsin women for suffrage, 1913
Wisconsin women participate in the first national suffrage parade in 1913 in Washington, D.C., seeking the right to vote.
Library of CongressTending to a nursery, 1914
Thirteen children ranging from toddlers to early elementary school-age, are tended in 1914 by women in the playroom of a nursery run by the Kenosha County Equal Suffrage League.
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 24521Campaigning from a car, 1915
Rachel S. Jastrow campaigns for women's suffrage in 1915 from the back of an automobile with a banner reading "Votes for Women."
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 36547Belle Case La Follette addressing farmers, 1915
Belle Case La Follette, wife of Robert "Fighting Bob" La Follette, addresses a group of farmers in Blue Mounds during a tour on the Chautauqua circuit during which she frequently spoke about woman suffrage.
Wisconsin Historical Society, image 2415On Wisconsin flag, 1915
Theodora Youmans, president of the Wisconsin Woman Suffrage Association, holds a Wisconsin flag in front of a painted backdrop in 1915.
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 1927Women's suffrage headquarters, 1918
A group of women including Ada James, in checked dress at center, at the suffrage headquarters. A map of Wisconsin hangs on the wall at right and another map, possibly Minnesota, hangs behind James. A calendar on the wall indicates it was June of 1918.
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 79312Women guaranteed right to vote, 1919
Suffragettes surround former Wisconsin state Sen. David G. James, R-Richland Center, in 1919 as he holds Wisconsin's ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. James delivered the resolution to Washington, ensuring the state would be recognized as the first to ratify the women's suffrage amendment.
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 35075Suffrage in Milwaukee
Suffragist members of the Political Equality League in Milwaukee ride in an early Ford automobile draped with bunting reading "Votes for Women" in this undated photo. In the front seat is Mrs. B.C. Gudden. In the back seat, left to right, are Ruth Fitch, Bertha Pratt King and Helen Mann.
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 7679'Bloomer Girls' support 'Votes for Women,' 1903
Ada James (kneeling, far right), of Richland Center, Wisconsin, with friends who support women's suffrage in 1903. They are dressed as "Bloomer Girls" and hold a sign proclaiming "Votes for Women."
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 9381Women's suffrage a 'danger,' 1912
An anti-women's suffrage poster from 1912 reads, "Danger! Women's Suffrage would double the irresponsible vote! It is a menace to the Home, Men's Employment and All Business!"
Wisonsin Historical Society Image 1932Ada James and women's suffrage supporters, ca. 1911
Ada Lois James, center, with other women's suffrage supporters around 1911 or 1912. James, of Richland Center, was a leader of the women's suffrage movement in Wisconsin and president of the Political Equality League.Â
Wisconsin Historical Society Image ID 1991Women's Suffrage in Wisconsin campaign, 1912
Maud McCreery speaking from the back seat of a car in 1912 during a Women's Suffrage in Wisconsin campaign. McCreery was a women's suffrage activist who worked as a county organizer for the Political Equality League.
Wisconsin Historical Society image 115814Milwaukee suffrage office, 1912
Two women sit at desks with typewriters in the Milwaukee Women's Suffrage office. A calendar on the wall indicates it is June 1912. Another poster advertises speakers in support of women's suffrage and a suffrage automobile.Â
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 89662Suffragists on the Wolf River, 1912
Suffragists sit aboard the Mary E. dockside on the Wolf River in 1912. The boat sports a banner reading "Votes for Women."
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 7667Oshkosh Equal Suffrage League, 1912
Members of the Oshkosh Equal Suffrage League participate in their 4th of July parade in 2012. In November of that year, the state would reject a women's suffrage referendum, but seven years later the state would be the first to ratify the 19th Amendment.
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 5157Tending to a nursery, 1914
Thirteen children ranging from toddlers to early elementary school-age, are tended in 1914 by women in the playroom of a nursery run by the Kenosha County Equal Suffrage League.
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 24521Campaigning from a car, 1915
Rachel S. Jastrow campaigns for women's suffrage in 1915 from the back of an automobile with a banner reading "Votes for Women."
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 36547Suffrage in Milwaukee
Suffragist members of the Political Equality League in Milwaukee ride in an early Ford automobile draped with bunting reading "Votes for Women" in this undated photo. In the front seat is Mrs. B.C. Gudden. In the back seat, left to right, are Ruth Fitch, Bertha Pratt King and Helen Mann.
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 7679'Bloomer Girls' support 'Votes for Women,' 1903
Ada James (kneeling, far right), of Richland Center, Wisconsin, with friends who support women's suffrage in 1903. They are dressed as "Bloomer Girls" and hold a sign proclaiming "Votes for Women."
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 9381Women's suffrage a 'danger,' 1912
An anti-women's suffrage poster from 1912 reads, "Danger! Women's Suffrage would double the irresponsible vote! It is a menace to the Home, Men's Employment and All Business!"
Wisonsin Historical Society Image 1932Ada James and women's suffrage supporters, ca. 1911
Ada Lois James, center, with other women's suffrage supporters around 1911 or 1912. James, of Richland Center, was a leader of the women's suffrage movement in Wisconsin and president of the Political Equality League.Â
Wisconsin Historical Society Image ID 1991Women's Suffrage in Wisconsin campaign, 1912
Maud McCreery speaking from the back seat of a car in 1912 during a Women's Suffrage in Wisconsin campaign. McCreery was a women's suffrage activist who worked as a county organizer for the Political Equality League.
Wisconsin Historical Society image 115814Milwaukee suffrage office, 1912
Two women sit at desks with typewriters in the Milwaukee Women's Suffrage office. A calendar on the wall indicates it is June 1912. Another poster advertises speakers in support of women's suffrage and a suffrage automobile.Â
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 89662Suffragists on the Wolf River, 1912
Suffragists sit aboard the Mary E. dockside on the Wolf River in 1912. The boat sports a banner reading "Votes for Women."
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 7667Oshkosh Equal Suffrage League, 1912
Members of the Oshkosh Equal Suffrage League participate in their 4th of July parade in 2012. In November of that year, the state would reject a women's suffrage referendum, but seven years later the state would be the first to ratify the 19th Amendment.
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 5157Wisconsin women for suffrage, 1913
Wisconsin women participate in the first national suffrage parade in 1913 in Washington, D.C., seeking the right to vote.
Library of CongressTending to a nursery, 1914
Thirteen children ranging from toddlers to early elementary school-age, are tended in 1914 by women in the playroom of a nursery run by the Kenosha County Equal Suffrage League.
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 24521Campaigning from a car, 1915
Rachel S. Jastrow campaigns for women's suffrage in 1915 from the back of an automobile with a banner reading "Votes for Women."
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 36547Belle Case La Follette addressing farmers, 1915
Belle Case La Follette, wife of Robert "Fighting Bob" La Follette, addresses a group of farmers in Blue Mounds during a tour on the Chautauqua circuit during which she frequently spoke about woman suffrage.
Wisconsin Historical Society, image 2415On Wisconsin flag, 1915
Theodora Youmans, president of the Wisconsin Woman Suffrage Association, holds a Wisconsin flag in front of a painted backdrop in 1915.
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 1927Women's suffrage headquarters, 1918
A group of women including Ada James, in checked dress at center, at the suffrage headquarters. A map of Wisconsin hangs on the wall at right and another map, possibly Minnesota, hangs behind James. A calendar on the wall indicates it was June of 1918.
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 79312Women guaranteed right to vote, 1919
Suffragettes surround former Wisconsin state Sen. David G. James, R-Richland Center, in 1919 as he holds Wisconsin's ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. James delivered the resolution to Washington, ensuring the state would be recognized as the first to ratify the women's suffrage amendment.
Wisconsin Historical Society Image 35075
Teryl Franklin
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