#19SuffrageStories

2020 has turned out to be quite a year of unexpected events. It has also been a time of reflection, homage, and being called to action. With that said, it is fitting that this year commemorates the 100^th year anniversary of the passage of the 19^th Amendment.  The 19^th Amendment granted the right for women in the United States of America to vote and further protected their voting freedoms, constitutionally.

What began with the very courageous and steadfast Suffragists in the 1800s at the women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York, developed into a movement that emphasized the importance of intersectionality as applied to voting freedoms and other Constitutional rights that were not granted to all people. Although the fight for equality did not stop after the ratification of the 19^th Amendment, we acknowledge and uplift the work done by the brave women involved. We are familiar with the names of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, but what of the many other names that we do not know?

To honor this important and momentous anniversary, The Smithsonian, Library of Congress and National Archives are kicking off their #19SuffrageStories campaign to highlight and pay tribute to women who paved the way for the millions women who are able to vote today!

To celebrate with them, we are honored to continue sharing local stories of women who contributed to the Suffragist movement and the course of history overall here in our town of Springfield, MA with our exhibit Voices of Resilience: The Intersection of Women on the Move. Check out the link to the exhibit to learn more about these unsung heroes.

Be sure to tune into our social media platforms as we share stories of these Suffragists and come visit our Voices of Resilience  exhibit located in the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts building on the first floor!

Savannah Taylor is a member of the Marketing Team at the Springfield Museums. A recent graduate of Syracuse University, Taylor studied African American history and communications. She is a life-long Springfield resident.

The Springfield Museums is a Smithsonian Affiliate. Our Smithsonian affiliation made possible through the generous support of the MassMutual Foundation.