Exhibit Shows Colorado’s Legacy of Women’s Suffrage

A new exhibit at the Byers-Evans House Museum tells the story of women’s voting rights in Colorado in tandem with the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.

By Meredith Sell • March 3, 2020

Whenever Colorado granted ladies the ability to vote in 1893, it became the first state to expand suffrage into the “weaker intercourse” by state referendum. The question ended up being posed to male voters on the November ballot, and relating to historian Gail Beaton in her own guide, Colorado ladies, the votes came ultimately back: 35,698 in favor, 29,462 opposed.

It wasn’t until 27 years later on that all of those other national nation observed suit by moving the nineteenth Amendment.

The Center for Colorado Women’s History is unveiling a new exhibit, Bold Women to celebrate 100 years of the 19th Amendment. Change History., within the carriage household associated with Byers-Evans home Museum on Saturday, March 7. The display, that may remain up for approximately a 12 months, informs the story of women’s suffrage in Colorado, showcasing figures that are key promotions that resulted in the fateful 1893 ballot measure.

“Newspapers had been a big section of passing women’s suffrage, ” claims Jillian Allison, manager associated with Center for Colorado Women’s History. “Most regarding the women that were tangled up in our businesses had been additionally authors in certain capability, so they really had the ability to persuade individuals by doing so. ”

There clearly was Caroline Nichols Churchill, editor regarding the Queen Bee, A colorado that is feminist paper. Elizabeth Ensley, a suffragist that is african-american Denver, composed for The Woman’s Era, a book of this nationwide Association of Colored Women’s Clubs. “Through Elizabeth Ensley’s writing, we’ve been capable of finding down more details about a few http://www.koreanbrides.net of the African-American ladies who had been really involved, ” Allison claims, pointing down that Colorado’s biggest suffrage company had been incorporated, unique for the period of time.

Maybe many well-known in Colorado’s suffrage movement ended up being Ellis Meredith.

“They called her the Susan B. Anthony of Colorado at that time, ” claims Shaun Boyd, curator of archives at History Colorado.

A reporter when it comes to Rocky Mountain Information, Meredith became matching assistant for the Colorado Nonpartisan Equal Suffrage Association and exchanged letters with nationwide suffrage leaders such as the real Susan B. Anthony and Carrie Chapman Catt. After women’s suffrage passed away in Colorado, Meredith decided to go to work with the Party that is democratic in, D.C., plus the nationwide girl Suffrage Association.

A reporter for the Rocky hill Information, Ellis Meredith played a role that is key Colorado’s battle for women’s suffrage. Picture due to History Colorado

The display shows these individuals, amongst others, as well as includes a ballot through the 1893 election (pictured above) and a ballot package from that age. Visitors can understand how counties that are different regarding the measure and read a page Susan B. Anthony published congratulating the ladies of Colorado for winning suffrage by popular vote.

Element of an effort that is statewide commemorate the 100th anniversary of this nineteenth Amendment, Bold ladies. Change History. Looks beyond Colorado’s 1893 story to show how Colorado suffrage leaders went on to influence the rest of the national nation, while acknowledging that Jim Crow along with other laws and regulations extended disenfranchisement of African-Americans, Native Us americans, as well as other populations.

The display shares its title having a presenter show hosted by History Colorado that kicked down last September and has now showcased such numbers as astronaut Susan Helms and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Dolores Huerta. Six more speakers are slated for this system through the remainder with this 12 months, including Gale Norton, 1st female Secretary of this Interior, and women’s suffrage scholars Dawn Teele and Sally Roesch Wagner, who’ll deal with attendees of this Bold ladies. Change History. Summit happening in might (tickets available on the internet ). Together, these programs make an effort to encourage today’s residents to action that, just like the efforts regarding the very very early suffragists, could alter communities for the greater.

In the event that you get: Bold Ladies. Change History. Starts to your public on March 7 into the carriage household associated with Byers-Evans home Museum on 1310 Bannock St. Admission is free.

The 2020 Colorado Winter Mountain Gu By Staff