1920

VOTING RIGHTS TIME CAPSULE

ANXIOUS TO VOTE: STUDENTS, WORKERS AND THE FIGHT FOR WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE

A curriculum and public education project, 2020

Explore the contents of this fictional 1920 voting rights time capsule which is meant to represent the work of students of Ida and Josephine Hall, long-time educators and activists in the industrial city of Waltham, Massachusetts. The documents and characters are true to history, but the captions are fictional.

Before “opening” the time capsule,

Look closely at the time capsule box. “Inside,” you will find five bundles of objects and documents.

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Contents of the Time Capsule

Women across the country finally won access to the ballot box in 1920 with the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“The rights of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be abridged or denied by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

”
— 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, 1920

A great army of women in towns and cities across the nation campaigned for nearly a century to win the right to vote. The task was challenging. Suffragists had to persuade men, who possessed all the political power, to share it.

“Unwrap” each bundle for students’ and workers’ perspectives on the struggle for women’s suffrage, or the right to vote in political elections.

ABOUT US

Young people bring energy, creativity and exposure to the long struggle for equal voting rights.

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Young women like Florence Luscomb inspired students and workers across Massachusetts to fight for equal rights.
Young women like Florence Luscomb inspired students and workers across Massachusetts to fight for equal rights.

“As those of us who have been working for suffrage for years grow older and more tired, it is a great comfort to know that there are brave young women coming on to fill up the ranks.” Alice Stone Blackwell to Florence Luscomb, Jan 27, 1910.
Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.

Some young people work in factories during the day and go to school at night. In the streets and in civics class with teachers like Ida Hall, they learn about democratic government.
Some young people work in factories during the day and go to school at night. In the streets and in civics class with teachers like Ida Hall, they learn about democratic government.

“As the workers came out at noon we gave out the bills and announced speaking at half past…. The audience was there ready to be entertained, often sympathetic in advance.” — Florence Luscomb.
”Their knowledge of public affairs is astonishing.” —Ida Hall.
Postcard: Waltham Historical Society

Night school students formed political clubs with the help of teachers like Ida Hall.
Night school students formed political clubs with the help of teachers like Ida Hall.

“Under the old thought a girl must marry, keep house, bear children and live a life of servitude to them and to her husband. Now, she is often broad-minded and well educated and possesses all of the qualifications required of men who vote. Why, then, should she not vote?” Sarah Gorney, Russian immigrant, age 25. The Boston Globe, May 5, 1902, p. 3.

Some Waltham High School students showed their support for women's suffrage with yellow roses.
Some Waltham High School students showed their support for women's suffrage with yellow roses.

“One day [Latin teacher Ms. Josephine Hall] brought yellow roses which she distributed…to those who claimed an uncorruptible faith in woman suffrage.”

Hannah Webster, age 17, “History of the Class of 1919,” Waltham Mirror, 1919, p. 152. Waltham Public Library

Activists young and old work together on the fight for equality.
Activists young and old work together on the fight for equality.

Here, Florence Luscomb, teachers Ida and Josephine Hall, and other suffragists took over the local paper. When Luscomb was a student in college, “any notices of the suffrage meetings put up on the bulletin boards were immediately torn down.”

"Suffragette" was a word used to mock suffragists, especially the more militant suffragists in England.
"Suffragette" was a word used to mock suffragists, especially the more militant suffragists in England.

Florence Luscomb’s valentine to her mother, 1910. Luscomb Collection, Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.

Many students learn new languages to get by at work, school and home. To reach all families, suffragists know they need to speak multiple languages.
Many students learn new languages to get by at work, school and home. To reach all families, suffragists know they need to speak multiple languages.

“PERCHE le donne sono cittadine di un governo DEL popolo, DAL popolo, e PEL popolo, E LE DONNE FANNO PARTE DEL POPOLO.” Women’s suffrage leaflet in Italian. Florence Luscomb Papers. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.

Lessons in civics take on a special meaning when working long hours in dangerous conditions for little pay.
Lessons in civics take on a special meaning when working long hours in dangerous conditions for little pay.

“A man and woman are working at the same piece of work, obtain the same results and spend an equal time on it, but when paying time comes, the woman’s salary is just half or one third of the man’s. Why? Because she is a woman and can’t help herself and he is a man and can vote.” — A Girl of 12 quoted in the Waltham Evening News, March 17, 1913.

Photo: Spinning Room, Cornell Mill, Fall River, Mass. by Lewis Hine, 1912. National Child Labor Committee Collection, Library of Congress.

Some students have to work to support their families.
Some students have to work to support their families.

“[In the] Evening Schools…. The chief subject of instruction is the English language, but some attention is given to civics, particularly for children of foreign birth.” —Margaret Hutton Abels, From School to Work, 1917.

DEMOCRACY

In civics class at school, students learn about rights and obligations of citizens. Often they see how the ideals of democracy do not line up with reality.

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"All men are created equal" is a concept central to American democracy.
"All men are created equal" is a concept central to American democracy.

The great-great-grandfather of Ethel Paine of Waltham was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. She supported equal rights for women, workers and African-Americans. Library of Congress.

Brave suffragists were the first to protest in front of the White House.
Brave suffragists were the first to protest in front of the White House.

Library of Congress

In Ancient History class with Josephine Hall, students learn about the long history of democracy.
In Ancient History class with Josephine Hall, students learn about the long history of democracy.

Library of Congress.

African-American women have an especially difficult battle.
African-American women have an especially difficult battle.

Waltham’s Emma Jennings, a formerly enslaved woman who worked for a family of suffragists, left no record of her own thoughts on voting rights. The Crisis, May 1916.

Some women suffragists stooped to low levels to convince men in power that women are worthy of this basic right of U.S. citizenship.
Some women suffragists stooped to low levels to convince men in power that women are worthy of this basic right of U.S. citizenship.

“They Alone Cannot Vote. Imbeciles, children, women, criminals. These are the disenfranchised.” — Women’s Journal, March 13, 1915. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University

Young working women and college women found common ground at this important mass meeting organized by teacher Ida Hall.
Young working women and college women found common ground at this important mass meeting organized by teacher Ida Hall.

“A mass meeting 140 years ago had founded a great nation but had left great injustices and inequalities.” — Ida Hall (shown wearing a necktie). Boston Herald, April 17, 1901

PEACEFUL PROTEST

When people cannot access the ballot box, they find other ways to be heard. In the newspapers, on city streets, in hot air balloons and parade floats, activists raise their voices to fight for suffrage.

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When she came to Waltham to work as an artist, architect and activist, Florence Luscomb brought creative new ways of winning public support.
When she came to Waltham to work as an artist, architect and activist, Florence Luscomb brought creative new ways of winning public support.

“Our leaflets are unpacked, our flag erected, we borrow a Moxie [soda] box…and proceed to the busiest corner of the town square. Our chief mounts the box, the banner over her shoulder and starts talking to the air…. Within ten minutes our audience has increased from twenty-five to five hundred.” Florence Luscomb, “Open Air Campaigning,” ca. 1909. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.

Young suffragists found their public voice.
Young suffragists found their public voice.

“I had always thought that there were a few cranks pushing [women’s suffrage]. But that night I saw that it was earnest, intelligent, refined women, who had convictions and were not afraid to stand up and say so.” A Boston shopkeeper to Florence Luscomb, “Open Air Campaigning,” ca. 1909.

Florence, her mother and her friend Margaret marched in the first massive organized political protest in Washington, D.C., the day before a presidential inauguration.
Florence, her mother and her friend Margaret marched in the first massive organized political protest in Washington, D.C., the day before a presidential inauguration.

“At the outset, I decided to use no militant methods whatsoever.” — Margaret Foley, Boston Post, Oct 1, 1911.
The mistreatment of parade marchers and their inadequate protection made newspaper headlines in every state. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.

Using banners, floats and new forms of transportation, activists broadcast their ideas far and wide.
Using banners, floats and new forms of transportation, activists broadcast their ideas far and wide.

“[Parades] were some of the most effective bits of propaganda…. Just why seeing women walk down the street in parade should convince men to vote is a mystery, but it did so by the thousands.” —Florence Luscomb, Oral History, 1973. Photo: Waltham Historical Society.

Women posted 100,000 copies of Florence's artwork in shop windows and on telephone poles, barns and fences across the state. They even dressed up as bluebirds!
Women posted 100,000 copies of Florence's artwork in shop windows and on telephone poles, barns and fences across the state. They even dressed up as bluebirds!

“Everywhere we tacked up our “Votes for Women” bluebirds, occasionally stopping a farmer to ask him to assist us in wielding the hammer. I am sorry to relate that many a man seemed to have no knack in assisting.” Boston Globe, Aug 15, 1915.
Tin suffrage bluebird sign, 1915. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Florence's friend Margaret dropped thousands of suffrage leaflets in many languages over the mills of Lawrence, Massachusetts, from a hot air balloon!
Florence's friend Margaret dropped thousands of suffrage leaflets in many languages over the mills of Lawrence, Massachusetts, from a hot air balloon!

“No state was ever carried for suffrage until it was sown ankle deep with leaflets” — Florence Luscomb. Image: Margaret Foley Collection, Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.

Suffrage flag, 1913-1920

Suffrage flag, 1913-1920

DEBATE

Outside of civics class, students see arguments for and against women’s rights in many forms of media.

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Waltham’s Evelyn Sears was a leader in the powerful anti-suffrage movement in Massachusetts.
Waltham’s Evelyn Sears was a leader in the powerful anti-suffrage movement in Massachusetts.

Boston Globe, April 4, 1913.

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Sadly, some suffragists compromised their own values and beliefs to win over anti-suffragists (male and female).
Sadly, some suffragists compromised their own values and beliefs to win over anti-suffragists (male and female).

Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College.

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Women won over influential men in private conversations about shared causes such as world peace.
Women won over influential men in private conversations about shared causes such as world peace.

Pro-suffrage women like Helen Keller and Robert Treat Paine’s daughter Ethel were dedicated pacifists. Woman’s Journal, May 16, 1896, p. 156. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.

Workers trust fellow workers like labor leader Mary Kenney O'Sullivan to look out for their best interest.
Workers trust fellow workers like labor leader Mary Kenney O'Sullivan to look out for their best interest.

[1915-1917], Ann Lewis Women’s Suffrage Collection. From the collection of Ann Lewis and Mike Sponder.

LEGISLATION

What does it take to change the law? Winning over public opinion is important, but not enough. Determined suffragists also fought a long legal battle for women’s voting rights.

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Laws prevented women from holding important government positions.
Laws prevented women from holding important government positions.

A local law in Waltham, Mass., stated that “the Inspector of Buildings and his assistants shall be competent men.”
The Boston Globe, Jan 7, 1913, p. 1.

Year after year, Waltham lawyer Amy Acton and others tirelessly presented bill after bill to the Massachusetts state legislature.
Year after year, Waltham lawyer Amy Acton and others tirelessly presented bill after bill to the Massachusetts state legislature.

“Legislators listen to voters. Women must become voters.” Leaflet drafted by Florence Luscomb, ca. 1912. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.

Generations of women worked to secure the right to vote in state elections and learned to show their progress through persuasive maps.
Generations of women worked to secure the right to vote in state elections and learned to show their progress through persuasive maps.

Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College

Work at the state level paid off when it came time for the men in the U.S. House and Senate to ratify the constitutional amendment.
Work at the state level paid off when it came time for the men in the U.S. House and Senate to ratify the constitutional amendment.

Here, Florence Luscomb paints in Tennessee, the 36th and final state needed to pass the 19th Amendment. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.

In 1919, Massachusetts and 35 others ratified the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution thanks to a dramatic change in strategy.
In 1919, Massachusetts and 35 others ratified the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution thanks to a dramatic change in strategy.

Just a few years earlier, suffragists switched from the slow strategy of changing voting laws in every state to focus instead on changing federal law.
Courtesy of the Massachusetts Archives.

1920—the year women won the vote—marks a major milestone in American democracy. But there is a long, long road ahead.
1920—the year women won the vote—marks a major milestone in American democracy. But there is a long, long road ahead.

1920

Library of Congress

Library of Congress

Banner image: Waltham Historical Society. Title image: Library of Congress.

“Anxious to Vote: Students, Workers and the Fight for Women’s Suffrage” is a curriculum and public education project developed in partnership by Stonehurst the Robert Treat Paine Estate and Waltham Public Schools in commemoration of the national suffrage centennial in 2020. STONEHURST is a National Historic Landmark owned by the City of Waltham. The once-private estate of generous social justice advocates whose ancestors helped establish the democratic foundations of this country is now appropriately owned by the people.

The Friends of Stonehurst received support for this program through “The Vote: A Statewide Conversation about Voting Rights,” a special initiative of Mass Humanities that includes organizations around the state. Our team includes Waltham History Department Chair Derek Vandegrift; Stonehurst Curator Ann Clifford; Kenneth Borter and the Waltham 8th-grade civics team; and consulting scholars Kathleen Banks Nutter, Barbara Berenson and Allison Horrocks.

This program is funded in part by Mass Humanities, which receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and is an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.