In 2020, the United States is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment which guaranteed and protected women's constitutional right to vote. To commemorate this anniversary the Special Collections and Archives gathered materials related to suffrage from its collections. This series contains letters, photographs, ephemeral materials, and speeches.
The suffrage collection included materials from the follow series:
Katherine Kennedy Brown Papers (MS-146)
Martha McClellan Brown Papers (MS-147)
For more information on these collections, please visit Wright State University Special Collections and Archives.
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20th Century Club Memento
Three small cardboard squares, 2” x 2”, tied together with yellow ribbon. Ink inscription: “Compliments of the 20th Century Club.” The first square contains an image of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The second square contains an image of Susan B. Anthony. The third square contains quotations from Stanton and Anthony.
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20th Century Club Ribbon
Ribbon, yellow silk with black lettering: “20th Century Club W.S.A.” 5.75” x 1.625”.
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National Woman Suffrage Association Ribbon
Ribbon, white silk with image of a woman (Columbia?) and lettering in black ink: “NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION.” 6.75” X 2.125”.
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Portrait of Martha McClellan Brown
G. H. Barnum
Portrait of Martha McClellan Brown wearing a hat. Verso of photo is stamped "G.H. Barnum, Artistic Portraits, 638 Race St., Opp Shillito's, Cincinnati, O. Telephone."
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Duties and Rights
Martha McClellan Brown
Martha McClellan Brown outlines her thoughts on the nature of rights and duties, the notion of moral development and the progress of democracy.
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Is Woman’s Executive Power Growing?
Martha McClellan Brown
Text of a talk arguing that as opportunities for women grow and women assume expanded roles in all walks of life, including business and politics, they must be granted the right to vote.
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Justitia Progressus Sum
Martha McClellan Brown
Celebrates the addition of Arizona, Michigan, Oregon and Kansas to the list of states that have granted women the right to vote. From the Club Woman’s Magazine.
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The Meaning of the Ballot – An Aftermath
Martha McClellan Brown
The text of an article written for the Guernsey Times. Martha McClellan Brown argues that the power to vote is necessary for the advancement of mankind and the common good. She further argues that until women achieve the right to vote the power of the vote can not be fully realized.
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Women’s Future
Martha McClellan Brown
Handwritten note outlining Brown’s thoughts on the future of women. She argues that the progress of women parallels that of men, and that women are ready to realize their full potential. The author is presumed to be Martha McClellan Brown.
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Women’s Rights
Martha McClellan Brown
Martha McClellan Brown gives historical context to the women’s movement, citing examples from Roman Law, canon law, and English common law, before discussing the current state of the women’s rights movement in the United States. After outlining common arguments against granting women the right to vote, she counters them and moves on to argue for equal rights for women in all areas.
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Portrait of William Kennedy Brown
Landy
Portrait of Rev. William Kennedy Brown by Landy, 208 Fourth St. Cincinnati, OH.
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Portrait of Martha McClellan Brown
J. J. McLain
Portrait of Martha McClellan Brown ca. 1860 by J.J. McLain, New Brighton, PA.
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Literature for Sale by The Ohio Woman Suffrage Association
Ohio Woman Suffrage Association
A list of books, pamphlets, flyers and posters for sale by the Ohio Woman Suffrage Association, Warren, Ohio.
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Thirtieth Ward. Ohio Woman Suffrage Association
Ohio Woman Suffrage Association
A list of the ward chairman and precinct leaders for the 30th ward (Cincinnati) of the Ohio Woman Suffrage Association.
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Why Homemakers Need the Ballot
Helen Train Tannehill
The text of a talk by Helen Train Tannehill discussing why homemakers need the right to vote.
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Constitution and By-Laws of the Twentieth Century Club
Twentieth Century Club
The Constitution and By-Laws of the Twentieth Century Club of Cincinnati, Ohio.
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Portrait of Martha McClellan Brown
Veeder
A portrait of Martha McClellan Brown taken by Veeder Photography Studio, 32 N. Pearl St. Albany, NY.
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Upton Study Club
Alma Kephart Wilson
A report in the Club Woman’s Magazine summarizing recent meetings of the Upton Study Club. Martha McClellan Brown served as president of the club at the time; the article was submitted by Alma Kephart Wilson, corresponding secretary.
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Proposed Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws of the National Woman's Party
A draft of proposed amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws of the National Woman's Party from the Third Congressional District. This draft includes several hand written notes editing the document. Also included are what appear to be a short statement regarding outlining the efforts of various Republicans officials and encouraging voters to vote for the Republicans in power
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Some May, Some May Not
A flyer that outlines what citizens of the United States are permitted to vote at the time.
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Speech "Liberation? Equal Rights is the better term"
Draft of a speech from Ruth Herr discussing the need for women to have both equal rights and equal pay for their efforts.
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The Married Teacher in the Dayton Schools
A booklet outlining the reasoning and the need for married teachers to be permitted to teach in Dayton Schools.
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The Menace of the Interstate Compact
A booklet warning of the possibility for support for an interstate labor compact from some potential political candidates. This labor compact would in effect establish a minimum wage law for women only.
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Why the Equal Rights Amendment?
A booklet detailing "sixty points of inequality" against women in the United States. The author argues in favor of a federal amendment to the United States Constitution calling for equal rights for men and women.
