Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection

The Women’s Suffrage in Vermont Collection documents Vermonters’ efforts to obtain voting rights for women. With contributions from the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, the Leahy Library at the Vermont Historical Society, and Silver Special Collections at the University of Vermont, the collection focuses on the period from 1870 to 1920. The Women’s Suffrage in Vermont Collection include VESA annual meeting reports and correspondence, legislation, promotional materials such as broadsides and leaflets, and photographs. HISTORY In 1870, the Vermont Council of Censors proposed an amendment to the state constitution calling for full suffrage for women. A group of men formed the Vermont Woman Suffrage Association to support the amendment, which failed by a vote of 231 to 1 at the constitutional convention. Ten years later, taxpaying women did obtain the right to vote and hold office in school districts. The Vermont Woman Suffrage Association (VWSA) reorganized in 1884 and focused on achieving woman suffrage in municipal elections by introducing voting rights legislation, advocating in newspapers, and holding meetings and rallies with local and national speakers. The VWSA, which became the Vermont Equal Suffrage Association (VESA) in 1907, worked closely with the American Woman Suffrage Association, later the National American Woman Suffrage Association. Anti-suffragists formed the Vermont Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage in 1912, and by 1917, when the Vermont legislature passed a law that allowed taxpaying women to vote in local elections, the organization claimed over 5,000 members. VESA continued to push for full suffrage, and came close in 1919 when the legislature passed a bill allowing women to vote in presidential elections. Governor Clement refused to sign the bill, and the House of Representatives upheld his veto. After Congress passed the Nineteenth Amendment in 1919, VESA members campaigned vigorously to have the legislature consider state ratification, but Governor Clement refused to call a special session and the amendment was ratified in 1920 without Vermont’s support. With the right to vote obtained, VESA dissolved and the new Vermont League of Women Voters took on the task of educating Vermont women about civic responsibilities. FURTHER READING Clifford, Deborah P. The Drive for Women's Municipal Suffrage in Vermont 1883-1917. Vermont History 47, no. 3 (1979): 173-190. Clifford, Deborah P. An Invasion of Strong-Minded Women: The Newspapers and the Woman Suffrage Campaign in Vermont in 1870. Vermont History 43, no. 1 (1975): 1-19.

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Showing 11 - 20 of 104 Records

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Miniature of Harley Steward Hills to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
Harley Steward Hills to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
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    • Date Created: 1919-10-08
    • Description: Response of a legislator from Pittsford, Rutland County, who opposes a special session due to the high cost to the state and doesn't see the importance of such an action.
    • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
    Miniature of Charles L. Stuart to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
    Charles L. Stuart to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
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      • Date Created: 1919-10-05
      • Description: Response of a senator from Caledonia stating that he'll be out of state but would attend a special session if called.
      • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
      Miniature of Minutes of the 16th annual meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association. Waterbury Center, Vermont. June 12 and 13, 1900.
      Minutes of the 16th annual meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association. Waterbury Center, Vermont. June 12 and 13, 1900.
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        • Creator: Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association
        • Date Created: 1900
        • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
        Miniature of Twentieth Annual Report of Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association and Minutes of the Convention held at Woodstock, Vermont, Wednesday Evening and Thursday, June 22 and 23, 1904.
        Twentieth Annual Report of Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association and Minutes of the Convention held at Woodstock, Vermont, Wednesday Evening and Thursday, June 22 and 23, 1904.
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          • Creator: Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association
          • Date Created: 1904
          • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
          Miniature of Twenty-First Annual Report of Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association and Minutes of the Annual Convention at Springfield, Vermont, Wednesday Evening and Thursday, June Seven and Eight, 1905.
          Twenty-First Annual Report of Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association and Minutes of the Annual Convention at Springfield, Vermont, Wednesday Evening and Thursday, June Seven and Eight, 1905.
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            • Creator: Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association
            • Date Created: 1905
            • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
            Miniature of Minutes of the Fifteenth Annual Meeting of The Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association. Held At Bellows Falls, Vermont, June 1 and 2, 1899.
            Minutes of the Fifteenth Annual Meeting of The Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association. Held At Bellows Falls, Vermont, June 1 and 2, 1899.
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              • Creator: Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association
              • Date Created: 1899
              • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
              Miniature of Lisa M. Wilkinson to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
              Lisa M. Wilkinson to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
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                • Date Created: 1919-09-08
                • Description: Wilkinson warns that there will be an upcoming meeting of the board and states that while she likes the idea of a suffrage conference with a national speaker, she can't commit to working on a conference due to family commitments. She discusses Greely, Hale, and Spargo as potential speakers.
                • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
                Miniature of Carrie Chapman Catt to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
                Carrie Chapman Catt to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
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                  • Date Created: 1919-10-02
                  • Description: Catt tells Olzendam that her work has brought good results and bodes well for a special session of the legislature, discusses the possibility of Governor Clement changing his attitude, and states that the Republican party is pushing for ratification.
                  • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
                  Miniature of Marion R. Horton to Annette W. Parmelee
                  Marion R. Horton to Annette W. Parmelee
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                    • Date Created: 1919-09-12
                    • Description: Horton responds that she was unaware of Parmelee's appointment because she feels isolated from other officers and Vermonters, declares that the next VESA president should be a "real Vermonter," and praises Parmelee on her conference paper.
                    • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
                    Miniature of Silas Carl Carpenter to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
                    Silas Carl Carpenter to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
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                      • Date Created: 1919-10_01
                      • Description: Response of a legislator for Richford, Franklin County who has already written to the Governor once and doesn't want to press the issue further. He agrees to attend the special session without expense to the State.
                      • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection