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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Miniature of Minutes of the Eleventh Annual Meeting of The Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association Held in the Congregational Church, Peacham, Vt., Thursday Evening and Friday, June 27 and 28, 1895.
Minutes of the Eleventh Annual Meeting of The Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association Held in the Congregational Church, Peacham, Vt., Thursday Evening and Friday, June 27 and 28, 1895.
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    • Creator: Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association
    • Date Created: 1895
    • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
    Miniature of Minutes of the Thirteenth Annual Meeting of The Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association Held at Burlington, Vt., June 14 and 15, 1897.
    Minutes of the Thirteenth Annual Meeting of The Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association Held at Burlington, Vt., June 14 and 15, 1897.
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      • Creator: Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association
      • Date Created: 1897
      • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
      Miniature of Ira A. Belknap to Lillian H. Olzendam
      Ira A. Belknap to Lillian H. Olzendam
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        • Date Created: 1919-10-23
        • Description: Representative Belknap of Cavendish responds that he is not in favor of a special legislative session for ratification. [Response is written on bottom of original request from Olzendam]
        • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
        Miniature of Charles H. Parmelee to Lillian H. Olzendam
        Charles H. Parmelee to Lillian H. Olzendam
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          • Date Created: 1919-10-24
          • Description: Representative Parmelee of Wilmington replies that he is sympathetic to equal suffrage but does not believe the Governor is warranted in calling a special session for that purpose.
          • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
          Miniature of Marshall E. Calkins to Lillian H. Olzendam
          Marshall E. Calkins to Lillian H. Olzendam
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            • Date Created: 1919-10-25
            • Description: Representative Calkins of Westmore responds that he is not in favor of a special session without recompence for the legislators, and feels that "when the women pay a poll tax and take the freeman oath then they should have equal rights with man." [Written on back of blank petition form sent originally from Olzendam]
            • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
            Miniature of Annette W. Parmelee to Ida H. Harper
            Annette W. Parmelee to Ida H. Harper
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              • Date Created: 1919-11-21
              • Description: Parmelee writes Mrs. Ida Harper of New York City that she had just finished writing fifty pages for the suffrage history when she received Harper‚Äôs suggestions, and that she will do a rewrite after other obligations have been completed.
              • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
              Miniature of Lillian H. Olzendam to Robert Haley
              Lillian H. Olzendam to Robert Haley
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                • Date Created: 1919-12-16
                • Description: Olzendam asks Robert Haley of Bennington to consider working with Washington County Senator Howland to speak with the Governor about calling a special session for ratification; his fellow townsman, John Spargo, has already agreed to be part of such a delegation, and the VESA would pay the cost of the visit.
                • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
                Miniature of Lillian H. Olzendam to Collins Millard Graves
                Lillian H. Olzendam to Collins Millard Graves
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                  • Date Created: 1919-12-20
                  • Description: Olzendam replies to Collins Graves of Bennington that she hoped he, Mr. Haley, and Mr. Spargo ‚Äúwould perhaps form a delegation to call collectively upon the Governor."
                  • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
                  Miniature of Lillian Herrick Olzendam to Carrie Chapman Catt
                  Lillian Herrick Olzendam to Carrie Chapman Catt
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                    • Date Created: 1919-09-29
                    • Description: Olzendam reports on the outcomes of her and Pelley's trip to visit legislators, indicates that Senator Howland of Barre is willing to chair a committee to ask the Governor for his conditions, and that while the majority opinion is to have a special session, the main objection is the cost to the state.
                    • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
                    Miniature of Lillian Herrick Olzendam to Frank G. Howland
                    Lillian Herrick Olzendam to Frank G. Howland
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                      • Date Created: 1919-09-12
                      • Description: Olzendam sends Senator Howland a list of possible candidates for the committee and states that after her conversations with legislators she feels they will get the special session. Includes enclosure.
                      • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection