Journey to the Vote
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Ida B. Wells | 15th Amendment |
The year 2020 marks anniversaries for two Constitutional Amendments. February 3rd, 2020 will mark the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment granting African American men the right to vote. August 18, 2020 will be the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment recognizing women’s right to vote.
In recognition of these anniversaries, several WKU departments and community organizations are working together to offer a variety of programs.
We will highlight various aspects of race, gender and citizenship as we look at the “Journey to the Vote” and participation in American political life through a series of speakers, panels, events, and exhibits. Topics are wide-ranging and include the passage of the 15th Amendment, and the 19th Amendment, as well as the continued disenfranchisement of men and women of color after both Amendments’ ratification.
2019
March 2019
March 28- Free Book Giveaway* of The Woman's Hour by Elaine Weiss at Warren County Public Library's Main Branch. Books will be given on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last. For more information, visit Warren County Public Library.
March 29- Free Book Giveaway* of The Woman's Hour by Elaine Weiss at Warren County Public Library's Bob Kirby Branch. Books will be given on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last. For more information, visit Warren County Public Library.
April 2019
April 11 6-7PM Warren County Public Library's Book Discussion featuring The Woman's Hour, by Elaine Weiss. Discussion led by Holly Hedden. Location: Main Library. For more information, contact hollyh@warrenpl.org or visit Warren County Public Library.
April 30 7PM Elaine Weiss author of The Woman's Hour. Free public presentation. Swipeable for WKU students. Program made possible by Boyd Lubker Foundation and WKU Sisterhood. Location: Downing Student Union auditorium.
June 2019
June 4th 2PM Journey to the Vote Kick-Off. Join us, Mayor Wilkerson and the BG City Council for a proclamation signing, remarks, light refreshments and an overview of upcoming programming. June 4th marks the100th anniversary of 19th Amendment's passage by Congress. Thirty-six states would have to ratify the amendment before it would become law. Location: Kentucky Room, KY Museum. More information.
September 2019
September 16 3:15-4:15PM "Suffrage for All"- Dr. Saundra Ardrey and Tyneshia Carter. Join us for a lively discussion of universal suffrage. Why have so many - poor white men, Black men, women and young people all fought for the right to vote? Has it made a difference? Swipeable for students. Location: KY Museum.
September 24 5-6PM "Put a Woman in Charge" - panel discussion featuring current and former local and state female office holders. Panelists include: Dana Beasley Brown, Melinda Hill, Patti Minter, Patsy Sloan and Elaine Walker. Swipeable for students. Location: KY Museum.
November 2019
November 14 6:30-7:30PM "Suffrage for All"- Dr. Saundra Ardrey and Tyneshia Carter. Join us for a lively discussion of universal suffrage. Why have so many - poor white men, Black men, women and young people all fought for the right to vote? Has it made a difference. Sponsored by the Warren County Public Library. Location: Parker Bennett Community Center.
2020
February 2020
February 8 Herstory, a free afternoon of activities for girls in grades 1-8 and their families. Elements include a costume contest, autograph parties with local women, and WKU departments with hands-on activities. Location: KY Building. Time: 12PM-4PM
February TBD 4PM Gender Images Film series--Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice. Presented by Dr. Dorothea Browder, History. Film documents the dramatic life and
turbulent times of the pioneering African American journalist, activist, suffragist
and anti-lynching crusader of the post-Reconstruction period. Location: Cherry Hall
125.
March 2020
Dr. Saundra Ardrey will lead a Washington, DC, Selma, and Montgomery, AL "Suffrage Trail" based Study Away trip. If you interested, please reach out now to Dr. Ardrey at Saundra.Ardrey@wku.edu. Tentative itinerary.
March TBD. Presentation on leading suffragists in KY, organized by Jonathan Jeffrey, Department of Library Special Collections. Location: KY Building.
March 25 5:30PM Gender Images Film series--On the Basis of Sex. Presented by Victoria Gordon, Political Science. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a struggling
attorney and new mother who faces adversity and numerous obstacles in her fight for
equal rights. When Ruth takes on a groundbreaking tax case with her husband, attorney
Martin Ginsburg, she knows it could change the direction of her career and the way
the courts view gender discrimination.Location: Cherry Hall 125
April 2020
April 23 6PM Gender Images Film series--Iron Jaw Angles. Presented by Dr. Patti Minter, History and State Representative. Fiery American suffragette Alice Paul lights a fire under the older women's leaders in Washington DC. President Wilson refuses to give all women the vote, but Paul is prepared to go to prison for her cause. Location: Warren County Public Library Main Branch.
Seat at the Table: Women in KY Politics opens at the KY Museum. Poster exhibit featuring 10 women. Location: KY Museum. Date/Time TBD.
July 2020
July 1 The Department of Library Special Collections will open their exhibit Also Ran. Location: Jackson Gallery of the KY Building. This exhibit runs through December 15, 2020.
August 2020
August 18 is the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the legislation on August 18, 1920.
Partners
Department of Library Special Collections
Financial Support
Exhibits
Downloads
Add an Event
To add an event to this page
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Point of Contact
Dr. Christy Spurlock
Dr. Victoria Gordon
Resources
15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Primary Documents
Library of Congress Research Guides.
The 19th Amendment: A Woman's Right to Vote
Between Two Worlds: Black Women
and the Fight for Voting Rights.
National Park Service.
To The Contrary with Bonnie Erbe.
Episode #3, aired March 22, 2019. At 13:30, interview with Elaine Weiss and discussion
of The Woman's Hour.Click here for audio link only.
Fifteenth Amendment
Essay from National Park Service
Kentucky Woman Suffrage Project.
Passage of the Fifteenth Amendment
American Experience PBS
Racism in the Suffrage Movement.
National Women's History Museum has a variety of online resources covering women's
history.
The Struggle for Women's Suffrage.
Selected images from the Library of Congress.
Women's Suffrage Leaders Left Out Black Women. Article by Evette Dionne.
Women's Suffrage Primary Sources.
Library of Congress.
Tennessee Woman Suffrage Centennial Collaborative.
Media Coverage
19th Amendment Anniversary
Elaine Weiss
Journey to the Vote Kick-Off
Suffrage For All
Put a Woman in Charge
PHOTO/VIDEO GALLERY
Politcal Science 374 Women & Politics
You Tube Put A Woman in Charge
Some of the links on this page may require additional software to view.