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 1 - 10 of 104 Records

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Miniature of Annette W. Parmelee to Henry C. Tinkham
Annette W. Parmelee to Henry C. Tinkham
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    • Date Created: 1919-12-10
    • Description: Parmelee asks Dr. Tinkham at the University of Vermont if women are given equal advantages with men at the College of Medicine, and why, if it is true that as of 1818 women were granted admission to the Vermont Medical Society, that women are unaware of this and seek their medical education out of state.
    • 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 Annette W. Parmelee to Ida Husted Harper
      Annette W. Parmelee to Ida Husted Harper
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        • Date Created: 1919-09-11
        • Description: Parmelee debates whether or not to accept the position of State Historian for the Vermont Equal Suffrage Association.
        • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
        Miniature of Annette W. Parmelee to Marion R. Horton
        Annette W. Parmelee to Marion R. Horton
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          • Date Created: 1919-09-11
          • Description: Parmelee debates whether or not to accept the position of State Historian for the Vermont Equal Suffrage Association, and gives her opinion as to Governor Clement's opposition to women's suffrage.
          • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
          Miniature of Annette W. Parmelee to Marion R. Horton
          Annette W. Parmelee to Marion R. Horton
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            • Date Created: 1919-09-18
            • Description: Parmelee states that she is willing to take up the State Historian appointment though she is concerned at her ability to perform the task, and questions Horton's opinion of a "favorable Legislature," as they voted suffrage down after Catt's "splendid speech."
            • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
            Miniature of Annual Report of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association and Minutes of the 19th Convention, held at Barton, Vermont, June 9 and 10, 1903.
            Annual Report of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association and Minutes of the 19th Convention, held at Barton, Vermont, June 9 and 10, 1903.
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              • Creator: Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association
              • Date Created: 1903
              • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
              Miniature of Ashley Joseph Goss to Lillian H. Olzendam
              Ashley Joseph Goss to Lillian H. Olzendam
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                • Date Created: 1919-11-01
                • Description: Representative Goss of Danville responds that he has returned a signed petition form, although he thinks it doubtful the Governor will call a special session.
                • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
                Miniature of Carrie Chapman Catt to Annette W. Parmelee
                Carrie Chapman Catt to Annette W. Parmelee
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                  • Date Created: 1919-09-24
                  • Description: Catt tells Parmelee that her convention paper was thorough and excellent, but that the NAWSA cannot pay states for sending in their histories and can only promise a copy of the book once written.
                  • 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: 1919-09-03
                    • Description: Catt offers logistical advice and talking points for Olzendam and Pelley to use when talking to newspaper editors and legislators on their upcoming car trip to drum up support for calling a special session and ratifying the 19th Amendment.
                    • 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