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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73 1919
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
        Miniature of Carrie Chapman Catt to Marion R. Horton
        Carrie Chapman Catt to Marion R. Horton
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          • Date Created: 1919-09-12
          • Description: Catt discusses the ratification process around the country and her belief that a different procedure may be more effective in Vermont: having members of the Governor's political party speak to him unofficially and sending letters to all legislators who have pledged support for ratification. Copy, enclosed in letter to Olzendam.
          • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
          Miniature of Samuel Howard Strong to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
          Samuel Howard Strong to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
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            • Date Created: 1919-10-06
            • Description: Response of a legislator from Fayston, Washington County, who is not in favor of a special session as women already have the right to vote in town elections and will likely be given full suffrage at the next legislative session.
            • 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: 1919-10-12
              • Description: Olzendam reports on a visit she had with friends of the Governor, stating her understanding that he does not want to call a special session for fear that legislation other than ratification would pass, and that if this obstacle could be overcome a special session would be called.
              • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
              Miniature of Lillian H. Olzendam to Frank L. Fish
              Lillian H. Olzendam to Frank L. Fish
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                • Date Created: 1919-12-22
                • Description: Olzendam asks the Honorable Frank Fish of Vergennes, as a supporter of suffrage, to sign a petition to the Governor to call a special legislative session for ratification and to forward the petition to other well-known men in his social and professional groups.
                • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
                Miniature of Frances E. Rastall Wyman to Annette Watson Parmelee
                Frances E. Rastall Wyman to Annette Watson Parmelee
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                  • Date Created: 1919-10-27
                  • Description: Wyman explains to Parmelee the succession of presidents of the VESA between 1913 and 1915.
                  • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
                  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 Frederick C. Brown to Lillian H. Olzendam
                    Frederick C. Brown to Lillian H. Olzendam
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                      • Date Created: 1919-10-27
                      • Description: Legislator Brown of Barton responds that he did everything he could for suffrage in the last session and will again when the proper time comes, but does not feel that a special session would "meet the approval of the Governor or the State at large."
                      • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection