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 21 - 30 of 104 Records

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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 The Report of The Vermont Equal Suffrage Association and Minutes of the 24th Annual Convention At Rutland, Vermont, 1908.
    The Report of The Vermont Equal Suffrage Association and Minutes of the 24th Annual Convention At Rutland, Vermont, 1908.
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      • Creator: Vermont Equal Suffrage Association
      • Date Created: 1908
      • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
      Miniature of The Twenty-Fifth Annual Report of The Vermont Equal Suffrage Association and Minutes of the Convention Held At Barre, Vermont, June 4th and 5th 1909.
      The Twenty-Fifth Annual Report of The Vermont Equal Suffrage Association and Minutes of the Convention Held At Barre, Vermont, June 4th and 5th 1909.
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        • Creator: Vermont Equal Suffrage Association
        • Date Created: 1909
        • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
        Miniature of Minutes of the Twelfth Annual Meeting of The Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association Held at Montpelier, Vt., June 10 and 11, 1896.
        Minutes of the Twelfth Annual Meeting of The Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association Held at Montpelier, Vt., June 10 and 11, 1896.
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          • Creator: Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association
          • Date Created: 1896
          • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
          Miniature of Minutes of the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of The Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association. South Royalton, Vermont, June 28 and 29, 1898.
          Minutes of the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of The Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association. South Royalton, Vermont, June 28 and 29, 1898.
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            • Creator: Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association
            • Date Created: 1898
            • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
            Miniature of Minutes of the 18th annual meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association Held at West Concord, Vermont, June 18, 19, 1902.
            Minutes of the 18th annual meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association Held at West Concord, Vermont, June 18, 19, 1902.
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              • Creator: Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association
              • Date Created: 1902
              • 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 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