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 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 The Twenty-third Annual Report of The Vermont Equal Suffrage Association and Minutes of the Annual Meeting Held At Burlington, Vermont, Thursday and Friday, June Thirteenth and Fourteenth, Nineteen Hundred Seven.
    The Twenty-third Annual Report of The Vermont Equal Suffrage Association and Minutes of the Annual Meeting Held At Burlington, Vermont, Thursday and Friday, June Thirteenth and Fourteenth, Nineteen Hundred Seven.
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      • Creator: Vermont Equal Suffrage Association
      • Date Created: 1907
      • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
      Miniature of Minutes of the 17th annual meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association held at Rochester, Vermont, June 25 and 26, 1901.
      Minutes of the 17th annual meeting of the Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association held at Rochester, Vermont, June 25 and 26, 1901.
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        • Creator: Vermont Woman's Suffrage Association
        • Date Created: 1901
        • 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 Vermont Registered Voter Totals by Gender at the State, County, and Town levels, 1920
            Vermont Registered Voter Totals by Gender at the State, County, and Town levels, 1920
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              • Creator: Vermont. Office of the Secretary of State
              • Date Created: 1920
              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
                  Miniature of Homer B. Hitchcock to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
                  Homer B. Hitchcock to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
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                    • Date Created: 1919-10-01
                    • Description: Response of legislator from Westfield, Orleans County, who believes in equal suffrage to an extent but doesn't believe in calling a special session.
                    • 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