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: 1919-09-05
    • Description: Catt discusses ratification in other New England states, describes the work needed to get Vermont legislators to pledge for ratification, and stresses the importance of the work of Olzendam and Pelley.
    • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
    Miniature of Carrie Chapman Catt to Lillian Herrick Olzendam and Marion Stone Pelley
    Carrie Chapman Catt to Lillian Herrick Olzendam and Marion Stone Pelley
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      • Date Created: 1919-09-12
      • Description: Catt provides a status update on ratification progress nationally and stresses the importance of Vermont being the thirty-sixth state to ratify.
      • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
      Miniature of Lillian H. Olzendam to Harriet W. Patterson
      Lillian H. Olzendam to Harriet W. Patterson
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        • Date Created: 1919-12-03
        • Description: Olzendam asks Mrs. George W. Patterson to speak with Representative Clark of Brookfield in order to change his mind about signing the petition, and discusses petition signing statistics from the towns of Brookfield and Randolph Center.
        • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
        Miniature of Lillian H. Olzendam to Marion Stone Pelley
        Lillian H. Olzendam to Marion Stone Pelley
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          • Date Created: 1919-11-06
          • Description: Olzendam tells Pelley she doesn‚Äôt believe that the state‚Äôs lawmakers fully understand the Federal suffrage amendment, discusses her difficulties with obtaining legislators‚Äô signatures in support of a special session, and expresses concern at pushing too much for Washington County Senator Howland‚Äôs help.
          • 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 Lillian H. Olzendam to Dr. Fred E. Dwinnell
            Lillian H. Olzendam to Dr. Fred E. Dwinnell
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              • Date Created: 1919-10-30
              • Description: Olzendam asks again for the signature of Representative Dwinell of Lyndon calling for a special session.
              • 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 Henry M. McFarland to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
                Henry M. McFarland to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
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                  • Date Created: 1919-10-10
                  • Description: Response of a legislator from Hyde Park, Lamoille County who will vote for ratification of the federal suffrage amendment but doesn't care to petition the Governor.
                  • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
                  Miniature of Lillian Herrick Olzendam to Vermont Legislators
                  Lillian Herrick Olzendam to Vermont Legislators
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                    • Date Created: 1919-10_01
                    • Description: Copy of circular letter sent to legislators, with instructions for printing, present status of ratification nationwide, and "Woodstock Suffrage Study Club" letterhead on the back.
                    • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
                    Miniature of George J. Bond to Lillian H. Olzendam
                    George J. Bond to Lillian H. Olzendam
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                      • Date Created: 1919-11-22
                      • Description: Representative George Bond of Searsburg responds that he has enclosed his signature and has for the past 50 years been a staunch supporter of women‚Äôs suffrage, except that he does "not care to trust women in national politics" after the women of the west have elected Wilson in the past two presidential elections.
                      • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection