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 Lillian H. Olzendam to James Hartness
Lillian H. Olzendam to James Hartness
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    • Date Created: 1919-12-19
    • Description: Olzendam asks future governor James Hartness, 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 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 William Henry Dyer to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
      William Henry Dyer to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
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        • Date Created: 1919-10-04
        • Description: Response of a legislator from Salisbury, Addison County, who believes Vermont cannot authorize equal suffrage until after the state's Constitution has been amended and ratified, which could only happen after two more legislative sessions.
        • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
        Miniature of Lillian H. Olzendam to Collins M. Graves
        Lillian H. Olzendam to Collins M. Graves
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          • Date Created: 1919-12-16
          • Description: Olzendam asks Collins Graves 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
          Miniature of Harley Steward Hills to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
          Harley Steward Hills to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
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            • Date Created: 1919-10-08
            • Description: Response of a legislator from Pittsford, Rutland County, who opposes a special session due to the high cost to the state and doesn't see the importance of such an action.
            • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
            Miniature of Charles Dalton to Annette W. Parmelee
            Charles Dalton to Annette W. Parmelee
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              • Date Created: 1919-12-09
              • Description: Charles Dalton, Secretary of the State Board of Health, responds to Parmelee‚Äôs inquiry about the admission of women to the University of Vermont College of Medicine, referring her question to Dean Tinkham and stating that while almost no such requests have been received, the University Council is considering the matter.
              • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
              Miniature of Edward F. Dudley to Lillian H. Olzendam
              Edward F. Dudley to Lillian H. Olzendam
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                • Date Created: 1919-11-05
                • Description: Representative Dudley of Fairlee responds that he does not think it is advisable to sign a petition to the Governor to call a special session for ratification.
                • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection
                Miniature of Charles L. Stuart to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
                Charles L. Stuart to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
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                  • Date Created: 1919-10-05
                  • Description: Response of a senator from Caledonia stating that he'll be out of state but would attend a special session if called.
                  • 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 Lisa M. Wilkinson to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
                    Lisa M. Wilkinson to Lillian Herrick Olzendam
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                      • Date Created: 1919-09-08
                      • Description: Wilkinson warns that there will be an upcoming meeting of the board and states that while she likes the idea of a suffrage conference with a national speaker, she can't commit to working on a conference due to family commitments. She discusses Greely, Hale, and Spargo as potential speakers.
                      • Parent Collections: Women's Suffrage in Vermont Collection