The fight for equal rights and universal suffrage took a winding road around the globe. Were the women in your family involved in the campaigns? A women's history cross-over post.
Your family is so interesting! And a great take on family history- I don't have any suffragists in my family but it's interesting to think about when they got the vote, and what it would have meant to them and even the potential impact of its meaning on their life choices (before and after).
It's fascinating, and I think every family has these stories. I had no idea until I set out to write this simple thing. Then, off I went down the rabbit hole.
Did ya catch that bit in the linked PDF under the headline "Will Preach Suffrage in South" and how it describes a fund to send two Kansas ladies on a campaign through the south, "spreading the gospel of suffrage." I think the best part is right at the end where it says these two women were selected because "they are of southern tendencies, and the women believe their influence in the south will be of special value."
All I can say is... "bless their hearts." 🤭
Though I was disappointed there weren't any “social justice warriors” in my family, I was astonished to realize how active my great-grandmother was in women's clubs. My mother never talked about her. I included that page from the Topeka Daily Capital because it captured the flavor of their meetings so well. 🫨
Family history makes our social history so tangible.
I just love the photo of Blanche and her two young daughters. The determined and eager look on the face of the sister I think is Ruth! And to have a photograph of an ancestor's actual bedroom is amazing. How wonderful to see the things she had in her room.
I have so many photos of Lois but only a couple of Ruth. I just love that photo too. It had taken me a while to figure out who that was in that photo since I always think of them as the three sisters forgetting that the elder two were separated by just one year.
Isn't that bedroom amazing? I'm just amazed by those Ukiyo-e prints and paper lanterns. I believe her father traveled a bit; now I'm wondering exactly where. Did he make it to the West Coast? I don't know.
Love this take on your family members. I haven’t found any direct suffragettes ties in my family, but with lots of strong women in my lineage, I’m sure they were supportive. Wonderfully written.
What wonderful stories and a great way to look at the women in our families this month and any month!
I don’t have any known suffragettes in my family tree - my people are small town and farm people who stick tightly to their German roots, although there are men who involved themselves in farm politics and the grange movement, I’ve yet to find a politically active woman until much later.
I love reading about your family - as always, it is an insightful exercise. Thanks!
You're very kind, Lori, thank you. It certainly is an insightful exercise. I was thinking of you as I started exploring the newspaper stories about “Mrs. C.M.Harger.”
It's mind-boggling that her name wasn't published even as she was photographed and covered in headlines. Looking at the mid-19th century battles over suffrage and how campaigns broke down over whether it was okay for women to speak publicly. Oh my. Where to start.
Amazing collection of pioneering women!
Your family is so interesting! And a great take on family history- I don't have any suffragists in my family but it's interesting to think about when they got the vote, and what it would have meant to them and even the potential impact of its meaning on their life choices (before and after).
It's fascinating, and I think every family has these stories. I had no idea until I set out to write this simple thing. Then, off I went down the rabbit hole.
Did ya catch that bit in the linked PDF under the headline "Will Preach Suffrage in South" and how it describes a fund to send two Kansas ladies on a campaign through the south, "spreading the gospel of suffrage." I think the best part is right at the end where it says these two women were selected because "they are of southern tendencies, and the women believe their influence in the south will be of special value."
All I can say is... "bless their hearts." 🤭
Though I was disappointed there weren't any “social justice warriors” in my family, I was astonished to realize how active my great-grandmother was in women's clubs. My mother never talked about her. I included that page from the Topeka Daily Capital because it captured the flavor of their meetings so well. 🫨
Family history makes our social history so tangible.
I just love the photo of Blanche and her two young daughters. The determined and eager look on the face of the sister I think is Ruth! And to have a photograph of an ancestor's actual bedroom is amazing. How wonderful to see the things she had in her room.
I know! Little sisters!
I have so many photos of Lois but only a couple of Ruth. I just love that photo too. It had taken me a while to figure out who that was in that photo since I always think of them as the three sisters forgetting that the elder two were separated by just one year.
Isn't that bedroom amazing? I'm just amazed by those Ukiyo-e prints and paper lanterns. I believe her father traveled a bit; now I'm wondering exactly where. Did he make it to the West Coast? I don't know.
I haven't given thought to my female ancestors' views on suffrage. Thanks for this nudge!
Love this take on your family members. I haven’t found any direct suffragettes ties in my family, but with lots of strong women in my lineage, I’m sure they were supportive. Wonderfully written.
Oh thank you. That’s very kind of you to say… 🥰
What wonderful stories and a great way to look at the women in our families this month and any month!
I don’t have any known suffragettes in my family tree - my people are small town and farm people who stick tightly to their German roots, although there are men who involved themselves in farm politics and the grange movement, I’ve yet to find a politically active woman until much later.
I love reading about your family - as always, it is an insightful exercise. Thanks!
You're very kind, Lori, thank you. It certainly is an insightful exercise. I was thinking of you as I started exploring the newspaper stories about “Mrs. C.M.Harger.”
It's mind-boggling that her name wasn't published even as she was photographed and covered in headlines. Looking at the mid-19th century battles over suffrage and how campaigns broke down over whether it was okay for women to speak publicly. Oh my. Where to start.
I actually have a suffragette story in my teaser file which, in hindsight, I should have pulled out this month 🧐
But after the emotional roller coaster that has been Blanche Pouche Leon’s story, I scheduled a much lighter and fun story for the next one.
Ohhh 😮 I’ll put the kettle on.
☕️🫖 and grab a 🍪