Women's History Commons^™

Western Reconstruction And Woman Suffrage, Lorianne Updike Toler

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

The normal narrative of woman suffrage in the United States begins in Seneca Falls, New York, and steadily marches along through the lives and papers of the most noteworthy national suffragettes—Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, and a handful of other women until the hard-fought passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. The six-volume History of Woman Suffrage tomes tells just such a story.

Yet the dominant narrative “overgeneralizes the experiences of the national, largely eastern leadership” and “generally neglect[s] the West, or fail[s] to evaluate its significance within the national movement.” Although the American Woman Suffrage Association was organized …

I Was Called, Too: The Life And Work Of Coretta Scott King, Kristopher B. Burrell

Publications and Research

I thought it both appropriate—and overdue—to discuss the significance of Coretta Scott King. And not just as the wife, and eventual widow, of Martin Luther King; but as an important activist and shaper of Dr. King’s ideas. Mrs. King was a significant figure in her own right, but as with many female historical figures her historical importance has often been minimized or negated; and that can lead to erasure, even in plain sight. This has largely been the case with Mrs. King and with black women in the civil rights movement more broadly.

Watson, Reba Inell (Mcwherter), 1921-2015 (Sc 3499), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3499. Reminiscence of Reba Inell Watson from her birth in Monroe County, Kentucky in 1921 to the death of her husband Robert in 1987. Her memories include school years in Summer Shade, Kentucky, family events, and her work for the post surgeon at Fort Myer, Virginia.

20th Century Club Memento

Martha McClellan Brown Ephemera

Three small cardboard squares, 2” x 2”, tied together with yellow ribbon. Ink inscription: “Compliments of the 20th Century Club.” The first square contains an image of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The second square contains an image of Susan B. Anthony. The third square contains quotations from Stanton and Anthony.

National Woman Suffrage Association Ribbon

Martha McClellan Brown Ephemera

Ribbon, white silk with image of a woman (Columbia?) and lettering in black ink: “NATIONAL WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION.” 6.75” X 2.125”.

Why Homemakers Need The Ballot, Helen Train Tannehill

Martha McClellan Brown Ephemera

The text of a talk by Helen Train Tannehill discussing why homemakers need the right to vote.

Upton Study Club, Alma Kephart Wilson

Martha McClellan Brown Ephemera

A report in the Club Woman’s Magazine summarizing recent meetings of the Upton Study Club. Martha McClellan Brown served as president of the club at the time; the article was submitted by Alma Kephart Wilson, corresponding secretary.

Justitia Progressus Sum, Martha Mcclellan Brown

Martha McClellan Brown Ephemera

Celebrates the addition of Arizona, Michigan, Oregon and Kansas to the list of states that have granted women the right to vote. From the Club Woman’s Magazine.

Literature For Sale By The Ohio Woman Suffrage Association, Ohio Woman Suffrage Association

Martha McClellan Brown Ephemera

A list of books, pamphlets, flyers and posters for sale by the Ohio Woman Suffrage Association, Warren, Ohio.

Thirtieth Ward. Ohio Woman Suffrage Association, Ohio Woman Suffrage Association

Martha McClellan Brown Ephemera

A list of the ward chairman and precinct leaders for the 30^th ward (Cincinnati) of the Ohio Woman Suffrage Association.

Women Vote

Martha McClellan Brown Ephemera

A suffrage flyer outlining countries and states where women have the right to vote

Is Woman’S Executive Power Growing?, Martha Mcclellan Brown

Martha McClellan Brown Speeches

Text of a talk arguing that as opportunities for women grow and women assume expanded roles in all walks of life, including business and politics, they must be granted the right to vote.

Women’S Future, Martha Mcclellan Brown

Martha McClellan Brown Speeches

Handwritten note outlining Brown’s thoughts on the future of women. She argues that the progress of women parallels that of men, and that women are ready to realize their full potential. The author is presumed to be Martha McClellan Brown.

The Meaning Of The Ballot – An Aftermath, Martha Mcclellan Brown

Martha McClellan Brown Speeches

The text of an article written for the Guernsey Times. Martha McClellan Brown argues that the power to vote is necessary for the advancement of mankind and the common good. She further argues that until women achieve the right to vote the power of the vote can not be fully realized.

Women’S Rights, Martha Mcclellan Brown

Martha McClellan Brown Speeches

Martha McClellan Brown gives historical context to the women’s movement, citing examples from Roman Law, canon law, and English common law, before discussing the current state of the women’s rights movement in the United States. After outlining common arguments against granting women the right to vote, she counters them and moves on to argue for equal rights for women in all areas.

Duties And Rights, Martha Mcclellan Brown

Martha McClellan Brown Speeches

Martha McClellan Brown outlines her thoughts on the nature of rights and duties, the notion of moral development and the progress of democracy.

Constitution And By-Laws Of The Twentieth Century Club, Twentieth Century Club

Martha McClellan Brown Ephemera

The Constitution and By-Laws of the Twentieth Century Club of Cincinnati, Ohio.

An Incident With Its Sequel (2), William Kennedy Brown

William Kennedy Brown Papers

William Kennedy Brown describes an 1869 meeting with Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Stanton wanted to convince Martha McClellan Brown, who was in New York at the time, to join her in advocating for women’s suffrage. William Kennedy Brown argued that by aligning herself with Cady Stanton she would damage her reputation among evangelical women. He felt that his wife would more effectively advance the cause of suffrage by continuing her efforts to organize the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.

Powers Of Frances Willard, William Kennedy Brown

William Kennedy Brown Papers

William Kennedy Brown discusses a review of the work of Frances Willard, an educator and member of the temperance and women’s suffrage movements, that appeared in the Philadelphia Press. Brown compares the leadership styles of three women in the suffrage movement to those of three contemporary men, saying that the followers of Willard and General George McClellan were inspired by loyalty, the followers of Mary Livermore and Ulysses Grant by an intellectual decision, and the followers of Susan B. Anthony and Abraham Lincoln by the heroic nature of their lives.

The Temperance Movement And Women’S Suffrage, William Kennedy Brown

William Kennedy Brown Papers

William Kennedy Brown describes Martha McClellan Brown’s initial attempts to organize the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the subsequent founding and growth of that organization. He argues that the history of women’s suffrage is defined more by the Christian women of the temperance movement and their demand for the vote than by the work of religious skeptics such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton.