Happy Women’s History Month from the New York State Library! Did you know that our collections include many interesting items like stamps or magazines from different historical time periods? Visit us on the 7th floor of the Cultural Education Center to check out our exhibit which includes primary and secondary source documents about both the Suffrage and Anti-Suffrage movements.
Documents chosen for this exhibit present the power of voice with cultural elements. The exhibit shares how slogans, graphics and text can influence advocacy with either the Suffrage or Anti-Suffrage movements. For example, the Bloomer Schottisch score composed by William Dressler in 1851. The Bloomer Schottisch is in honor of Amelia Bloomer who was a strong advocate of the Women's Suffrage movement. Amelia Bloomer published the newspaper, the Lily in honor of women and was a supporter of women's clothes being less constrictive. Hence, the pantaloons or "bloomers" were created for women. The score has a great illustration of a woman highlighting her leg with a bloomer.
The exhibit also includes documents that highlight the art of persuasion. For example, the Baseball Schedule from the Women's Anti-Suffrage Association. The baseball schedule is quite detailed and relays information on how New York Women should be, that women and men were created differently to work in different spheres for the common good, how the husband in New York State pays the wife's bills, and how suffrage was defeated in twenty states.
Selected items are from both the main Research Library and the Manuscripts and Special Collections unit. Unable to visit us in person? Join us virtually on Monday, March 25, 2024 for Celebrating the 19th Amendment. CTLE credit and educator’s guide will be provided with the 1 hour webinar on March 25, 2024.
References for the Exhibit:
Blackwell, A. S. (1917). In the hands of her friends (cover). The Woman Citizen. 2(6).
Blackwell, A. S. (1917). Keeping up with the plow. The Woman Citizen. 1(1), 10.
Bronson, M. (1920, November 13). An Amendment to restore the rights of the people. The Woman Patriot, 4(46), 1-2.
Buckley, J. M. (1909?). The wrong and peril of woman suffrage. F. H. Revel company.
Burr, H. A. (1886). Woman suffrage cook book. Hattie A. Burr.
[Buttons]. (1895-1909). Gertrude Collier Papers (SC13804, folder 1). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY.
Chapman Catt, C. (1912?). Do you know? In Woman suffrage, arguments and results. (2-3). National American Woman Suffrage Association.
[Collection of stamps supporting women’s suffrage]. (1915). (BRO2859). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY.
Coolidge, O. (1966). Women’s rights; the suffrage movement in America, 1848-1920. E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc.
Daniel, S. I. (1931). Women builders. Associated Publishers, Inc.
Dressler, W. (1851). The Bloomer Schottish [score]. William Hall and Son. (SCO344). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY.
DuBois, W. E. B. (1915, August). Votes for women (cover). The Crisis, 10(4).
Empire State Campaign Committee. (1915). A million women appeal to the voters of New York for justice. (BRO2856). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY.
Empire State Campaign Committee. (1915). How to vote for woman suffrage amendment Election Day, November 2nd, 1915. (BRO2859). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY.
Empire State Campaign Committee. (1915). Vote for women 1915 [envelope]. (BRO2859). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY.
Finnegan, M. M. (1999). The suffrage blouse. Selling suffrage: Consumer culture & votes for women. Columbia University Press. 127.
Gattey, C. N. (1967). The Bloomer girls. Coward-McCann.
Gitto, M. (2020). New York State Library educator guide for the 19th Amendment: New York State Library documents of the women's suffrage and anti-suffrage movements. The University of the State of New York, The State Education Department, The New York State Library.
Good Housekeeping. (1920, November). Campbell’s soup advertisement. 71(4). 69.
Hanna, P. (1915). The Anti-Suffrage Rose [score]. Women’s Anti-Suffrage Association (SCO SC12607-130). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY. http://purl.nysed.gov/nysl/44691143
Harper’s Bazar. (1869, June 12). The champions of women’s suffrage. 2(24), 381.
Hart, H. (1909). Woman suffrage: A national danger. T. Murby & Co.
Jones, B. W. (1990). Quest for equality: the life and writings of Mary Eliza Church Terrell, 1863-1954. Carlson Pub.
The Literary Digest. (1913). The pro-suffrage number of life magazine advertisement. 46(17). 977.
Logan, S. W. (1999). We are coming: the persuasive discourse of nineteenth-century Black women. Southern Illinois University Press.
Luce, H. R. (1920, October 28). “Congratulations (cover).” Life, 76(1982).
Luce, H. R. (1917, November 1). Some (as yet) untried ways of winning the vote. Life, 70(1827), 706-707.
Luce, H. R. (1913, May 15). Take down the barriers. Life, 61(1594), 986.
Metcalfe, A.G. (1917). United we differ. Woman's effort: a chronicle of British women's fifty years struggle for citizenship (1865-1914). B.H. Blackwell.
Miller, A. D. (1915). Are women people? A book of rhymes for suffrage times. George H. Doran Company.
National American Woman Suffrage Association. (1912?). Woman suffrage, arguments and results; a collection of eight popular booklets covering together practically the entire field of suffrage claims and evidence. Designed especially for the convenience of suffrage speakers and writers and for the use of debaters and libraries. National American Woman Suffrage Association.
National Woman Suffrage Publishing Co., Inc. (1917). Twelve reasons why women should vote [broadside]. (BRO1140). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY.
New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage. (1915). Anti-suffrage baseball schedule book. Publications collection, 1839-1921. Bulk 1914-1917 (SC13339, Folder 23). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY. https://purl.nysed.gov/nysl/122487074
New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage. (1915, October 31). [Envelope with a "Vote NO on Woman Suffrage" sticker]. Publications collection, 1839-1921. Bulk 1914-1917 (SC13339, Folder 8). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY.
New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage. (n.d.). He can’t hold on much longer [political cartoon]. Publications collection, 1839-1921. Bulk 1914-1917 (SC13339, Folder 21). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY. https://purl.nysed.gov/nysl/122487074
New York State Association Opposed to Woman’s Suffrage. (n.d.). Home! [political cartoon]. Publications collection, 1839-1921. Bulk 1914-1917 (SC13339, Folder 21). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY.
New York State Association Opposed to Women’s Suffrage. (n.d.). Official ballot. Publications collection, 1839-1921. Bulk 1914-1917 (SC13339, folder 27). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY.
New York State Association Opposed to Woman’s Suffrage. (n.d.). Publications collection, 1839-1921. Bulk 1914-1917. (SC13339). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY.
New York State Association Opposed to Woman’s Suffrage. (n.d.). The red behind the yellow, socialists working on suffrage. Publications collection, 1839-1921. Bulk 1914-1917 (SC13339, folder 8). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY. https://purl.nysed.gov/nysl/122487074
New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage. (n.d.). Red Riding Hood revised. Publications collection, 1839-1921. Bulk 1914-1917 (SC13339, folder 19). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY. https://purl.nysed.gov/nysl/122487074
New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage. (n.d.). Special privileges New York State women have secured under male suffrage. Publications collection, 1839-1921. Bulk 1914-1917 (SC13339, Folder 8). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY.
New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage. (n.d.). Suffragist-feminist ideal family life [political cartoons]. Publications collection, 1839-1921. Bulk 1914-1917 (SC13339, Folder 21). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY. https://purl.nysed.gov/nysl/122487074
New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage. (n.d.). Think over these facts before voting on the Suffrage Amendment [broadside]. Publications collection, 1839-1921. Bulk 1914-1917 (SC13339, EL). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY. https://purl.nysed.gov/nysl/122487074
New York State Association Opposed to Woman’s Suffrage. (n.d.). Votes for women [political cartoon]. Publications collection, 1839-1921. Bulk 1914-1917 (SC13339, Folder 21). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY. https://purl.nysed.gov/nysl/122487074
New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage. (n.d.). We believe the men of the state capable of conducting the government [postcard]. Publications collection, 1839-1921. Bulk 1914-1917 (SC13339, Folder 8). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY.
New York State Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage. (1915). Woman Suffrage has been defeated; Woman Suffrage is going, not coming [leaflet]. Publications collection, 1839-1921. Bulk 1914-1917 (SC 13339, folder 29). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY. https://purl.nysed.gov/nysl/122487074
New York State Woman Suffrage Party. (1917). Suffrage as a war measure [broadside]. (BRO3054). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY. https://purl.nysed.gov/nysl/122487074
Severn, B. (1967). Free but not equal: How women won the right to vote. J. Messner.
Terborg-Penn, R. (1998). African American women in the struggle for the vote, 1850-1920. Indiana University Press.
Tracey, W. (1919). Why shouldn’t they be good enough now [score]. Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. (SCO13309). New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, New York State Library, Albany, NY.