Centennial of Women’s Suffrage

2020 was the year of celebration of the 100 year anniversary of Women’s Suffrage in the US. when 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified on August 18, 1920 giving women the right to vote.

19th Amendment

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Amendment XIX
Section 1

In February 1895 women from all over Maine, including Hallowell, had gathered in Augusta, Maine for a hearing about women’s voting rights, and to make a statement to the Maine Legislature that women’s desire for the right to vote was a statewide issue.

Lillian Stevens of Dover, Maine spoke at the hearing: “Two years ago … we were told that it would be better for our claims if we had the state represented by women from every section … to prove that we really want the ballot. We accepted this advice, and gentlemen, we have come.”
~from Maine State Museum

---

While I could not find any articles of specific history of the women’s suffrage movement in Hallowell, I did find a list of women involved in suffrage causes which included women from Hallowell. This is no surprise as Hallowell has often been in the forefront of progressive, activist causes since its founding.

artist, Chris Cart

suf·frage /ˈsəfrij/

noun
-the right to vote in political elections

The term suffrage derives from the Latin, suffragium, meaning “a voting-tablet”, “a ballot” or “the right to vote”.

The colors of the movement

White dresses became associated with the early women’s suffrage movement of the early 20th century to represent liberty, purity, and feminine grace. Purple, or violet, represented the vote as well as loyalty, constancy, and steadfastness. Yellow and gold were by far the most widespread colors of the movement.