TO SUFFRAGETTES 



Among the significant social changes that occurred in 

 the 19th century was the movement for woman suf- 

 frage that began about the middle of the century as a 

 concerted action by a nucleus of determined women. 

 The crusade gained strength and numbers during 

 the second half of the century, and finally achieved 

 success with the ratification of the Suffrage Amend- 

 ment in 1920. Many women worked in this cause, 

 and the pieces of presentation silver in the National 

 Museum's Woman Suffrage Collection constitute a 

 record of the most important leaders. 



Chief spokesman of the movement and its leader 

 for many years was Elizabeth Cady Stanton of New 

 York State. She was instrumental in calling the 

 first Woman's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, 

 New York, in 1848, and she served as president of 

 the National Woman Suffrage Association from its 

 beginning in 1869 and as president of the National 

 American Woman Suffrage Association froin 1890 to 

 1891. She continued to be an active worker in the 

 movement until her death in 1902, writing and 

 editing many works on suffrage in addition to her 

 administrative work. 



On the occasion of her 80th birthday in 1895, Mrs. 

 Stanton was presented with a silver tray ^^ (8 inches 

 wide and 1^2 inches deep) that is inscribed: 



From the Ladies of Seneca Falls, 1 848-1 895. 



This tray, presented at a meeting at the Metropolitan 

 Opera House in New York City, bears on the back a 

 "W" in a circle, a two-headed lion in a rectangle 

 (probably an early mark of the Wallace Silver Com- 

 pany), the word "Sterling," and the number "2048." 

 On the same occasion Mrs. Stanton was presented 

 a silver loving cup'^ that is inscribed: 



1 81 5-1 895 Presented to Elizabeth Cady Stanton by the 

 New York City Woman Suffrage League, November 12, 

 1895. Defeated day by day but unto victory born. 



The cup, 4}i inches in diameter and 7% inches deep, 

 is marked on the bottom with the Wallace "W," simi- 

 lar to the mark on the tray, and "Sterling, 3798, 4^2 

 pints, 925/100 fine, Pat 1892." 



The life story of Susan B, .'\nthony is a record of 60 

 years of devotion and work for the enfranchisement of 

 women. An organizer and director of countless suf- 

 frage activities, she was tireless in conducting cam- 

 paigns for woman suffrage. She is the one individual 

 who has become so identified with the fight for woman 

 suffrage that, more than any other, her name has 

 become synonymous with that term. During her life- 

 time she worked in almost every capacity in the or- 

 ganized movement. She became president of the 

 National American Woman Suffrage Association in 

 1892 and served until her 80th birthday in 1900. On 

 that occasion the Colorado Equal Suffrage Association 

 presented her with a miniature, three-handled loving 

 cup that stands only 3% inches high (fig. 18). In one 

 section of the cup there is engraved the word "Colora- 

 do" and the state's coat of arms; in an adjoining 

 section is an engraving of the state flower; and in the 

 third section is the following in.scription: 



Colorado Equal Suffrage Association to .Susan B. Anthony 

 on her 8oth Birthday igoo. 



The cup is marked on the bottom "Sterling, 590, 

 .■\. J. Stark & Co., Denver." 



She was also given a silver-plated teakettle '^ by the 

 Political Equality Club of Rochester, New York. The 

 stand is 3^2 inches high, and the teapot is 5)4 inches 

 high. Engraved around the top of the teapot is: 



Susan B. Anthony 1820-1893. 



The stand is marked "Mfd. & Plated Reed & Barton" 

 and "65." 



* * * 



The chosen leader of the Woman Suffrage Move- 

 ment after 1900 was Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, a 

 vigorous organizer and campaigner who led the drive 

 for the constitutional amendment that was finally 

 ratified in 1920. Mrs. Catt founded the International 

 Woinan Suffrage Alliance in 1902 and served as its 

 president until 1923. Her late years were devoted 

 to the cause of international peace and disarmament. 



Mrs. Catt was the prime mover in calling the first 

 international conference on suffrage, which, in 1902, 

 welcomed representatives from nine foreign nations — 

 Great Britain, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, 

 Turkey, Russia, Australia, and Chile. The delegates 



" Gift of Harriot Stanton Blatch (ace. 127776, cat. 38762), 

 Division of Political History, USNM. 



3< Gift of Harriot Stanton Blatch (ace. 127776, cat. 38763), 

 Division of Political History, USNM. 



35 Gift of National American Woman Suffrage Association 

 (ace. 64601, cat. 26162), Division of Political History, USNM. 



PAPER 47: 

 222-412- 



PRESEXT.\TION PIECES 



105 



