100 years ago women in Maryland, in much of the U.S., were not yet allowed to vote. They marched, they demonstrated, they picketed the White House, they were jailed. They raised a mighty roar. You could validate their struggle by remembering to register and to vote. You could even run for office.
We have registration forms at the library.
Isn't one of those Maryland suffragettes on roller skates?
The history of women's suffrage in Maryland is particularly shameful. The 19th amendment was introduced in Congress in 1878. It didn't pass for 41 years, not until 1919. Ratification was then swift, and by 1920 Maryland women could finally vote. (Thank you Tennessee.)
Maryland itself did not ratify until 1941 and that wasn't certified until 1958.
Of course in DC women are still waiting for full suffrage.
Who marched in the great 1913 parade in Washington? Nellie Bly, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Helen Keller, and at least 8,000 others. They were abominably treated by both the DC police and the crowd.
Interested?
Look through some of the primary sources. (You will need your library card)
Read an interesting blog written by the granddaughter of a suffragette.