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Things I like: suffragettes, war workers, factory girls, socialites who got stuff done, ladies who ruled countries, and women who changed the world, even if it was just a little bit. Click on photos for sources.

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Official Program Washington DC suffrage parade March 3, 1913 The program (available in its entirety via the Library of Congress) includes biographies of the women who were involved in planning the parade or led sections of the parade.  Many of these women are identified solely by their husband’s name.  Mrs. John Breckenridge Newman is described as “the second American woman to be appointed to a position outside the United States,” yet her first name is never given.   Some were listed by their husband’s name with a note giving their first name and maiden name.  For example, Mrs. A. H. Van Buren  who organized the actress’s section “is sometimes called by her own name of Dorothy Bernard.”  In fact, Dorothy appeared in 93 films between 1908 and 1956 and would have been better known by her own name.  In 1913 alone, she had six films debut.   Other married women were listed by their own first names, including both famous activists such as Carrie Chapman Catt and women who were likely well known only in their community such as society matron Emma S. Tenney.  

Official Program

Washington DC suffrage parade

March 3, 1913

The program (available in its entirety via the Library of Congress) includes biographies of the women who were involved in planning the parade or led sections of the parade.  Many of these women are identified solely by their husband’s name.  Mrs. John Breckenridge Newman is described as “the second American woman to be appointed to a position outside the United States,” yet her first name is never given.  

Some were listed by their husband’s name with a note giving their first name and maiden name.  For example, Mrs. A. H. Van Buren  who organized the actress’s section “is sometimes called by her own name of Dorothy Bernard.”  In fact, Dorothy appeared in 93 films between 1908 and 1956 and would have been better known by her own name.  In 1913 alone, she had six films debut.  

Other married women were listed by their own first names, including both famous activists such as Carrie Chapman Catt and women who were likely well known only in their community such as society matron Emma S. Tenney.  

Suffrage Tableau at the end of the parade route on the steps of the Treasury. Costumed figures represented Columbia, Justice, Charity, Liberty, Peace, and Hope,

Despite the anarchy that broke out along the parade route, many marchers continued on to the Treasury for the tableau.  

Images via the Library of Congress

Crowd converging on marchers and blocking parade route during March 3, 1913, inaugural suffrage procession, Washington, D.C.

Crowd converging on marchers and blocking parade route during March 3, 1913, inaugural suffrage procession, Washington, D.C.

"By the eleventh minute of the fire—the sixth minute of the nightmare on the ninth floor—only two escape routes remained, and they, too, would be gone in thirty or sixty or ninety seconds more. To survive at this point required decisiveness, a sudden burst of action, and good luck, which was a vanishing commodity."

—

Triangle: The Fire That Changed America by David Von Drehle

Today is the 102nd anniversary of the Triangle Factory fire in which 146 women died.

wnyc:

Former New York State Senator Serf Maltese talks about how grandmother and her two daughters — ages 14 and 18 — were among the 146 who died in the fast-moving blaze that engulfed the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory on March 25, 1911.

natgeofound: A female musher participates in a dog sled race through Nome, Alaska, March 1919.Photograph by Thomas A. Ross, National Geographic

natgeofound:

A female musher participates in a dog sled race through Nome, Alaska, March 1919.
Photograph by Thomas A. Ross, National Geographic

College Section  Washington DC suffrage parade March 3, 1913 This section was led by Vassar graduate Elsie Hill who along with her mother helped arrange the permit for the parade.

College Section 

Washington DC suffrage parade

March 3, 1913

This section was led by Vassar graduate Elsie Hill who along with her mother helped arrange the permit for the parade.

“Officers” Washington DC suffrage parade March 3, 1913

“Officers”

Washington DC suffrage parade

March 3, 1913

“Homemakers” Washington DC suffrage parade March 3, 1913 Mrs. William Sturtevant Moore is listed as the leader of this section in the program.  Caroline Garland Burwell was the second wife of Commodore William Sturtevant Moore.  Commodore Moore later testified in front of Congress about the difficulties he faced in getting police support for the suffrage events on March 3, 1913.  Caroline is not mentioned in his testimony and does not seem to have testified herself, but Hannah Cassel Mills and Mary H. Forrest testified about how the home makers section was set upon by the crowd.

“Homemakers”

Washington DC suffrage parade

March 3, 1913

Mrs. William Sturtevant Moore is listed as the leader of this section in the program.  Caroline Garland Burwell was the second wife of Commodore William Sturtevant Moore.  Commodore Moore later testified in front of Congress about the difficulties he faced in getting police support for the suffrage events on March 3, 1913.  Caroline is not mentioned in his testimony and does not seem to have testified herself, but Hannah Cassel Mills and Mary H. Forrest testified about how the home makers section was set upon by the crowd.

“American Nurses” Washington DC suffrage parade March 3, 1913 According to the program, the leaders of this section were Priscilla Page and Lillian Wald.  Lillian Wald was a pioneer of community nursing and founder of the Henry Street Settlement in New York City.  

“American Nurses”

Washington DC suffrage parade

March 3, 1913

According to the program, the leaders of this section were Priscilla Page and Lillian Wald.  Lillian Wald was a pioneer of community nursing and founder of the Henry Street Settlement in New York City.  

Suffrage hikers arrive in DC on February 28, 1913.

Photos via the Library of Congress

Although the hike was largely considered successful, at times the hikers were harassed along the way.  Young boys threw snowballs at the hikers in Leiperville, PA.  Students at the University of Maryland insulted the marchers and ripped the banners off their baggage car.

When the hikers marched through DC, they were greeted with both cheers and jeers.  Sara T. Moller later testified, “When Rosalie Jones and her pilgrims arrived, we had a very difficult time in front of headquarters. We had telephoned the police, and even then the crowd was very badly handled.  It was very rough… I thought that was very ominous of what might happen on Monday [March 3, the date of the larger suffrage parade].”

On to Washington (1913)

Click on the link above to see original newsreel footage of the 1913 suffrage hike in Newark, NJ via the National Film Preservation Foundation.  It is slow to load (and not tumblr embed friendly), but very worth watching.  

This may be the earliest surviving American newsreel.

Suffrage hikers march through Newark, NJ.

February 12, 1913

Both photos via the Library of Congress.  The lower photo was taken on Broad Street just north of West Kinney Street.

Suffrage hikers in New York on February 10, 1913.   The banner on the left side advertises a speech from Hull House founder Jane Addams.  Behind the bus is the 34th Street crosstown trolley.

Suffrage hikers in New York on February 10, 1913.  

The banner on the left side advertises a speech from Hull House founder Jane Addams.  Behind the bus is the 34th Street crosstown trolley.

Phoebe Hawn (above) was one of fourteen women who walked 295 miles from New York City to Washington DC in 1913 as part of a suffrage demonstration. In December 1912, Long Island socialite “General” Rosalie Jones organized a hike from New York City to Albany in favor of women’s suffrage.  Over thirteen days, Rosalie and a small group of suffragettes walked 170 miles, giving speeches at small towns along the way.  So much publicity was generated by the hike that the women decided to plan a second, more ambitious hike to Washington, DC.   The hike to DC began on February 12, 1913, Lincoln’s birthday.  Hundreds of people joined the march at points along the way.  The fourteen women who walked the entire route and the two who joined the march in Philadelphia wore long brown capes as shown in the photo above. Mayors sent delegations to meet them and the hikers made speeches in favor of women’s suffrage down the eastern seaboard.  The streets of Philadelphia were so packed when they arrived that the hikers staged a series of street corner speeches on the way to their hotel in order to thin the crowd of eager well wishers.  Wilmington, Delaware declared the day they arrived a half-holiday.  The hikers gave long, well-attended speeches at Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania. Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore met with them, a great honor considering none of the marchers were Catholic.     The hikers arrived in DC on February 28 and marched down Pennsylvania Avenue.   The hikers marched again as part of the large parade on March 3, 1913.

Phoebe Hawn (above) was one of fourteen women who walked 295 miles from New York City to Washington DC in 1913 as part of a suffrage demonstration.

In December 1912, Long Island socialite “General” Rosalie Jones organized a hike from New York City to Albany in favor of women’s suffrage.  Over thirteen days, Rosalie and a small group of suffragettes walked 170 miles, giving speeches at small towns along the way.  So much publicity was generated by the hike that the women decided to plan a second, more ambitious hike to Washington, DC.  

The hike to DC began on February 12, 1913, Lincoln’s birthday.  Hundreds of people joined the march at points along the way.  The fourteen women who walked the entire route and the two who joined the march in Philadelphia wore long brown capes as shown in the photo above.

Mayors sent delegations to meet them and the hikers made speeches in favor of women’s suffrage down the eastern seaboard.  The streets of Philadelphia were so packed when they arrived that the hikers staged a series of street corner speeches on the way to their hotel in order to thin the crowd of eager well wishers.  Wilmington, Delaware declared the day they arrived a half-holiday.  The hikers gave long, well-attended speeches at Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania. Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore met with them, a great honor considering none of the marchers were Catholic.    

The hikers arrived in DC on February 28 and marched down Pennsylvania Avenue.   The hikers marched again as part of the large parade on March 3, 1913.