Suffragist Movement

Suffragist Movement

What Was Life Like Beyond the Fight for the Ballot?

What Was Life Like Beyond the Fight for the Ballot?

When we think of momentous occasions like the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which finally gave women across the United States the right to vote, you have to wonder what it meant for the women in our families. While we can’t just step into a time machine, records can provide a window into their world.

When we think of momentous occasions like the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which finally gave women across the United States the right to vote, you have to wonder what it meant for the women in our families. While we can’t just step into a time machine, records can provide a window into their world.

The 1920 U.S. federal census gives a fascinating glimpse into the household, with details like where the family lived, birth dates and places, ethnicity, and whether family members could speak English. For immigrants, when we’re considering whether they were eligible to vote, it lists whether they were naturalized, and the year of their naturalization. (Note: Between 1907 and 1922, a woman could lose her citizenship if she married an un-naturalized immigrant, even if she was born in the U.S. or had been naturalized as a minor via her father’s citizenship.)

The 1920 U.S. federal census gives a fascinating glimpse into the household, with details like where the family lived, birth dates and places, ethnicity, and whether family members could speak English. For immigrants, when we’re considering whether they were eligible to vote, it lists whether they were naturalized, and the year of their naturalization. (Note: Between 1907 and 1922, a woman could lose her citizenship if she married an un-naturalized immigrant, even if she was born in the U.S. or had been naturalized as a minor via her father’s citizenship.)

Historical newspapers, like those on Newspapers.com, can give you an insider’s look at how your ancestor’s community was reacting to the news of women’s suffrage. If your ancestor was an active suffragist or an “anti” (those against suffrage), you may even find mention of their activities in their local paper.

Historical newspapers, like those on Newspapers.com, can give you an insider’s look at how your ancestor’s community was reacting to the news of women’s suffrage. If your ancestor was an active suffragist or an “anti” (those against suffrage), you may even find mention of their activities in their local paper.

Voter registration records can also include insights into how they leaned politically, as well as information about occupations, age, birthplace, addresses, naturalization details, and more, depending on the time and place.

Voter registration records can also include insights into how they leaned politically, as well as information about occupations, age, birthplace, addresses, naturalization details, and more, depending on the time and place.

In Pima County, Arizona, the voter registrations for 1920-1922 spanned two pages (be sure to advance to the next page) and even includ1ed a physical description.

In Pima County, Arizona, the voter registrations for 1920-1922 spanned two pages (be sure to advance to the next page) and even includ1ed a physical description.

Stringing together the facts and details from records can give a fuller picture of a woman in your family’s life. Maybe you can even imagine how she might have felt to enter the ballot booth after the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

Stringing together the facts and details from records can give a fuller picture of a woman in your family’s life. Maybe you can even imagine how she might have felt to enter the ballot booth after the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

Voter Records with content from the 1920s

Voter Records with content from the 1920s

Other voter-related collections

Other voter-related collections