100 years ago on this day...

Today we remember an important moment in our nation's history. #OnThisDay in 1919, a federal suffrage amendment was passed by the U.S. Congress and sent to each state for ratification. On August 18, 1920, Tennessee provided the 36th and final vote needed to ratify this important amendment to the U.S. Constitution granting women nationwide the right to vote.

"Women's suffrage ratification in the Tennessee Senate chamber" This photograph from the "Ratification Issue" of the Nashville Tennessean, Sunday morning, August 29, 1920, depicts the Senate chamber at the moment that the clerk counted the historic vote on women's suffrage. Women flood the gallery and floor as the clerk counts the votes. Young Senator Harry T. Burn from McMinn County cast the deciding vote for the 19th Amendment. With this vote, Tennessee became the 36th and deciding state to approve the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote.

Look for future posts on the Library and Archives social media channels chronicling the history of the women's suffrage movement during this centennial season of remembrance. In the meantime, we encourage you to view our "Women’s Suffrage in Tennessee" online collection at: https://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/customizations/global/pages/collections/suffrage/suffrage.html

The Tennessee State Library and Archives is a division of the Office of Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett