The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Tennessee Timeline

By Mary DePeder

This year marks the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in the United States with the ratification of the 19th Amendment by the Tennessee General Assembly. By the summer of 1920, 35 states had ratified the 19th Amendment, bringing it just one state shy of the constitutional majority needed to make it law. When the Tennessee House of Representatives voted to ratify on August 18, 1920, Tennessee became that crucial final state, earning itself the nickname “The Perfect 36”.

We have been sharing stories of the women’s suffrage movement from across Tennessee to celebrate our unique role in this turning point in American history. This third segment in our series is a pictorial timeline highlighting significant events and people in the Tennessee women’s suffrage movement.

Map of Tennessee Congressional Districts, 1920. Carrie Chapman Cat Papers, 1916-1921.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1889

Lide Meriwether founded the first Tennessee woman suffrage organization in Memphis. Before this, Meriwether was president of the Tennessee Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). For many women, participation in reform movements such as WCTU were precursors to suffrage activism.

Souvenir booklet from the thirty-third annual convention of the National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union meeting in Nashville in 1907. Donelson, Bettie Mizell (1862-1939) Papers 1787-1938.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1897

At the Tennessee Centennial Exposition, suffragists met in the Exposition’s Woman’s Building to form the Tennessee Equal Suffrage Association. Lide Meriwether was their first president.

Woman’s Building, 1897. Library Photograph Collection.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1897

The National Council of Women of the United States convened in the Woman’s Building bringing powerful and influential suffrage activists to the state.

“National Council of Women: Federated Body of Over a Score of Great National Societies of Women to Meet Here To-Morrow,” 1897. Newspapers on Microfilm.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1897

Mary Church Terrell held the first convention of the National Association of Colored Women later renamed the National Association of Colored Women’s Club (NACWC) in Nashville. NACWC was a pivotal organization for black suffrage activism.

Mary Church Terrell. Library Photography Collection.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1900

Carrie Chapman Catt became president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA).

Carrie Chapman Cat. Carrie Chapman Catt Papers, 1916-1921.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1900

Tennessee Equal Suffrage Association (TESA) held its second convention in Memphis.

1906

Memphis created its chapter of TESA

1910

Lizzie Crozier French organized the Knoxville chapter of TESA

1911

Nashville, Chattanooga, and Morristown all created TESA chapters

Frances Holder Overall scrapbook, 1914-1945. Newspaper clip highlighting important figures in the fight for women’s suffrage. Frances Holder Overall Papers, 1867-1918.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1913

Alice Paul and Lucy Burns broke off from the National Woman Suffrage Association to form the more militant Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage, later renamed the National Woman’s Party (NWP). At a march for suffrage hosted by the NWP, Memphis native Ida B. Wells was told to march at the back of the line with other black suffragists. She refused. She opted instead to march at the front of the line with the white suffragists.

Ida B. Wells-Barnett, 1897. Library Collection.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1914

The Tennessee Equal Suffrage Association splintered into two separate factions: The Tennessee Equal Suffrage Association, Incorporated, and TESA.

1914

National American Woman Suffrage Association held a convention in Nashville.

Cover of National Suffrage Convention pamphlet, 1914. Library Collection.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

“Votes for Women,” 1914. Nashville Tennessean clip about the 1914 NAWSA convention. Bettie Mizell Donelson Family Papers, 1787-1938.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1915

The Tennessee Equal Suffrage Association, Inc. pushed for a woman suffrage amendment to be added to the state constitution. The Tennessee General Assembly adopted a joint resolution for the amendment. However, in order to succeed, the amendment needed to pass in 1917 with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate.

“You Dirty Boy,” 1914. Political cartoon from Nashville Tennessean. Frances Holder Overall Papers, 1867-1918.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1915

The Crisis, a monthly publication of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, did a feature on the suffrage movement.

“Votes for Women: A Symposium by Leading Thinkers of Colored America,” 1915. Josephine A. Pearson Papers, 1860-1943.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1916-1917

Although it never achieved the same level of success as the NAWSA in the south, the National Woman’s Party saw an increase in interest during these years.

Mary Giles Howard, 1916. Vice-chairman of the Tennessee Division of the National Woman’s Party. Tennessee Federation of Women’s Clubs Records, 1893-1992.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

Mrs. K. P. Jones, 1916. Vice-chairman of the Tennessee Division of the National Woman’s Party. Tennessee Federation of Women’s Clubs Records, 1893-1992.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1917

Josephine A. Pearson became the President of the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage.

“Truth crushed,” 1920. Scrapbook page with Josephine Pearson on the right, a confederate soldier in the center, and Mrs. Jas. S Pinkard on the right.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1917

The joint resolution presented in 1915 to add a woman’s suffrage amendment to the state constitution failed due to increased lobbying from anti-suffragist groups.

“Woman Suffrage: A Menace to the South,” 1917. An anti-suffrage pamphlet. Josephine A. Pearson Papers, 1860-1943.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1918

The two factions of TESA stopped feuding and unified.

1919

Limited suffrage passed granting women the right to vote in municipal and presidential elections.

“An annoying delay,” 1920. Political cartoon. Carrie Chapman Catt Papers, 1916-1921.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1919

Under limited suffrage, Mary Cordelia Beasley Hudson of Benton County became the first woman to legally vote in Tennessee.

1920, May

The League of Women Voters of Tennessee was established. Abby Crawford Milton was the first president.

The League of Women Voters card, 1920. Carrie Chapman Catt Papers, 1916-1921.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

1920, June

Catherine Talty Kenny was elected the Chairman of the Ratification Committee of the League of Women Voters of Tennessee. She selected Dr. Mattie E. Coleman as “state negro organizer” and J. Frankie Pierce as “secretary of colored suffrage work.”

1920, July

Both Carrie Chapman Catt and Josephine Pearson arrived in Nashville and established organization headquarters at the Hermitage Hotel. Intense lobbying on both sides ensued.

“Question is, will they get through in time for the presidential election?” 1920. Political cartoon. Carrie Chapman Catt Papers, 1916-1921.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

August 9, 1920

Governor Albert H. Roberts called a special legislative session for the 19th Amendment.

Telegram from Sue Shelton White to Governor Albert H. Roberts, 1920. GP 38: Governor Albert H. Roberts Papers, 1919-1921.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

August 13, 1920

The Senate approved the resolution to ratify.

“Suffrage scenes at the Capitol when the Senate ratified August 13,” 1920. Josephine A. Pearson Papers, 1860-1943.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

August 18, 1920

The House adopted the resolution, ratifying the 19th Amendment and enfranchising women throughout the United States.

“Gov. A. H. Roberts signing Tennessee certificate of ratification,” 1920. GP 38: Governor Albert H. Roberts Papers, 1919-1921.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

August 26, 1920

The Tennessee ratification certificate was received by the United States Secretary of State, who signed the proclamation into law. Victory at last! The 19th Amendment was officially ratified on a national level. Women of color, however, continued to fight restrictive voting laws and practices aimed at disenfranchising black voters. Their relentless activism led to the successful passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

“Lest we forget,” 1920. Political cartoon. Carrie Chapman Catt Papers, 1916-1921.
Image: Tennessee Virtual Archive (TeVA)

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