2020 marked the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which recognized women’s right to vote. The following resources are intended to support ongoing education about women’s suffrage in Arizona and throughout the United States.
Celebrating Suffrage: More than the 19th Amendment
In October 2020, the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, Arizona Capitol Museum, and Arizona State Library and Archives presented “Celebrating Suffrage: More than the 19th Amendment,” a virtual program commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and recognizing the evolution of Arizona women’s voting rights and their election to public office.
The series kicked off with the State of Arizona Research Library’s Arizona Author Series featuring historian Heidi Osselaer who presented on Arizona’s suffrage movement. It was followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of the Polly Rosenbaum Archives and History Building. Staff from the museum, library, and archives shared collections relating to Arizona suffrage and women in politics, as well as some of the steps taken to preserve the priceless materials.
Virtual (Videos) Program
Virtual program commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and recognizing the evolution of Arizona women’s voting rights and their election to public office.
Celebrating Suffrage: More than the 19th Amendment Introduction
Arizona Author Series featuring Heidi Osselaer
Tour of the Polly Rosenbaum Archives and History Building: Intro by Holly Henley
Tour of the Polly Rosenbaum Archives and History Building: Arizona Research Library
Tour of the Polly Rosenbaum Archive and History Building: Arizona State Archives
Tour of the Polly Rosenbaum Archives and History Building: Arizona Capitol Museum
Tour of Polly Rosenbaum Archives and History Building: Conservator Joanne Martinez-Kilgore
This program was made possible in part by a grant from Arizona Humanities in conjunction with the Voices and Votes: Democracy in America exhibit. Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is part of the Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress. Learn more at www.museumonmainstreet.org
This program is supported by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Online Resources
“They are still at it” – Women’s Suffrage in Arizona
A compilation of documents, reports, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera about the Women’s Suffrage movement from materials in the State of Arizona Research Library, spanning from 1863 to 2011.
Women’s Suffrage Research Topic
Discover letters, reports, newspapers, photographs, and more selected from the rich historical collections of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.
Click here to view the Arizona State Archives’ Women’s Suffrage Collection. (Select “hot topics” and “Women’s Suffrage Collection.”)
Women’s Suffrage Centennial Reading List
A list of books assembled by the Arizona Center for the Book at the Arizona State Library exploring the history of women’s suffrage for readers of all ages. State Library staff, Arizona librarians, and members of Questers International helped compile this list.
Women of Arizona on Reading Arizona
Ebooks and audiobooks about the diverse group of women who shaped Arizona history.
Voting Rights Timeline
This timeline denotes milestones in the uneven expansion of voting rights in America, highlighting those who were enfranchised, and noting those who were not. It is a resource intended to support ongoing education about voting rights and what that means for equity and equality in this country.
In Celebration of Women Art Exhibition
In Celebration of Women is a juried art exhibit featuring woman artists in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. It first opened in the Herberger Theater Gallery in March 2020 to commemorate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day.
Arizona Women’s Organizations
Thank you to the following organizations who have partnered with us in celebrating the 19th Amendment.
Arizona Women’s Partnership
Formed in 2002, the Arizona Women’s Partnership, Inc. is an all-volunteer philanthropic 501(c)3 non-profit that awards grants to charities who assist under-served women and children at risk in Arizona. Grant application and profiles of grant recipients can be found on our website.
Arizona State Questers
The Questers is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1944. Its mission is to keep history alive through preservation, restoration, and education. Nearly 10,000 members in the US and Canada are dedicated to preserving elements of material culture, including historic buildings, monuments, artifacts, and the tools associated with human life. Arizona has 28 Questers chapters and is sponsor of the Questers Women’s Suffrage Centennial Project.
The National Council of Jewish Women Arizona
The National Council of Jewish Women Arizona (NCJW AZ) is a grassroots social justice organization that advocates to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and safeguard individual rights and freedoms.
Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame
The Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame was initiated in 1981 by the Office of the Governor and the Arizona Women’s Commission to pay tribute to the remarkable women who have played a significant role in the history of this state.
