100th Anniversary Local League Toolkit

The 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and the founding of the League of Women Voters of the United States and the Massachusetts League offers an opportunity for local Leagues to remember and learn from the past, showcase their accomplishments, increase appreciation for the mission of LWV, focus on current issues, and celebrate!

This toolkit suggests activities for local Leagues, presents projects by local Leagues, and provides resources.

The toolkit is a “living document,” meaning we will be adding items as we become aware of them. If you have a project, activity, or event to share, please email a description and contact information to 100thanniversary@lwvma.org.

Anniversary Dates

February 14, 1920	League of Women Voters established
May 27, 1920	League of Women Voters of Massachusetts established
August 26, 1920	19th Amendment adopted

Holidays that Celebrate Women

Women’s History Month – March – The entire month of March is recognized as Women’s History Month; a time to celebrate the tremendous contributions that women have made throughout history.
International Women’s Day – March 8 – This global celebration takes place each year to celebrate women’s achievements in every part of our society (economic, political and social).
Equal Pay Day – Date varies each year – Equal Pay day is run by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) and is focused on creating awareness of the wage gap between men and women. The date represents the wage gap for that year, so it fluctuates based on what they number is.
Women’s Equality Day – August 26 – This day celebrates the certification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. constitution, giving women the right to vote.

Honor the League’s History and Accomplishments

Host an Anniversary Event

An anniversary event can take on many forms. It can be a guest speaker, panel discussion, historical presentation, performance, luncheon, tea—whatever you want. It can be a forum you have already planned on a relevant topic such as threats to voting, climate emergency, threats to women’s rights, etc., but include a celebratory cake in honor of the anniversaries. See the Anniversary Events Calendar for a listing of the anniversary events our local Leagues are planning.

Showcase Your History and Accomplishments

Although it is probably not your local League’s 100^th anniversary, you can embrace the anniversaries of LWVUS, LWVMA and women’s suffrage as your own. It is a good time to update your own League’s history, incorporating state and national history, and post it on your website.

You can also ask your local Select Board/Board of Selectmen, City Council, Mayor, etc. to issue a proclamation honoring your League for the anniversary. See a proclamation template on the LWVUS Day of Action website.

LWVMA has compiled a list of the founding years of all Leagues in MA based on records from LWVUS—that’s a good place to start. You can intermingle state and national milestones in with your own. Looking through your League’s archival material is fun and rewarding.

Some local Leagues have their own history on their websites. Here are a few:

Concord-Carlisle
Needham
Worcester Area

Others have created more detailed documents for a recent local League anniversary

Acton Area
Amherst

Videos and Television Programs are a great way to chronicle your League’s history
LWV-Lexington produced a video public service announcement for the 90^th anniversary

LWV-Newton (Anne Borg) interviewed Fredie Kay and Linda Morrison for local cable station show about the history of women’s suffrage and LWV.

LWVUS History

The Day of Action webpage includes information that can be used at any time, not just for the Day of Action project. The LWVUS website history page is a good source that local Leagues can use as part of their own history. The photos may be copied and used in videos and documents.

Large panels of the LWV photos through the decades are available to borrow from LWV-Needham. Post them on easels at forums or meetings.

The League of Women Voters recognizes that it was not as welcoming to African Americans as it should have been throughout its history. Here are some resources to help understand this aspect of League and suffrage history.

See the blog “Facing Hard Truths About the League’s Origin.” The blog is responding to a New York Times article.

Watch the LWVUS Webinar “Acknowledging the Past, Reimagining the Future”, August 29, 2019 – Past LWVUS President Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins presented this webinar speaking about the courageous and often overlooked women of color, and how we can move forward to actualize our values as individuals and as an organization.

Read this article originally published in The Hill: “This Women’s Equality Day, Stop Romanticizing the 19th Amendment” by Virginia Kase, CEO of the League of Women Voters, 8/26/2019.

Literature and the Arts

Books

Select a book for members to read and schedule a discussion
Ask members read a book of their choice and then report on all the books read to the group
Collaborate with your local library for a townwide book reading
Select a children’s book and donate copies to the age-appropriate school libraries
Arrange to read a children’s book at local elementary schools

There are many fascinating books about the suffrage movement and the women’s movement. Suffrage100MA (the Women’s Suffrage Celebration Coalition of MA) has compiled a comprehensive list of books about women and women’s suffrage. To search or filter this list use the tool in the box in the upper right labelled: Search Suffrage100MA’s books.

The LWVMA local League engagement committee has reviewed many of the books and created a list. This list may be viewed on the screen (advance the pages using the up and down arrows at the bottom of the page), or downloaded as a pdf.

In addition, members of the League of Women Voter of the Northampton Area has prepared a list of children’s books after reviewing many books in local libraries, with thanks to the collaboration of the librarians at Forbes Library in Northampton, Lilly Library in Florence, and Meekins Library in Williamsburg. They have chosen twenty books that they believe will have strong appeal to elementary school children and their teachers. You will find many others in your local libraries, especially in the biography section.

LL Toolkit for 100th Books

Films

Members can watch a film together followed by a discussion.
Ask members to watch the film at home and join together for a discussion.
Host a film at a public venue.
Select a series of films to watch either in a private or public setting.

Previewed films available on DVD are listed below. A film series does not have to be limited to the suffrage topic. Films can highlight women’s achievements and/or struggles, female directors, a League action area such as the environment, guns, immigration, etc. Check your subscription services for availability, YouTube, or purchase the DVD.

The League of Women Voters of Needham is hosting, with the local library, the “Women Take Action Film Series” featuring documentary films about women who have had an impact on the course of US history.

LL Toolkit for 100th Films

Download the above PDF.

Performance Art

Attend a Performance of We Did It for You: Women’s Journey Through History

We Did It for You: Women’s Journey Through History is the story of how women got their rights in America, told by the women who were there. It is an entertaining tour through the journey, starting with the struggle women had in the 17th century Puritan Revolution through to our 21st century empowered women politicians. A dedicated troupe of women will entertain and educate you with this incredible experience.

Local Leagues can bring this Massachusetts based theatrical presentation to be shown locally. See the play’s website for upcoming performances that may be in your area. If you are interested in hosting the performance contact info@wediditforyou.org.

Re-enactors and Other Speakers

Judith Kalaora is a Boston area re-enactor who will perform at League events, schools, churches, etc. She has several characters, all of whom represent a woman or women who were pioneers in their fields, including pioneering Massachusetts suffragist Lucy Stone.

Kathryn Woods recreates the life of famous abolitionist, feminist, and escaped slave Sojourner Truth.

Laura Harrington is an author and playwright who lives on the North Shore and has spoken at League events in the area. She has spoken about her dynamic musical comedy of politics, power and persuasion The Perfect 36, about the struggle to persuade 36 states to ratify the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote.

Story teller Judith Black presents “Meet Lucy Stone.”

Pat Jordan presents a one-woman play celebrating Votes for Women! “Carrie Chapman Catt: Suffragist Leader & Founder of The League Of Women Voters”

Sheryl Faye presents Susan B. Anthony, a women’s rights activist, who devoted her life to racial, gender, and educational equality.

Displays

Partner with the high school art department on a public art project about the League, suffrage, or women and their achievements and/or struggles. Display at the school or a public space, indoors or outdoors.

LWV-Amherst is combining their 80^th anniversary with the 100^th with a month-long exhibit at the Jones library in Amherst. The Sudbury, Needham and Greater Haverhill Leagues have or will be part of displays or exhibits at their local libraries.

Community Events

Tabling at Public Events

Leagues often have a table at town fairs (indoors and out), farmers markets, etc. To attract people to your table, set up a suffrage display. Local Leagues have materials they will share with other Leagues, including a display kit with a life-size cutout suffragist (based on an actual photo) and a LWV suffrage banner, with a stand to keep them stable and secure. Additional props include hats and sashes. LWV-Wellesley borrowed the kit for a recent event.

Parades

Community parades can give your League great visibility, make a point, or give a history lesson.

Ask your local parade organizers to make the anniversary of suffrage or LWV the parade theme.
Dress up as suffragists and walk in the parade.
Design a float that honors women or some period in women’s history.
Design a float that uses the Votes for Women theme to encourage voting in the 2020 elections (primaries and general election).

The League of Women Voters of Needham honored the Silent Sentinels, who picketed the White House in 1915-1917 and were the subject of the film Iron Jawed Angels. The July 4^th, 2019 float, a replica of the Woodrow Wilson White House, is available to local Leagues to use, contact president@lwv-needham.org. See Needham’s website for photos and a 3-minute video.

Tabling, Display and Parade Items Available for Local Leagues

Make your own yellow rose pins! The League of Women Voters of Concord-Carlisle have created a video on how to make felt Yellow Rose pins. Click on the photo to watch the video.

The League of Women Voter of Concord-Carlisle has designed a set of four bookmarks honoring Women’s Suffrage and League of Women Voters early leaders. The honored women are Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony commemorating the 100th Anniversary of US Woman Suffrage and Carrie Chapman Catt and Maud Wood Park commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the LWV. The bookmarks may be downloaded and printed.

Borrow items from local Leagues! Items available are shown below in this multi-page PDF embedded below. This list may be viewed on the screen (advance the pages using the up and down arrows at the bottom of the page), or downloaded as a pdf.

Click to access LL-Toolkit-for-100th-Materials-rev.pdf

Buy League and suffrage items! The League of Women Voters of Missouri has extensive LWV and women’s suffrage materials for sale including sashes, buttons, stand-ups, tablecloths. Sales are through a Missouri banner company, and email for a pricelist.

Field Trips—Events and Exhibits

Be sure to check the websites well in advance, as most exhibits have a start and end date.

Near You

Check with your local libraries and historical societies/museums to see if they have exhibits ongoing or planned.

Massachusetts

Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America (Cambridge)
Boston Women’s Heritage Trail offers walking tours, programs and self-guided tours.
Black Heritage Trail
Museum of African American History
Boston by Foot is offering “Women’s History Tours” in honor of the 100^th Anniversary of women’s suffrage.
Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum (Adams)

Washington, DC

Other Locations

Women’s Rights National Park (Seneca Falls, NY)

Partner in Your Community

Schools

American History is taught in 5^thgrade, 8^th grade and High School in MA.

LWV-Northampton initiated a civic education project with local schools in their fairly large League area. Download a flyer template (in word).
Work with schools to bring in re-enactors.
Suggest a suffrage parade re-enactment. Students research women’s suffrage parades, clothes, sashes, buttons, signs, banners, then parade around the school, stopping at classrooms to give a short description of historical significance.
League members read an age-appropriate book about women’s suffrage to fifth graders in local schools.
“Making the World Better: The Struggle for Equality in 19th Century America” MassHumanities curriculum packets to teach about Massachusetts State House Women’s Leadership Project honorees and advocates for equal rights, Lucy Stone and Sarah Parker Remond.
Make teachers and students aware of the Internet African American History Challenge. “The Internet African American History Challenge© is an interactive quiz that helps you sharpen your knowledge of African American History. It’s an “open book” test. So if you’re not sure of an answer, you can check our reference material for help. Level I is the easiest and has 7 questions while levels II & III have 10 questions each and are a bit more challenging.”
The National Endowment for the Humanities hosts EDSITEment, a vast array of articles, information and programs, a goldmine of materials. Includes resources for lesson plans, activities for students plus extensive links to additional materials for educators and the public. Some of the relevant topics:
- “Voting Rights for Women: Pro- and Anti-Suffrage” Grades 9-12, 4-5 class period
- “Who Were the Foremothers of the Women’s Suffrage and Equality Movements?” Grades 6-12, 3-4 class periods
- “Women’s Equality: Changing Attitudes and Beliefs” Grades 9-12, 1-2 class periods
- “Women’s Suffrage: Why the West First?” Grades 6-12, 1-2 class periods

Scouts/Youth Groups

Many of the suggestions above for schools can work with Scouts.
Reach out to scout groups to discuss possibly collaboration.
Design a “women’s suffrage patch” and create criteria to earn it—including attending local League events, reading a book, participating in other organizations’ relevant events, interviewing a female elected official, craft projects based on research, etc.
Don’t forget the Boy Scouts!

Local Government

Ask your local government (mayor, board, council) to honor your League with a proclamation honoring the 100th Anniversary. See a sample proclamation.
Ask your local government to issue a proclamation honoring Women’s Equality Day 2020 (August 26). Several organizations could join in this request.
Host a panel discussion with women in government.
Research women in government in your city or town.

Historical Societies

Ask your historical society to make a presentation on the history of women’s suffrage in your city or town.
Collaborate on a public display on the history of the League in your city/town.

Library

Arrange for a public display of LWV, suffrage, or some aspect of women’s rights.
Collaborate with library on an author presentation, film series, or re-enactor.
Suggest that the library run a course or present a single talk on the history of the LWV.

Cable TV

Collaborate with local cable stations on short and/or long documentaries about the local League history and current activities.
Invite local “experts” for interview program about LWV.

Newspapers

Write a letter to the editor, op-ed, or regular (e.g. monthly) column on what LWV has accomplished/still does for the city/town. See LWVUS toolkit for template.
Submit photos from events celebrating LWV/suffrage.

Clubs and organizations

Reach out to clubs and organizations in your area to speak about the role of LWV
Collaborate on projects with groups such as the Women’s Club, Rotary, etc.

Resources

League of Women Voters

LWVUS has created a toolkit for the 100^th Anniversary.

The more recent toolkit for the LWVUS “She Is Me” campaign outlines the purpose and goals of the campaign and features social media posts, customizable graphics, and portrait photography guidelines so that you can participate at many different levels.

The official LWV 100^th Anniversary logo and slogan are available in several formats.

See the history of LWV by decade.

Women’s Suffrage

Suffrage100MA is coordinating the celebration for the state. Local Leagues may become partners, members may sign up for their emails, and Leagues can participate in the events.

The Suffrage100MA website has a page on Suffrage Centennial Resources that includes a toolkit with ideas, resources, and historical information to help organizations and individuals commemorate the women’s suffrage centennial.

The Commonwealth Museum, in collaboration with the Suffrage100MA, is creating and displaying “Suffragist of the Month Panels,” featuring suffragists from Massachusetts and beyond. A “Suffragist of the Month” is being featured in a lobby display and all are displayed on their website as they are produced.

The Library of Congress July/August Magazine includes extensive information about suffrage and women members of Congress. Excellent resource and interesting read. Exhibits are on display for a limited time.

There are many websites dedicated to women’s suffrage, and more will be coming. Here are some of the online resources.