On June 10th, 1919, Wisconsin ratified the 19th Amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote. Former state senator David James of Richland Center came to Madison to witness the state legislature vote on the amendment. Once that happened, he found himself on a train carrying the official ratification documents to Washington, DC. Though the Illinois legislature voted for ratification before Wisconsin, James was the first to get the official documents to the U.S. State Department making Wisconsin the first state to officially ratify the 19th Amendment.
The Wisconsin Historical Society hosted an event at the Capitol commemorating this historic event one hundred years ago. There was music, speechifying and waves of women in white. The descendants of David James were on hand to reveal Wisconsin's original 19th Amendment document which was displayed — framed and under glass — during the ceremonies at the Capitol. A perfect way to spend a lovely June afternoon with friends.
Yay, Wisconsin! If only we could get the ERA pushed over the line too.
Posted by: Kris P | Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 12:34 PM
If you give women rights, everyone will want them:) Congratulations to history-making Wisconsin. I'm with Kris on the ERA hope.
Posted by: Peter/Outlaw | Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at 09:14 AM