S01 E08 Kentucky: Inclusive Voices Become Vindicated

In this episode, Marsha Weinstein, past president of the NCWHS, discusses the struggle for the women’s vote at sites on the NVWT.

We talk about the activists in KY votes for women campaigns:

• Susan Look Avery was an inclusive voice in the suffrage movement by advocating for both Black and white women.
• Georgia and Alice Nugent played a pivotal role in advancing the African American suffrage movement and were later active in voter education.
• Josephine Henry fought for equality for women under the law as well as being the first woman to run for statewide office.
• Eugenia Farmer became a leader in the suffrage movement after befriending Susan B. Anthony.
• Dr. Mary E. Britton was a political activist and was the first African-American female doctor in the state of Kentucky.
• Madeline McDowell Breckinridge lectured on women’s suffrage extensively, even traveling while she suffered from tuberculosis.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Marsha Weinstein is a past president of the NCWHS and has researched and spoken extensively on the women’s suffrage movement. She is the NVWT State Coordinator and was highly instrumental in the growth of the NVWT.

Links to People, Places, Publications

• Kentucky and the 19th Amendment (here)
• History of Women’s Suffrage in Kentucky (here)
• Susan Look Avery Biographical Sketch (here)
• Visit the Susan Look Avery marker (here)
• Georgia Anne Nugent Biographical Sketch (here)
• Visit the Nugent sisters’ marker (here)
• Josephine Henry Biographical Sketch (here)
• Visit the Josephine Henry marker (here)
• Eugenia B. Farmer Biographical Sketch (here)
• Visit the Eugenia B. Farmer marker (here)
• Dr. Mary E. Britton Biographical Sketch (here)
• Visit the Dr. Mary E. Britton marker (here)
• Mary Barr Clay Biographical Sketch (here

CM Marihugh is a public history consultant and currently conducting independent research for a book on commemoration of the U.S. women’s suffrage movement. She has an M.A. in Public History from State University of New York, and an M.B.A. from Dartmouth College.

Learn more about:

• National Votes for Women Trail (here)
• National Votes for Women Trail - William G. Pomeroy historical markers (here)
• National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites (here)

Do you have a question, comment, or suggestion? Get in touch! Send an e-mail to NVWTpodcast@ncwhs.org

Transcript

SPEAKERS

Earth Mama, Marsha Weinstein, CM Marihugh

 CM Marihugh  00:00

Welcome to Her March to Democracy where we're telling stories along The National Votes For Women Trail. The trail chronicles the fight for voting rights for women. The Suffragists or Suffs, as they were called, were the revolutionaries of their day and they battled the powers that be. These foot soldiers cut across the lines of geography, race, ethnicity, class, and gender, and numbered in the many 1000s over 70 plus years.

Earth Mama  00:36

We are standing on the shoulders 
Of the ones who came before us, 
They are safe, and they are humans. 
They are angels, they are friends. 

We can see beyond the struggles 
And the troubles and the challenge 
When we know that by our efforts 
Things will be better in the end.

CM Marihugh  01:09

Each episode is a tour on the trail to the places of struggle. The cities, the towns, where wins and defeats happened over and over again. Our theme music is Standing On The Shoulders by Joyce Johnson Rouse and recorded by Earth Mama. Join us on our travels to hear the stories along The National Votes For Women Trail. 

Today we'll be talking about stories and sites to visit along The National Votes For Women Trail in Kentucky. And I welcome Marsha Weinstein, past president of the National Collaborative For Women's History Sites. She's the Kentucky State Coordinator for The National Votes For Women Trail. She is a past board member of the Girl Scouts of the USA. And she's the founder and president of The Patty and Mildred Hill, Happy Birthday Circle, which is an organization that celebrates the Hill sisters and their contribution to early childhood education. 

And I know personally that Marsha has researched and learned about the suffrage movement for decades. So we're very happy to have her here. And I looked at the online trail map and database. And I see at this point that Kentucky has 191 sites linked to suffrage events. And on the historical marker database, I found at least 16 markers that reference suffrage and we're going to be visiting some of those sites on our tour today. So Marsha, could you start by giving us an overview of Kentucky's role in the fight for votes for women.

Marsha Weinstein  03:03

I would be delighted to share this rich Kentucky history with you. Kentucky was on the forefront of a movement for women's suffrage not in just in the south but in the nation. Women who were heads of households and taxpayers won the right to vote on tax and education issues and rural areas of Kentucky way back in 1838. 10 years even before the Seneca Falls convention. That makes Kentucky the first place anywhere in the country for women could participate in electoral process since New Jersey revoked women's access to the ballot and 1807. 

Women in Kentucky were active in organizing for woman suffrage. The Kentucky Equal Rights Association formed in 1888 pushed for suffrage as well as other rights and protections for women. Like many other states, women also earned the right to vote in school elections and 1894. Kentucky reversed the access to school votes in 1902 because they wanted to restrict African American voting and then reestablished school vote in 1912. With a literacy test meant to prevent African American women from participating. 

The early suffrage efforts in Kentucky included advocacy for equal rights for both African American and women. By the end of the 20th century, the woman's suffrage associations were segregated despite being an early leader in voting rights for women, Kentucky would not grant full suffrage before the 19th amendment. Kentucky was the 24th state to ratify the 19th amendment on January sixth 1920 and in March also passed an additional law allowing women to vote in presidential elections. 

Even though full suffrage was not granted to African American women until the passage The Voting Rights Act in 1965 African American women were among the most vocal leaders and advocates for a woman suffrage in Kentucky. The story of Kentucky's women's suffrage movement is not complete without acknowledging the intersection of race, class and gender and the struggle for full voting rights.

CM Marihugh  05:22

Well, from what you say Kentucky was certainly a leader in a number of ways. I was reading that their Suffrage Association was one of the first or early organizations in the south. And you mentioning what happened in 1838 is especially notable that women who were the heads of household and taxpayers could actually vote. At the same time you mentioned that the state did restrict African American women and voters even after 1920 In much the same way as other southern states, and I know we'll be talking more about that. Marsha, where are we going first on our tour?

Marsha Weinstein  06:06

Well, I'm very proud to tell you we are starting the tour in Old Louisville, which will show you the first marker erected in The National Votes For Trail. And Old Louisville has the largest collection of restored Victoria homes in the country, and the third largest historic preservation district and the United States. There is a historical marker at 1320 South Fourth Street, which is the Woman's Club of Louisville. And the first marker along the national votes for women's trail commemorates the legacy of Susan Look Avery, who was an outspoken leader in the abolition and women's suffrage movements. 

She represented an inclusive voice and the suffrage movement by advocating for both black and white women to receive the right to vote. In 1881, Avery hosted Lucy Stone during the American Woman Suffrage Association meeting, the first to be held in the South. Avery later said her decision to join the suffrage movement was done at a time when she could not express a more unpopular cause. Avery founded the wa- Louisville's Women's Suffrage Association in 1889, which was followed by the Women's Club a year later in 1890. 

Said to be one of the earliest clubs of this kind in that part of the United States. The Woman's Club still exists today and its members continue to advocate for women and children and for civic improvements in the Louisville community. The Women's Club was important to Avery because she felt they had done more for education of women than the universities. And outside the club. She was appalled by the apathy and indifference of intelligent women when it came to the need for political equality. Avery was appointed as the honorary vice president of the National General Federation of Woman's Clubs, and she championed what was a highly controversial issue of racial integration. 

In 1900 a controversy arose in the general Federation of Women's Clubs of whether to admit black women's clubs. At the time, local clubs were adopting racial exclusion policies. But Avery encouraged international cooperation. It was a very heated debate, and Avery became one of only two white women and the only one from the South to publicly argue that all women, regardless of skin color should be welcome. Avery continued to advocate on this issue. In 1903 She wrote a pamphlet titled "Justice To The Negro". 

Unfortunately, she passed away in 1915 at the age of 97. So she did not see the 19th amendment pass. But her daughter said of her mother and her dedication to social causes that "she had faith in time, if not immediately, her opinions would be vindicated." And as it turns out, they were, thank goodness.

CM Marihugh  09:04

That quote by her daughter says at all, that she would ultimately be vindicated. And she was just like you said, she was ahead of her time in so many ways, particularly this area of attitudes on racial equality. I also like her comment on women's club that gave women and education it's a reminder that these clubs were frequently one of the first steps for women to become publicly active in their communities. 

It gave them an avenue to step into and impact public life. And many of the women's clubs became the origin for suffrage organizations, so they really played an important role. Marsha, earlier you mentioned that there were also notable African American suffrage advocates in Kentucky. Were there any leaders who lived in this area? 

Marsha Weinstein  10:04

Yes, as a matter of fact, we only need to travel a few blocks away from where Avery started the movement to 845 South Sixth Street were a historic marker in front of the former home of the sisters Georgia and Alice Nugent, who were African American. The Nugent sisters who purchased this house in 1919 played a pivotal role in advancing Kentucky's African American suffrage movement and creation of African American Women's clubs. 

The Nugent sisters shared their home with leaders of the suffrage and civil rights movement, and often hosted meetings for social and civic Women's Club. This home was added to the National Historic Register in 2020 due to the efforts of a teenager Laura Bosch, who submitted the application as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project. Their parents, the Nugent's parents were born during slavery, but worked hard to provide a better life for their children. 

Georgia and Alice both became teachers and obtained degrees from State University, later Simmons College and Kentucky Industrials College, later Kentucky State University. Georgia Nugent helped organize the women's improvement club and the Kentucky Association of Colored Women's Club, serving as Secretary and President of both organization. Alice also advocated for black women's rights, health and education through these organizations, which were affiliated with the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs. 

On June 4 1919, the United States Congress passed the 19th amendment. At a meeting that July, Georgia Nugent was elected Chair of the Executive Committee of the National Association of colored women's clubs. And at the same meeting, this organization adopted a resolution in anticipation of women obtaining the right to vote. And this is what it said "We recommend that the Colored Women give their close attention to the study of civics, to the laws of parliamentary usage and the current political questions, both local and national, in order to fit themselves for the exercise of the franchise."

CM Marihugh  12:20

It's very interesting that of course, women's clubs played a similar role in the African American community. They helped women be able to organize, they were looking for ways to better their community. I saw that the Nugent sisters continued to work on these issues, including voting rights long after 1920. Marsha, where are we visiting next?

Marsha Weinstein  12:49

Well, we're heading to the center part of the state and that is the city of Versailles. There's a historical marker is in the front, home of Josephine Henry, located at 210 Montgomery Avenue. Like the Nugent sisters, Josephine Henry's primary vocation was a teacher, but she was also an outspoken advocate for women's rights, and all areas of political and social life. 

From this home, Henry wrote many articles, speeches and pamphlets on the topics of suffrage, temperance, divorce, birth control, the Bible, and economic freedom for women. Henry worked with fellow suffragists Laura Clay and Eugenia Farmer in founding the Kentucky Equal Rights Association to promote women's suffrage and fight for equality for women under the law. 

She believed that if women were given the right to vote, they would finally have a say in the way they were governed, and they wrote that writing was secured from the same source that denies women the power to destroy them. Not only was Henry the first woman to run for a statewide office in Kentucky, she also played an integral role in the passage of The Married Women's Property Act in 1894, which allowed married women the right to their guardians of their children, receive wages they had earned and own or inherit property. 

Her life can be summed up in her own words, "What I have written, I have written, and if one thought I have expressed will start a thought in the minds of men and women who love their fellas, and desire, justice and happiness for them. And we'll nerve their hearts to help right these wrongs, my reward will be great indeed."

CM Marihugh  14:36

Thank you for mentioning Henry's involvement in the passage of the married women's Property Act. It's a reminder that in addition to the vote, many suffragists and this was particularly in the early days, they were fighting for basic equal rights for women at the state and local levels. The right to hold property to sue for divorce to have custody of their children, the right to education. 

They were pursuing these basic rights in addition to the vote. I also read that Josephine Henry was recognized for her speaking ability. And she got great praise for the speeches she gave at national conventions. And another important observation is that many of the suffragist had to learn the skills needed for this battle. And that happened in women's clubs. 

That happened in the suffrage clubs. The fact that so many of them became acclaimed for their public speaking, is really a testament to their perseverance in developing themselves, particularly at a time when many traditionalists felt that women should not be even speaking in public, and particularly about their own rights. So it's really admirable that they worked on this. Where are we going to next Marcia?

Marsha Weinstein  16:14

Well, we are heading to the northern tip of Kentucky, to a small town called Covington, just south of the Ohio River across from Cincinnati, Ohio. We're in front of the Trinity Episcopal Church for there's a marker that honors Eugenia Farmer. Kentucky suffragist Eugenia B. Farmer was a statewide leader in the fight for women's right to vote. 

In 1888 Farmer helped to establish the Kenton County Equal Rights Association and served as the president of this organization. She also served as the secretary of the Kentucky Equal Rights Association, which held three state conventions inside this Trinity Episcopal Church in 1897, 1901 and 1903. Farmer was inspired to become a strong leader in the Kentucky Suffrage Movement, after befriending Susan B. Anthony, and attending 12 National suffrage conventions together. 

Farmer led the successful campaign for school suffrage that was won of the Kentucky cities of Lexington, Covington and Newport, despise the effort of Kentucky suffrage is the Kentucky legislature revoked partial suffrage for women in 1902. However, it was reinstated in 1912. Now with a literacy test for women voters.

CM Marihugh  17:37

So the legislature revoked the partial suffrage for women in 1902 and reinstated it 10 years later, but with a literacy test for women voters, so I take it the men voters did not have to go through the literacy test. That reminds me that the suffrage movement was not one extended experience of ever increasing wins. It was an enormous zigzag of wins and losses. One step forward, two steps back through 70 plus years. And it's really just the persistence of the suffragists through generations. That kept it going. So where are we heading to next?

Marsha Weinstein  18:29

We're heading south to Danville to the St. James African Methodist Episcopal church located at 124 East Walnut Street. There is a national votes for women historical marker in front of this church that honors the work of Dr. Mary Ellen Britton, who is a prominent African American suffragist, educator, physician and civil rights activist. 

The marker is located at the front of the church where Dr. Britton gave an impassionate speech about the need for woman suffrage in the 1887 State Association of Colored Teachers Convention. In her speech she argued that women had been relegated to the realms of ignorance and servitude as a subordinate class, and most women are seen as something to be bartered or sold as a thing of merchandise. 

Britton also contended that denying women the right to vote amounted to taxation without representation. Her speech was very well received and was later published on the front page of the American Catholic Tribune. Britton was highly active not only in the suffrage movement, but in other reform movements including education, health care, and she fought against racism and segregation. She was born in 1855, in the slave state of Kentucky and grew up in an era when women's voices were restrained. Her parents ensure that she and her siblings received a quality education, which was rare for both girls and African Americans at the time. 

Britton attended Berea College from 1871 to 1874, the first institution of higher learning in the state of Kentucky to admit African Americans, but she was unable to finish due to the sudden death of her parents in 1874 and the need an income Dr. Britton became a teacher, and eventually was one of the first members of the State Association of Colored Teachers in 1877. 

Throughout her time as a teacher, Dr. Britton was a frequent contributor to multiple newspapers and spoke on many topics, including the proposed implementation of segregation in train coaches, known as The Separate Coach Bill. Dr. Britton retired from teaching in 1897, and decided to earn a medical degree in order to help provide better care for the African American community. And in 1902, became the first woman doctor to be licensed in Lexington, and she was the first African American female doctor in the state of Kentucky. 

CM Marihugh  21:04

I have seen a wonderful photo of a 1910 Kentucky meeting of African American doctors, dentists and pharmacist. And there are about 40 men in this conference photo. And Dr. Britton is sitting right up in the front row. And it is such a visual reminder of her trailblazing. It was hard enough for white women to try to get an education. It's amazing to think about African American women, women of other races, that found a way to higher education. So where are we heading to next?

Marsha Weinstein  21:49

We're traveling northeast to come to the city of Richmond. There is a historical marker which honors Mary Barr Clay on the grounds of the Whitehall Historic Site, which is open to tourists. Whitehall is the childhood home of the prominent suffrage leader, Mary Barr Clay in his now a historic site and Museum, located in the farmlands near Richmond. Clay was the eldest daughter of outspoken abolitionist and US minister to Russia.  

Cassius M. Clay and Mary Jane Warfield Clay. Clay was motivated to join the women's rights movement after her parents divorced, leaving her mother Mary Jane Warfield Clay homeless after managing Whitehall for 45 years. Mary Barr Clay and her sister Laura, were among the first women in Kentucky to advocate for women's suffrage publicly and became well known leaders of the suffrage movement. Mary was part of both national and state associations, serving as the vice president of the National Woman Suffrage Association, and vice president and president of the American Woman Suffrage Association. 

This role distinguished her is the first Kentuckian to lead a national women's organization. She also had the opportunity to meet Susan B. Anthony, and arranged for her to speak at Whitehall in Richmond, Kentucky in 1879. In addition to her participation in the national Suffrage Movement, Clay and her sisters founded the Kentucky Equal Rights Association, which became the Kentucky league of women voters after the passage of the 19th amendment. 

Mary Barr Clay was a prolific writer on the topic of gender inequality, and spoke to legislators at both the state and national level about the need for political equality for women. In a notable speech she gave before the US House Judiciary Committee in 1884, Mary pleaded for changes on behalf of women, noted "it was like a debate between a subject class and a ruling class."

CM Marihugh  24:08

Very interesting that she framed it that way, a subject class with a ruling class. I was thinking about how the Clay family is such an admirable example of activism, but also shows the complexity of people that were in the women's suffrage movement. The clay parents were staunch abolitionists and they lived in a slaveholding state. And then both the daughters were ardent suffragists. 

But I know there's a record of Laura Clay retaining a mindset of wanting white dominance in politics. And she strongly supported states rights so deeply that she actually fought the passage of the 19th amendment because it was a federal amendment. And she thought that suffrage should be decided at the state level and not the federal. I know that thinking about this we're often disappointed to hear about the discriminatory and racist aspects within social movements. 

But I think history shows that these kinds of things show up across political and social movements, whether racism, sexism, classism, it seems a reflection of the society. And I feel like it's something we need to acknowledge and learn from, because we're certainly not free of this today either. Where is the next stop on our tour, Marsha?

Marsha Weinstein  25:51

We're going north aways to Lexington. Here is a historical marker on the grounds of Ashland, which is the Henry Clay estate, located at 120 Sycamore road, and it honors Madeline McDowell Breckinridge, who lived at Ashland. The home was built by her great grandparents, Lucretia and Henry Clay, the statesmen. Madeline, or Madge, as she often was called, was a fascinating person. She was an activist from an elite family. Her early social reform work focused on children. 

She fought for child labor laws, schools, playgrounds and hospitals. In 1900 she began her career in social reform by urging the establishment of a settlement house in Proctor. Breckenridge, however, suffered from tuberculosis, which had no cure at the time, and from 1905 she was active in the local state and tuberculosis societies. In 1906, she was appointed to the state Federation of women's clubs, where she campaigned successfully for legislation granting women the vote in school elections. She helped obtain partial suffrage for Kentucky women. 

Madeline McDowell, Breckenridge was also a leader in The National Women's Suffrage Movement by serving as the vice president of the National American Suffrage Association. She was the cousin of Mary Barr and Clark Clay, with whom she led the Kentucky Equal Rights Association. Ashland was also the site of several Kentucky suffrage conventions in 1915 and 1920, hosted by the Kentucky Equal Rights Association. 

Her focus on advancing women's voting rights stemmed from her frustration by the lack of influence that women with state politicians regarding social reform. Under her leadership, the 19th Amendment was ratified by the Kentucky legislature in 1920. Later that year, the 19th Amendment went into effect and she was able to vote in the 1920 presidential election. 

What's so sad about Madeline Breckenridge's life, she died at age 48 on November 25 1920, so she was able to see women vote in the 19th presidential election, but she died soon after that. So even though she died at an early age, you can really see what a huge contribution she made into the state of Kentucky on behalf of women. 

CM Marihugh  28:25

That's so true. I also read that she traveled at a grueling pace throughout the country, which many suffragists did, even with her poor health, even with tuberculosis, and also that she became well known as an excellent speaker. One thing I learned was that she was determined that the legislature ratify on the first day, the 19th amendment, and that would have been a first in Kentucky and that she actually achieved getting the legislature to ratify it on the first day. 

I also thought when you were mentioning when she died, it is gratifying to see that she did get to see the first national election after the 19th amendment was adopted because as we know, in the 70 plus year movement, many women never got to see the fruition of all their work. So Marsha, can you tell us what happened in Kentucky during the ratification period and what happened after 1920?

Marsha Weinstein  29:36

Well, as I mentioned previously, Kentucky was the 24th state to ratify the 19th amendment, and only one of four southern states to approve the amendment. The Kentucky General Assembly ratify the 19th amendment on the first day of the session, January 6 1920, by a margin of 72 to 25 in the house else and 30 to 8 in the Senate, which is quite remarkable. 

The Kentucky legislators really stepped up to the plate to support Kentucky women. It's also notable to mention that the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, Justice Louis Brandeis, who was born in Louisville, Kentucky, wrote the majority opinion upholding the constitutionality of the 19th Amendment in 1922. So that's a double whammer good for Kentucky, you know that we passed the 19th amendment and Chief Justice Brandeis was able to sign it. 

After the passage of the 19th Amendment, African American voters continued to face both legal and extra legal barriers to voting in Kentucky. And despite the passage of the Voting Rights Act, nearly 1 out of 4, 25% of American- African Americans is ineligible to vote in Kentucky because of strict felony disenfranchisement laws. Kentucky women indeed stand on the shoulders of the outspoken women's suffrage leaders we discussed today and the female political leaders such as Emma Guy Cromwell, and Senator Georgia Powers, who had worked tireless to advance women's equality in Kentucky.

CM Marihugh  31:13

I'm glad you mentioned that voting rights continues to be an ongoing fight. I want to thank you very much, Marsha, for taking us along to hear stories on The National Votes For Women Trail in Kentucky.

Marsha Weinstein  31:30

Thank you for having me.

CM Marihugh  31:32

Thank you for joining us this week. We hope you'll contact us with comments or questions. The National Votes For Women Trail project is a work in progress. Please click on the support the project link to contribute to our ongoing work. The trail is a project of the National Collaborative for women's history sites, a nonprofit organization dedicated to putting women's history on the map. Our theme is Standing On the Shoulders by Joyce Johnson Rouse and recorded by Earth Mama. Be sure to join us next time.

Earth Mama  32:09

I'm standing on the shoulders 
Of the ones who came before me. 
I am honored by their passion 
For our liberty. 

I will stand a little taller. 
I will work a little longer. 
And my shoulders will be there to hold 
The ones who follow me. 

My shoulders will be there to hold 
The ones who follow me!