Votes for Women, an exhibit in honor of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave women throughout the country access to the vote, features materials from the collection of Laura Curie Allee Shields. A staunch campaigner for ‘woman suffrage’ (as it was referred to in the day), she was then Laura Curie Allee, the wife of Dr. William Allee, also a strong supporter of women’s right to vote, when the amendment was finally ratified in August 1920.
The exhibit includes hand-written minutes of the Equal Franchise League of Ridgefield and many other documents and pamphlets that pertain to the long-fought campaign, including examples of the arguments made by opponents of women gaining the vote.
The presentation also includes half-size panels from the Votes for Women: The Road to Victory exhibit, on view at the Ridgefield Library through April 30. Both exhibits have been researched by the Ridgefield Historical Society and the League of Women Voters of Ridgefield, created by local artist Bil Mikulewicz, and curated by Dr. Heather Prescott, an expert in the field and a faculty member at Central Connecticut State University.
The Votes for Women: Ridgefield Celebrates the 19th Amendment series is co-sponsored by Ridgefield Library, Ridgefield Historical Society, the League of Women Voters of Ridgefield, Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center, and the Drum Hill Chapter of the DAR.
This program is supported by CT Humanities and Fairfield County Bank.
