New exhibit, programs focus on women’s suffrage

SHARON — The Road to Women’s Suffrage in Sharon, a new exhibition at the Sharon Historical Society & Museum, opens Aug. 8 and continues through Nov. 28. This special exhibition documents the combined efforts of women and men from cities and small towns, like Sharon, across the state of Connecticut. The exhibition celebrates the anniversary of the 19th Amendment.

The exhibition brings together photographs, artifacts and archival documents from collections across Connecticut to illustrate the stories of the Suffrage Movement in Connecticut’s Litchfield County, the petitioners from the town of Sharon, and the unfinished battles for equal rights being fought today, according to a statement.

The hours of Sharon Historical Society & Museum are 12-4 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

An online public lecture will be offered to coincide with the exhibition. “Beyond Seneca Falls,” presented by Heather Munro Prescott, will be held from 4-5 p.m. Aug. 15 and Sept. 12. No registration is required. To join the Zoom meeting, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6312716761

About the lecture: Why does Seneca Falls play such a prominent role in histories of the suffrage

movement? Part of the reason has to do with who wrote the first history of the suffrage movement. The dominance of Seneca Falls in the public memory of the suffrage movement has caused other activists to be neglected. In preparation for the suffrage centennial, scholars around the country are bringing new stories to light and providing fresh insights to the long story of women’s suffrage. This talk will show that the history of women’s suffrage in the New England region not only provides examples of critical suffrage activism on the state and local level, but also demonstrates how suffragists from the region helped build the suffrage cause into a national movement.

The Sharon Historical Society & Museum is located at 18 Main St., Sharon. To reach the society, call 860-364-5688.

CT digital archive / Contributed photo The Sharon Historical Society’s exhibit and programs in August are focused on women’s suffrage. Above, an artifact that is part of the exhibition.