CELEBRATING SUFFRAGE
Gathering marks 100 years since women earned the right to vote
Renowned suffragist Alice Paul offered insight into the struggle to gain the right to vote for women during a rare appearance Thursday at the Berks History Center.
“This is the flag on which I sewed a star for each state that ratified the 19th Amendment,” said Paul, speaking through impersonator Hallie Vaughan. “It took 72 years from the Seneca Falls Convention until the enactment of the 19th Amendment in 1920.”
Her reference was to the National Women’s Suffrage Congressional Union Flag, a purple, white and gold banner carried by suffragists at rallies, marches and petition drives.
The brief glimpse into the history of the suffrage movement set the tone for a news conference to announce the Berks Women’s History Alliance has been awarded a $25,000 grant to underwrite the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the 19th Amendment.
The Berks History Center applied for the grant on behalf of the alliance, a committee of women who have organized the Berks Suffrage 2020 Centennial celebration.
The centennial celebration will be kicked off March 14 at
“The 19th Amendment was the largest expansion of democracy in our country’s history. I appreciate my right to vote.”
— State Sen. Judy Schwank
10 a.m. at the history center, 940 Centre Ave., Reading. The program includes a presentation of “System, Shakers and Barrier Breakers: The Suffragists,” written and performed by Berks County women.
State Sen. Judy Schwank told a gathering of about 25 people the grant came from the state Department of Community and Economic Development’s tourism and promotions fund.
Schwank, who was instrumental in obtaining the grant, praised the Berks Women’s History Alliance’s “grassroots effort” in organizing the centennial celebration.
“The 19th Amendment was the largest expansion of democracy in our country’s history,” declared Schwank, a Ruscombmanor Township Democrat. “I appreciate my right to vote.”
The 19th Amendment gained the necessary three-fourths majority for passage when Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify it on Aug. 18, 1920. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed it into law on Aug. 26, now celebrated as Women’s Equity Day.
The alliance will observe Women’s Equity Day with a gala on Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Double Tree by Hilton hotel in Reading. Kathy Boockvar, secretary of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is the keynote speaker.
Penny Guido, who chairs the Berks Women’s History Alliance, said Reading City Council will honor the group with a commendation Monday at its meeting in City Hall.
Vicki Heffner, education curator at the history center, said the grant will fund celebration events, educational initiatives and materials throughout the year.
“Alice Paul & The Suffragists” will be presented March 15 at 1:30 p.m. at the Berks Genealogical Society in the Goggle Works Center for the Arts, Reading. “System Shakers, Barrier Breakers: The Suffragists” will be presented at the AAUW meeting March 28 at 9:30 a.m. in Christine’s Creekside Inn, Birdsboro.
The Berks Suffrage 2020 Centennial website, www.berkssuffrage2020centennial.org, contains a calendar of events and a Women’s Suffrage Centennial Toolkit with historical information and ideas for planning events.
Vicki Heffner, education curator at the history center, said the grant will fund celebration events, educational initiatives and materials throughout the year.