{"id":91,"date":"2012-08-25T13:20:33","date_gmt":"2012-08-25T20:20:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/?page_id=91"},"modified":"2013-03-07T16:26:11","modified_gmt":"2013-03-07T23:26:11","slug":"arizona-suffrage","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/research\/arizona-suffrage\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Suffrage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oh, well, what difference does it make who did [whatever accomplishments], so long as they were done.<\/strong><\/span>
\n<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Maria Wakefield Fish, mother of Clara Fish Roberts who was first 1913 woman registered<\/span>1<\/sup><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0What are you going to do when you get the vote?
\n<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Sharlot Hall, 1909 Arizona Territorial Historian<\/span>2<\/sup><\/p>\n

In 2011 America\u2019s population was 51% female while women made up 17% of the Senate and 16.6% of the House of Representative.3<\/sup>\u00a0Our foremothers would have been disappointed at the slow progress towards equal representation in our nation\u2019s leadership.\u00a0 That road in Arizona began with the passage of a suffrage initiative referendum on 5 November 1912 when Arizona joined eight other western states–Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Washington, California, Oregon, Kansas– upon the road towards equal representation.\u00a0 Another eight years would pass until passage of the 19th<\/sup> Suffrage Amendment to the United States Constitution on 26 August 1920.\u00a0 British females would not earn that right until 1928.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Click on suffrage handbill<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAccording to the White House Project, nearly 90% of Americans are comfortable with women as top leaders in all fields—from academia and business to media and the military\u201d.3 <\/sup>\u00a0On 9 Feb 1883 The Arizona Weekly Democrat <\/em>cited, \u201c<\/strong>The women of the territory don\u2019t want to wear the breeches.\u00a0 Leave the ladies to their tea parties and home work.\u201d4<\/sup>\u00a0 Think of all the women across the nation who have helped shatter the traditional view of woman\u2019s role over the past 100 years!\u00a0 The wheels of change move slowly and require constant effort in our society.<\/p>\n

This web page is created to honor our foremothers who were brave enough to register and then exercise their political franchise in our democracy.\u00a0 Many were leaders and change agents in Tucson while others were average women struggling to survive and raise families within their communities.\u00a0 They realized the power of the ballot to bring about change.\u00a0 \u00a0These women claimed their place in history, but left little evidence about their individual experiences written in their own words.\u00a0 If a woman did not preserve a journal, diary or personal letters, one cannot know her thoughts. They were often only preserved in records by their spouse\u2019s name or the accomplishments of their father.<\/p>\n

On 15 March 1913 Arizonan women were finally allowed to register to vote after almost a 50 year struggle to gain the right to become equal citizens in the political realm.\u00a0 Many women and men– Anglo, Hispanic and Black– helped achieve this accomplishment.\u00a0 The suffrage movement had been an ongoing struggle from the time Arizona was granted territorial status in 1863, but woman suffrage was never made part of the 14 February 1912 state constitution until 5 November 1912.<\/p>\n

The day after registration closed The Arizona Daily Star<\/em> editorial praised the over 500 Tucson women who \u201cnow can walk up to the polls and cast a ballot expressing their opinion on any public question which is being voted upon.\u00a0\u00a0 They are real citizens with a real citizen\u2019s rights.\u00a0 And with the rights of citizen come the duties\u2026[to vote, understand the issues and candidates\u2019 positions]\u2026[I]t takes considerable determination to break into something entirely new and strange as registration is to the women.\u201d <\/strong>5<\/sup><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Pima County Register binding at Arizona State Library, Microfilm Roll 85.3.65<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This site contains the\u00a023 January 2012\u00a0transcription\u00a0of the\u00a0Great Register 85.3.65 Pima County Recorder\u2019s Office, RG11SG5, History and Archives Division, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records<\/a>.\u00a0 The register contains each woman\u2019s signature, address, occupation, height and weight (In the EXCELFILE 11 point font is used for what was written in the register; 8 point font is used for added background information).\u00a0 Two columns are missing on this data base because all registrants could read English and took the oath. \u00a0When a registrant is listed as UNKNOWN, it should be considered as a male until someone revisits the microfilm to confirm. \u00a0The original register is unavailable to the public.<\/p>\n

This historic document helps recover HER-story and leads to other sources of information.\u00a0 Such a data base also allows historians to sort the data to create a picture of Pima County women, both by their presence and by their omission.<\/p>\n

The almost 600 women represented about one-sixth of the Pima County women eligible.\u00a0 More research is needed to learn the names of the women who registered when the Great Register next opened in 1914 from 1 May to 15 October to participate in the state and national elections.\u00a0 Another search needs to be done to discover the Pima County women who registered earlier so they could vote in school elections and some municipal elections.<\/p>\n

See the suggested reading and research links to discover the larger story, as well as the stories of individuals.\u00a0 One might plot addresses, continue to \u201cflesh out\u201d specific women and their families, analyze census records, or transcribe the 1914 registration to see the impact of women in the first national election where they could voice the opinion at the ballot box.<\/p>\n

Who were the female leaders in Pima County?\u00a0 What organizations led the way?\u00a0 Research in manuscript collections, city directories and the biographical clipping notebooks at the Arizona Historical Society Library led to answers to these questions.\u00a0 However, much more analysis is needed and should be shared to recognize these unsung heroines.\u00a0 It is hoped others will use this data base as a beginning to seek out more of the stories.<\/p>\n

1. From original1936 Interview with Clara Fish Roberts by her daughter Virginia Roberts Flaccus cited\u00a0in “A History of the Edward Nye Fish House and Edward Nye Family.”<\/a> \u00a0Bettina\u00a0O’Neil\u00a0Lyons. Tucson Museum of Art (1980), p. 19.<\/p>\n

2. Sharlot Hall Museum<\/a>, Prescott, AZ.<\/p>\n

3. White House Project \u00a0in “Women and Leadership”, American Association of University Women, 2012.<\/p>\n

4. “Votes for Women! Arizona\u00a0Territory\u2019s ill-fated Suffrage Bill of 1883<\/span>.”<\/a>Sharlot Hall Museum, Prescott, AZ.<\/span><\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u201cTucson Women Deserve Praise\u201d,\u00a0The Arizona Daily Star<\/em>, 2 May 1913<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SUGGESTED READING<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0.<\/p>\n

Cleere, Jan. Levis & Lace: Arizona Women Who Made History.\u00a0<\/em> Rio Nuevo (2011).<\/p>\n

Conners, Jo.\u00a0 Who\u2019s Who in Arizona. Vol. I.<\/em> The Arizona Daily Star Press, Tucson, AZ (1913). \u00a0Ebook<\/a>\u00a0with\u00a0pictures or\u00a0just text<\/a>.<\/p>\n

DeHaan, Amy. \u201cArizona Women argue for the vote.\u201d Journal of Arizona History<\/em> (p. 375-394), 2004. AHS<\/p>\n

\u201cEnabling Acts\u201d<\/a> Arizona Legislature.\u00a0(14<\/span><\/a><\/span> February 1912).<\/p>\n

Garcia, Kathleen M. \u201cAmerican View of Mexican Women, 1820-1890.\u201d Arizona History Convention Paper<\/em>, 1998.<\/p>\n

\u201cHappy Century, Arizona.<\/a>\u00a0But Why Is the State Still Forced to Prove its Americanness?\u201d<\/a>\u00a0Zocalo Public \u00a0Square<\/em>. (14 Feb 2012).<\/p>\n

Lauerman, Thomas. \u201cDe-Sexing the Ballot Box: The History of Woman Suffrage in Arizona, 1883-1912.\u201d Masters\u00a0thesis, Arizona State \u00a0 University, 1973. [AHS 324.3 L372, 1873]<\/p>\n

McClintock, James. Arizona, prehistoric, aboriginal, pioneer, modern: <\/em>the nation’s youngest commonwealth within a land of\u00a0<\/em>ancient culture.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/strong>S. J. Clarke publishing (1916 ).\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Ebooks:\u00a0Vol. 2 \u00a0Chapters XLVIII and CLVIX<\/a>;\u00a0\u00a0Vol. 3 Biographies.<\/a><\/p>\n

Osselaer, Heidi. “From Sidelines to Center Stage: Women and Arizona’s Quest for Statehood.”<\/a>\u00a0Territorial Times<\/em> (November 2011).<\/p>\n

————- Winning Their Place: Arizona Women in Politics, 1883-1950<\/em>.\u00a0 University of Arizona Press (2011).<\/p>\n

Rembaugh, Bertha, comp. In the United States: A Digest of the Laws Concerning Women in the Various States\u00a0<\/em>and Territories.<\/em>\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0 G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1911.<\/p>\n

Sheridan, Thomas E. Los Tucsonenses: The Mexican Community in Tucson, 1854-1941.<\/em> University of Arizona Press (1992).<\/p>\n

Sonnichsen, C. L. Tucson: The Life and Times of an American City.\u00a0<\/em> University of Oklahoma (1987).<\/p>\n

Stanton, Elizabeth Cady, et. al. The History of Woman Suffrage, 1883-1900<\/em>. Ch. XXVI Arizona.<\/a>\u00a0Fowler & Wells, 1902.<\/p>\n

Yancy, James Walter.\u00a0The Negro of Tucson, Past and Present. \u00a0<\/em>Chapter 2\u00a0\u201cNegroes of Tucson, Arizona, Before 1900: Historical
\nDevelopment\u201d at “In the Steps of Esteban”<\/a>. (2011)<\/p>\n


\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

RESEARCH LINKS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ancestry. com<\/a>. \u00a0Searchable resource that includes many resources on-line such as Tucson city directories and newspapers.<\/p>\n

\u201cArizona at 100 Series\u201d in\u00a0Arizona Daily Star:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOne man’s thoughts on women’s suffrage.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0ADS Sept. 7, 1912 Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Friday, September 9, 2011.<\/p>\n

\u201cStar echoed call for women’s right to vote.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0Posted: Thursday, March 31, 2011 12:00 from\u00a0Prescott Journal-Miner, originally appeared in the Star on June 4, 1912.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWomen’s rights, cows, bankers were 1912 editorial topics\u201d<\/a>\u00a0Posted: Wednesday, October 5, 2011\u00a012:00 A collection of editorials that originally appeared in the Star in October 1912.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Convention.\u201d\u00a0Arizona Daily Citizen,\u00a0<\/em>19 September 1891.<\/p>\n

Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certificates<\/a>. \u00a0Arizona Department of Health Services (2012).<\/p>\n

Arizona Historical Society Museum, Library and Archives, Tucson, AZ<\/a>. \u00a0The library has Tucson city directories and biographical clipping notebooks which were useful in uncovering information about the women in this data base.<\/p>\n

Arizona Memory Project<\/a>. \u00a0Over 89,000 digital items related to Arizona history and culture.<\/p>\n

Arizona State Library and Archives, Phoenix, AZ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Find A Grave<\/a>. Searchable on-line data base.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst woman registers to vote.\u201d Arizona Daily Star,\u00a0<\/em>16 March 1913, Sunday: Section 1.\u00a0\u00a0[\u00a0AHS #44 Microfilm Vol.\u00a0LIII\u00a0Feb. 8 – June 29 1913]<\/p>\n

\u201cHouse agrees to original bill.\u201d\u00a0Arizona Daily Star,\u00a0<\/em>13 March 1913,Thursday. [\u00a0AHS #44 Microfilm Vol.\u00a0LIII\u00a0Feb. 8 – June 29 1913]<\/p>\n

Online biographies<\/a> for Pima County.<\/p>\n

Tucson City Directory, 1912<\/em>. Arizona Directory Company, Tucson Citizen Press, Tucson, AZ.<\/p>\n

Tucson City Directory, 1913<\/em>. Arizona Directory Company, Los Angeles, CA.<\/p>\n

Western\u00a0<\/a>States Marriage Index.<\/a>\u00a0Searchable on-line data base.<\/p>\n

\u201cWomen Should Register.\u201d Arizona Daily Star,\u00a0<\/em>16 April 1913 Editorial.\u00a0[\u00a0AHS #44 Microfilm Vol.\u00a0LIII\u00a0Feb. 8 – June 29 1913]<\/p>\n

\u201cWomen Take More Interest than Men\u201d.\u00a0Arizona Daily Star,\u00a0<\/em>30 May 1913, Sunday.\u00a0[\u00a0AHS #44 Microfilm Vol.\u00a0LIII\u00a0Feb. 8 – June 29 1913]<\/p>\n

US Gen Web Archives.<\/a>\u00a0Pima County biographies.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Oh, well, what difference does it make who did [whatever accomplishments], so long as they were done. \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":28,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91"}],"version-history":[{"count":60,"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":630,"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91\/revisions\/630"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/windowonyourpast.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}