Women’s Suffrage: The Movement in Louisville

Only 100 years ago, in 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified, granting women the right to vote in the United States.
The fight for ratification was long and difficult for suffragists across the country, but it wasn’t just a battle of national organizations and well-known leaders. Suffrage was gained through the hard work of women from every community and every walk of life. Suffragists were not all wealthy or influential, but they were all determined to make their voices heard. The long-term results of their struggle are clear a century later: their efforts led to a breakdown of barriers that once barred women from realizing their potential as politicians, professionals, leaders, and human beings.

This exhibit shares items from the Filson’s collections that document the suffrage movement in Louisville.