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Washington Woman Suffrage at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
History Ink produced sixteen essays documenting suffrage activities in Washington,
primarily in Seattle, during the summer of 1909, with emphasis on the National American
Woman Suffrage Association and the Washington Equal Suffrage Association Conventions
and their conjunction with the ongoing Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. These fully
sourced and illustrated essays, now posted on
www.HistoryLink.org
include an overview (Cyberpedia) and fifteen date-driven timeline essays.
Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (1909): Woman Suffrage
During the first week of July 1909, suffrage proponents from across the country
gathered in Seattle to participate in the 41st Annual Convention of the National
American Woman Suffrage Association and to celebrate Woman Suffrage Day at Washington's
first world's fair, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific (A-Y-P) Exposition, currently underway
on the University of Washington campus. The Washington Equal Suffrage Association
convention, held the day before the National convention, drew suffragists from around
the state. The suffragists, their conventions, and their appearances in area clubs
and churches received copious coverage in local newspapers and captured the attention
of thousands of Washingtonians attending the A-Y-P Exposition. Suffragists used
the A-Y-P as a massive public relations opportunity and this exposure was an important
component in how Washington women achieved the vote on November 8, 1910.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8587
Washington Equal Suffrage Association publishes Washington Women's Cook Book in Seattle in late 1908.
In late 1908, the Washington Equal Suffrage Association publishes the Washington
Women's Cook Book. The book, comprising recipes donated by suffragists from around
the state, is planned as a fundraiser for the group and to carry the woman suffrage
message into Washington homes. In February 1909 the Washington State Legislature
agrees to place an equal suffrage amendment on the November 1910 ballot. The Washington
Women's Cook Book is sold during the 1909-1910 suffrage campaign, including at the
Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, becoming part of Washington suffragists' so-called
"still hunt" strategy to win the support of male voters through the influence of
their daughters, wives, and mothers.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8552
Prominent suffragists arrive in Spokane on June 28, 1909.
At 10:00 a.m. on June 28, 1909, a Northern Pacific Railroad train carrying suffragists
en route to the National American Woman Suffrage Association convention in Seattle
arrives at the Northern Pacific Depot in Spokane. They are greeted by Washington
Equal Suffrage Association president Emma Smith Devoe (1848-1927), leading Spokane
suffragists May Arkwright Hutton (1860-1915), La Reine Baker, and other Spokane
suffrage proponents. The upcoming convention will take place during Washington's
first world's fair, the Alaska-Pacific-Yukon Exposition, held on the University
of Washington campus. The exposition will sponsor a Suffrage Day and the confluence
of the widely publicized convention and the world's fair will help win supporters
for women's right to vote.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8522
Suffrage Special arrives in Tacoma on June 29, 1909.
At 5:45 p.m. on June 29, 1909, the Suffrage Special, a Northern Pacific Railroad
train carrying suffragists en route to the National American Woman Suffrage Association
Convention in Seattle arrives at the Northern Pacific Depot in Tacoma. On board
are 37 presidents of state suffrage associations; The Reverend Dr. Anna Howard Shaw
(1847-1919); widow of the railroad magnet Henry Villard, Frances Garrison Villard
(1844-1928); and a large delegation of Eastern Washington suffragists who boarded
the train in Spokane. The suffragists are welcomed by a large delegation of their
comrades from Tacoma and Seattle, and taken to Point Defiance Park for dinner and
to the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce offices where they are formally welcomed. The
upcoming convention will take place during Washington's first world's fair, the
Alaska-Pacific-Yukon Exposition, held on the University of Washington campus. The
confluence of the widely publicized convention and the world's fair will help win
supporters for women's right to vote.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8536
Suffrage leaders from around the country arrive in Seattle by special train on June 29, 1909.
At 11:30 p.m. on June 29, 1909, the Northern Pacific Railroad train dubbed the "Suffrage
Special" arrives at King Street Station in Seattle. The train carries more than
250 leaders of the American Woman Suffrage movement. The suffragists are in Seattle
to hold the 41st annual convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association
(NAWSA). Also aboard the Suffrage Special are leading Washington suffragists, including
Washington Equal Suffrage Association president Emma Smith Devoe (1848-1927) and
vice-president May Arkwright Hutton (1860-1915). The convention will take place
during Washington's first world's fair, the Alaska-Pacific-Yukon Exposition, held
on the University of Washington campus. The confluence of the widely publicized
convention and the world's fair will help win supporters for women's right to vote.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8517
Washington Equal Suffrage Association holds its convention in Seattle on June 30, 1909.
On June 30, 1909, the Washington Equal Suffrage Association holds its convention
at Plymouth Congregational Church in downtown Seattle. During the course of its
proceedings, hostilities between the organization's president, Emma Smith DeVoe
(1848-1927), and a contingent of suffragists from Eastern Washington led by the
organization's vice-president, May Arkwright Hutton (1860-1915), come to a head.
Word of the conflict reaches local newspapers and is reported widely, embarrassing
Washington suffragists and national suffrage leaders who are about to launch the
41st Annual Convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association Convention,
designed to take place during Washington's first world's fair, the Alaska-Pacific-Yukon
(A-Y-P) Exposition, held on the University of Washington campus.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8582
Prominent Seattle women participate in a reception for noted suffragists at Seattle's Hotel Lincoln on June 30, 1909.
On the evening of June 30, 1909, prominent Seattle women lend their support to the
suffrage cause at a reception hosted by the Washington Equal Suffrage Association
in honor of the visiting delegates, officers, and friends of the National Suffrage
Association. Both suffrage groups are in Seattle to hold conventions and raise public
awareness of the suffrage cause. The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific (A-Y-P) Exposition underway
at the University of Washington campus continues to attract large crowds and suffragists
hope to capitalize on the male voters among these fairgoers and secure votes needed
to ratify Amendment 6 to the state constitution. If ratified, Amendment 6, submitted
to the electorate by the state Legislative Assembly in January 1909 for a vote on
November 10, 1910, will grant Washington women the right to vote.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8540
The National American Woman Suffrage Association holds its first formal evening meeting at Seattle's Plymouth Congregational Church on July 1, 1909.
On July 1, 1909, the National American Woman Suffrage Association holds its first
public evening meeting at Plymouth Congregational Church in Seattle. The evening
is a great success, establishing a pattern that will continue throughout the week-long
convention and offering prominent national suffrage proponents a chance to build
support for Washington state's upcoming vote on woman suffrage. The convention is
taking place during Washington's first world's fair, the Alaska-Pacific-Yukon (A-Y-P)
Exposition, held on the University of Washington campus. The confluence of the widely
publicized convention and the world's fair will help win supporters for women's
right to vote.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8584
Suffrage proponents speak at second evening meeting of National American Woman Suffrage Association convention at Plymouth Congregational Church in Seattle on July 2, 1909.
On July 2, 1909, suffragists Caroline Lexow, Eva Emery Dye, and Frances S. Potter
(1867-1914) speak to the crowd at the second evening meeting of National American
Woman Suffrage Association convention at Plymouth Congregational Church in Seattle.
The theme of the evening is suffrage on college campuses. The convention is taking
place during Washington's first world's fair, the Alaska-Pacific-Yukon (A-Y-P) Exposition,
held on the University of Washington campus. The confluence of the widely publicized
convention and the world's fair will help win supporters for women's right to vote.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8585
The Washington Equal Suffrage Association hosts the third evening meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association convention at Seattle's Plymouth Congregational Church on July 3, 1909.
On July 3, 1909, members of the Washington Equal Suffrage Association host the third
evening meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association convention at
Plymouth Congregational Church in Seattle. The convention is taking place during
Washington's first world's fair, the Alaska-Pacific-Yukon (A-Y-P) Exposition, held
on the University of Washington campus. The confluence of the widely publicized
convention and the world's fair will help win supporters for women's right to vote.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8586
Woman Suffrage leaders speak from Seattle pulpits and The Reverend Dr. Anna Howard Shaw speaks at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition on Sunday, July 4, 1909.
On Sunday, July 4, 1909, prominent national leaders of the woman suffrage movement
speak from the pulpits of local churches, and National American Woman Suffrage Association
president, The Reverend Dr. Anna Howard Shaw (1847-1919) speaks in the Auditorium
at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific (A-Y-P) Exposition in Seattle. The national suffragists
are in Washington for the July 1-July 6, 1909 National American Woman Suffrage Association
(NAWSA) Convention currently underway at Plymouth Congregational Church in downtown
Seattle. The confluence of the widely publicized convention and the A-Y-P Exposition,
Washington's first world's fair, will help win supporters for women's right to vote.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8566
National suffrage leaders address the public during the fifth evening meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association convention at Seattle's Plymouth Congregational Church on July 5, 1909.
On the evening of July 5, 1909, Henry Blackwell (1824-1909), Mary E. Craigie, and
Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935) address the crowd gathered in Plymouth Congregational
Church in downtown Seattle to participate in the fifth evening meeting of the National
American Woman Suffrage Association Convention. Blackwell, an abolitionist and longtime
advocate for woman suffrage, heads the Association's Committee on Presidential Suffrage.
Craigie heads the Association's Special Committee on church work. Charlotte Perkins
Gilman, a socialist and writer, is a very popular suffrage speaker. The convention
is taking place during Washington's first world's fair, the Alaska-Pacific-Yukon
(A-Y-P) Exposition, held on the University of Washington campus. The confluence
of the widely publicized convention and the world's fair will help win supporters
for women's right to vote.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8590
The National American Woman Suffrage Convention holds its sixth evening meeting at Seattle's Plymouth Congregational Church on July 6, 1909.
On July 6, 1909, the National American Woman Suffrage Association holds its final
evening meeting at Plymouth Congregational Church in downtown Seattle. The following
day the suffragists will move operations to the Auditorium Building on the grounds
of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific (A-Y-P) Exposition, where they will participate in Woman
Suffrage Day at the fair. The confluence of the widely publicized convention and
the hugely popular world's fair will help win supporters for women's right to vote.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8591
Pauline Steinem delivers the report of the Committee on Education at the National American Woman Suffrage Association Convention in Seattle on July 6, 1909.
On July 6, 1909, Pauline Steinem (1863-1940), chair of the National American Woman
Suffrage Association's Committee on Education, delivers the committee report during
the afternoon session at Plymouth Congregational Church in downtown Seattle. Steinem's
theme is the importance of mothers in influencing their daughters to strive for
woman suffrage and equality with men, and the importance of school textbook reform.
Pauline Steinem was the grandmother of the well-known feminist leader Goria Steinem
(b. 1934)
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8598
Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle celebrates Suffrage Day on July 7, 1909.
On July 7, 1909, Suffrage Day is celebrated at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific (A-Y-P)
Exposition on the grounds of the University of Washington in Seattle. A-Y-P Suffrage
Day coincides with the final day of the National American Woman Suffrage Association
(NAWSA) convention. Fairgoers, including some 600 suffragists who have participated
in the convention, enter the Exposition grounds under enormous banners bearing the
slogan "Votes For Women." On July 7 the A-Y-P Exposition also celebrated "Pythian
Day," designated to honor the Knights of Pithias, a fraternal order.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8574
Suffragists join The Mountaineers' Club 1909 outing to Mount Rainier and plant an A-Y-P Exposition flag and a "Votes For Women" banner at the summit of Columbia Crest on July 30, 1909.
On July 30, 1909, Dr. Cora Smith Eaton (1867-1939), photographer Asahel Curtis (1874-1941),
Major E. S. Ingraham, and other summiting members of The Mountaineers' Club 1909
expedition to Mount Rainier plant a large Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition flag with
a smaller pennant bearing the motto "Votes For Women" attached to its staff at the
summit of Columbia Crest on Mount Rainier. High winds snap the staff after only
15 minutes. The climbers then place the flag inside the crater, where they leave
it.
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8578