FLORENCE-Lauderdale Public Library’s series “Voting Rights in America” will move into its second month, as the focus shifts from African American voting rights to women’s suffrage. Throughout the month of March, which is Women’s History Month, the library will host programs and exhibits celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment, which banned the restriction of voting rights based on sex. The series will wrap up on Saturday, March 28, with a Voter Registration Concert.
This project is co-sponsored by the Alabama Humanities Foundation, a state partner with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Other partners include the League of Women Voters of the Shoals, University of North Alabama Center for Women’s Studies, and Party Pros USA.
All events take place at Florence-Lauderdale Public Library:
Voices of Women’s Suffrage: A Living History Presentation with Stephanie Vickers Saturday, March 7, 1:00 pm
Get an overview of the suffrage movement while hearing the words of the suffragists themselves with this living history performance by Stephanie Vickers.
Throughout the seventy-two-year struggle to win the American woman’s right to vote, women had to constantly push forward to be heard—especially as public speakers.
This program highlights the dynamic shifts in the different ways women began to speak for their beliefs. Performance excerpts from plays, magazine articles, and famous speeches bring to life the unique voices of the brave women who dared to speak out and fight for their place in American citizenship.
Stephanie Vickers is a public historian and interpretation specialist who combines storytelling with academic research. She is the Arts Integration Coordinator at the Tennessee Valley Art Association.
Votes for Women: The Push for a Federal Amendment & the Reemergence of Division Among Suffragists, 1913-1920 with Dr. Lynne Rieff Thursday, March 12, 6:00 pm
Dr. Lynne Rieff will share the fascinating & dramatic stories from the final years of the fight for women’s suffrage. She will discuss the stalled efforts to accomplish suffrage at the state level and explore Alabama’s role, and she will discuss the differing strategies that emerged among suffragists during the fight for a federal amendment.
Dr. Lynne Rieff is Professor of History at UNA & the Director of the UNA Center for Women’s Studies, which is a co-sponsor for this event.
Abolition, Women’s Suffrage, and the Right to Vote with Linda T. Wynn Sunday, March 15, 2:00 pm
Many suffragists first became involved in activism through the abolition movement (the fight to end slavery). While the two movements overlapped significantly, there was also friction, particularly with the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment. Historian Linda T. Wynn will explore these collaborations and clashes, as well as discussing the roles that racism and sexism played in the relationship between the movements.
Linda T. Wynn is the Assistant Director for State Programs for the Tennessee Historical Commission. She also is a Lecturer of History at Fisk University.
Women of the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area with Dr. Carolyn Barske Crawford
Tuesday, March 24, 6:00 pm
Learn about the lives and work of local women in this women’s history talk by Dr. Carolyn Barske Crawford, Director of the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area. This program is based on the exhibit of the same name and explores some of the contributions women of the MSNHA have made in the areas of education, philanthropy, business, performing arts, and exploration.
The exhibit was co-created by Josh Grigsby, Julia McGee, and Lacie Rowe through an Exhibit Design course at UNA, in anticipation of the Nineteenth Amendment centennial. It will be on display at the library during the month of March. There is also an educator packet available for teachers at msnha.una.edu/resource s.
Voter Registration Concert
Saturday, March 28, 12:00 pm
Join us for an afternoon of live music celebrating our freedom to vote! Scheduled performers include McKenzie Lockhart, GMANE, and Jaleesa Escott, with more to be announced. The League of Women Voters of the Shoals will be on site to help you register to vote. Sponsors for this event include Party Pros UNA, Michelle Bernstein, Debra Dombrowski, Dr. Barbara Frazier.
