Political Women: Suffrage Commemoration in Newport

Saturday, August 21, 2010

EVENTS by Andrea E. McHugh

It’s hard to imagine, in a country synonymous with freedom, that prior to 1920, women were prohibited to cast their votes in elections. Brave suffragettes including Carrie Chapman Catt, Alice Paul, Rose Winslow, Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, and many others, endured public humiliation, were socially blackballed, and arrested for trivial offenses that forced them to endure deplorable conditions throughout their decades-long fight for voting rights.

Marking the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, the Preservation Society of Newport County will host “Celebrating 90 Years of Women and the Vote,” on Thursday, August 26th at 11 am (free and open to the public) in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island, YWCA Northern Rhode Island, Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, the Newport Restoration Foundation and the Newport Historical Society.

The event will appropriately unfold at Marble House, the former home of noted suffragist Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, who used the manse as a setting for suffrage rallies during the early years of the 20th century. While Alva Vanderbilt Belmont was known a prominent hostess in Newport society, she also used her grand Bellevue Avenue “summer cottage” as a backdrop for fundraising for the cause, calling the home (which was a 39th birthday present from her husband), her “temple to the arts.” “Alva Vanderbilt Belmont was a rebel right from childhood, and despite becoming one of the leaders of Newport and New York high society, she never lost her independent spirit,” said Preservation Society CEO and Executive Director Trudy Coxe. “Alva used her position in society to raise money and lobby for the right of women to vote, so she would be very proud to see her beloved Marble House hosting this celebration today.”

Honoring the women who pioneered the movement will be former Rhode Island state senator June Gibbs, who will read Susan B. Anthony’s speech of 1888, and Naval War College Military Professor of National Strategy Decision Making Lt. Col. Jayme M. Sutton, who will read a letter by suffragist Alice Paul written when she was imprisoned. Representing youth is Amber Rose Johnson, the 2010 Poetry Out Loud National Champion from Classical High School in Providence, who will read from Carrie Chapman Catt’s “On Women Voting” speech. Catt was the founder of the League of Women Voters and delivered the powerful speech on August 26, 1920. Rhode Island Poet Laureate Lisa Starr will also speak and the day event will be emceed by Preservation Society CEO and Executive Director Trudy Coxe. For more information, visit http://www.NewportMansions.org.