Featured Primary Source"Special Session” is a political cartoon that shows a harried Colonel Tennessee on a sofa, his hat on the floor, upturned with its brim labeled 'Tennessee Legislature.' Two young women sit on either side of the Colonel, vying for his attention. One represents "suffrage" and the other "anti-suffrage." A sign tacked on the wall behind them says "Special Session," as the legislature of Tennessee was meeting at the time to decide upon the ratification of the 19th Amendment.
The Nineteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution granted women the right to vote. When the Tennessee General Assembly passed the ratification resolution on August 18, 1920, it gave the amendment the 36th and final state necessary for ratification. Suffragists and anti-suffragists lobbied furiously to secure votes during that intense summer in Nashville. The ratification resolution passed easily in the Tennessee State Senate on August 13, but the House of Representatives was deadlocked. When young Harry T. Burn of Niota changed his vote to support the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, he broke a tie in the House of Representatives and made history. Carrie Chapman Catt (1859-1947), who was president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), came to Nashville during the summer of 1920 to support the efforts of Tennessee suffragists. Her leadership was a key factor in Tennessee becoming the "Perfect 36," the state that secured equal suffrage for all American women.
This source meets the 5.47 and US.18 Tennessee social studies standards.
For more primary sources about Women’s Suffrage in Tennessee, be sure to visit Women’s Suffrage: Tennessee and the passing of the 19th Amendment collection on our website.
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Battle for the Ballot: Statewide K-12 Student Competition
The Official Committee of the State of Tennessee Woman Suffrage Centennial and the Tennessee Department of Education, the Tennessee State Library and Archives, the Tennessee State Museum, and the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office are sponsoring a statewide competition for grades K-12 to help students engage and reflect upon the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment and Tennessee’s unique role in its ratification. There are competitions for K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and two competitions at the 9-12 level. Prizes for K-5 include an Apple iPad WiFi 32 GB for the top 3 winners in each category and the 6-12 grand prize winners will receive scholarship money in a TNSTARS 529 account. For more information, please see the informational flyer and send all inquiries to education@tnwoman100.com.
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Battle for the Ballot: An Inquiry Based Workshop on Woman Suffrage in Tennessee
Tennessee State Library and Archives joins the Tennessee State Museum and the Official Committee of the State of Tennessee Woman Suffrage Centennial for our 2019-2020 teacher workshop
series that will focus on the story of the women's suffrage movement and the important role that Tennessee played in the ratification of the 19th amendment. This workshop series is designed for Tennessee's classroom educators teaching topics such as:
- the development of the women’s suffrage movement, including the Seneca Falls convention and the ideals of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Sojourner Truth to the events of the 20th century and the showdown in Tennesse
- the organizations and individuals involved in the Suffrage Movement, both pro-suffrage and anti-suffrage
- Tennessee’s important role in the passage of the 19th Amendment
Standards covered in this workshop include 5.09, 5.47, 8.42, TN.46, and US. 18.
Lunch, resources, and six professional development hours provided.
Workshop Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
When and Where: Dates and locations are listed below on our website. To register, find the city closest to you and follow the "Click here to register"
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When is Information Misinformation? Check out this great poster graphic created to help students understand how to be smart about what they see online. Sponsored by the Council of State Archivists, the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, and the National Association of Secretaries of State.
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DocsBox Reservations Open for the 2019-2020 School Year Our DocsBox program is in its third year and we are delighted to announce that reservations have opened for the 2019-2020 school year. Currently, we have seven topics that span multiple grade levels. Each teaching DocsBox is $25 for shipping costs and is available to rent in two or three week periods.
Important for the 2019-2020 School Year
In honor of the centennial celebration of the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment, the Official Committee of the State of Tennessee Woman Suffrage Centennial has secured funding from the Tennessee General Assembly for the creation of twenty additional Woman Suffrage DocsBoxes. All 22 Woman Suffrage DocsBoxes will be available completely free of charge to teachers for the 2019-2020 school year. Reserve your DocsBox today!
Stay tuned for more topics, including review DocsBoxes coming in 2020!
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Halloween Postcard from Ben Dell McKnight to Annie (A.B.) BanksThis Halloween postcard from Ben Dell McKnight to Annie (A. B.) Banks was sent on October 30, 1918 while he was recovering from a war-era wound in a hospital in New York City. The postcard was sent to an address in Kenton, TN.
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