The Women's Era Club: A Story Of Black Women's Activism

The National Parks of Boston Honors the 19th Amendment

The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution simply states:

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

August 26, 2020 will be the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment becoming law.  The fight for “Votes for Women!” crossed multiple generations.  Women of every class, color, and religion advocated and agitated for the right to vote. Boston women protested on the Boston Common, lobbied under the state house’s gold dome, delivered speeches from the stage of Faneuil Hall and on street corners atop a soapbox.  They wrote, published, sold, and read the “Woman’s Journal” for 61 years. Sixteen women even spent eight nights in the Charles Street Jail.

The National Parks of Boston is commemorating this milestone in our nation’s and our city’s history with virtual programs, posts on Facebook and articles on our web page.   

On Wednesday, August 19, we will feature the following webinar: 

The Women's Era Club: A Story of Black Women's Activism 

Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at 7 PM – 8 PM

In 1893, a group of Boston women founded the Woman’s Era Club, one of the first clubs led by African American women. Through its journal, The Woman’s Era, this club’s mission of social activism reached beyond their communities to national audiences. Explore the causes and stories of three women behind this little-known, yet influential club and publication. All are welcome. The virtual program is free to the public by following this WebEx link: 

https://npsboston.webex.com/npsboston/j.php?MTID=m2b36910aa448937c41cd29c3d48e941e

Meeting number: 129 410 3564, password: WomansEra 

To learn more about local suffragists we invite you to explore our web page https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/suffrage2020.htm