Women’s Rights, Suffragettes Portrayed on Early Postcards

 Getting the vote had been a long, hard and frustrating fight for the ladies.

 By 1890, after several bitter decades of dissension, lack of a cohesive strategy, and often near-anarchy in their own ranks, the woman’s suffrage movement took a new direction. This was an agonizingly slow, state-by-state approach to gaining the vote.

 But as a new century dawned, ten years later, only four states – Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Idaho – had granted women this right. Clearly, the time had come for a change in tactics and techniques. The objective now became nothing less than an amendment to the U.S. Constitution!

 The date was March 3, 1913, and the place: Washington, D.C. It was the day before Woodrow Wilson’s swearing-in as president. Workmen and civil servants were busy preparing for the big event.

 Then, it happened. Down the streets they came – thousands upon thousands of suffragettes. They converged into a march toward the White House, where lame duck President William Howard Taft was spending his last days as Chief Executive. Carrying white, gold and purple banners – they gathered in mass along Pennsylvania Avenue. Upon arrival at the White House, the determined women commenced a variety of activities aimed at impressing their goals upon a reluctant and often hostile Congress and president.

 Living tableaus were formed, leaflets handed out, oratories given, and tempers exploded. Some of the ladies, including a few of the original 19th-century pioneers of the movement, became violent and ended up in jail.

 Eventually, the crusade succeeded. The Susan B. Anthony Amendment, as it came to be called, was made into law when Tennessee, on August 18, 1920, became the 36th state to ratify. It happened just in time to allow women to participate in the Harding-Cox election that year.

 Collecting memorabilia associated with the suffrage movement is a fascinating hobby — collectors have endless possibilities.

 In addition to magazine, newspapers and photos there are the numerous streamers, pamphlets, booklets, pin-back buttons, and medals used during the many years of the movement, especially from 1880 to 1920, by various organizations in support of the cause.

 It is, however, with the souvenir postcards published during the first couple decades of the 20th century that the greatest treasure trove of historic materials exists.

 Many of the postcards depict not only the suffragettes themselves, but the demonstrations and parades. Some fine quality sets were issued, as well as many singles, lampooning or honoring the concept of women voting. Those that ridiculed placed great emphasis in their drawings on man-woman role reversals, or female dominance and usurpation of American traditions and legends.

 Perhaps the best postcards were the “officials” published by the organizations involved to publicize “The Holy Cause.” Important among these was the set of 3D cards by Cargil Co., which was endorsed and approved by the National American Women Suffrage Association.

 This propaganda set consists of several distinct groups one of 22 with pithy sayings~ five cards honoring the states already granting suffrage, one showing the suffragette banner, one of the U.S. seal, and one of Abraham Lincoln.

 Most interesting of all postcards are the parade photos. The firm of I. & M. Ottenheimer had their photographers in Washington for President  Wilson’s inauguration and parade. Thus, they were on the scene when the ladies began marching. The event was captured on film and Ottenheimer quickly put on sale a set of cards taken from these photographs.

 A tremendous amount of suffragette-humor postcards abound and have long been among the easiest to find. Such cards often went to extremes for their punch lines.

 In 1915 Campbell Art Co. printed several comic postcards utilizing the cartoons of Emily Hall Chamberlain for the National Women Suffrage Pub. Co. of New York City. These picture a very intense and dedicated little girl of the cause, titled “Votes For Women.” These have become a bit scarce lately.

 Especially collectible today are the two suffragette Valentine’s Day postcards drawn by Ellen Clapsaddle (printed by Wolf & Co.), as well as the few designed by Rose O’Neil of her famous Kewpies involved in various protest activities.

 Another set sought by collectors is the one by Dunston-Weiler Lithograph Company. This has an anti-suffragette theme. One card, for instance, pictures a female Uncle Sam; another, a man doing the washing and child rearing.

 Artist Walter Wellman also heaped scorn upon the ladies with his set of l6 suffrage comics. One of these, arguably the best, portrays our Next  Presidentess,” who is armed with a broom and is about ready to sweep out the old and bring in some correct new thinking.

 Bernhardt Wall, a prolific postcard artist in the early years of the century and later nationally celebrated for his etchings, drew a comedic set using children. Bergman Co. published it as Series No. 6385; and also, with caption changes, as Series No. 6542.

 The picture postcard has proven itself to be an excellent chronicle of historical happenings and social thought of the 1902 to 1920 era. It is fortunate that, when the suffrage movement reached its zenith in the early years of the 20th century, postcards were a national fad and perfectly positioned to record all of the activity.

 The spectacular suffragette movement that culminated in a spectacular victory over a century ago is found on these wonderful historic postcards.