Neenah Historical Society exhibit celebrates 100th anniversary of women's right to vote
NEENAH - In just one hundred years, women have gone from being barred from the vote to running for president of the United States.
This year marks the centennial anniversary of women's suffrage, and leaders of the Neenah Historical Society want to not only celebrate but also inspire.
The society's new exhibit on the efforts of the 19th Amendment aims to encourage young local girls to be engaged in the political process and believe in their ability to make a difference.
"It really brings our history to life when you can discover there were women living in your own community who had a positive impact," said Jane Lang, executive director of the Neenah Historical Society. "It's very inspiring because then it says to you (that) you can have an impact as well. It's not just for women living in other parts of the country in big cities or wherever."
"Voting for a Change: The Impact of the 19th Amendment on Our Community" captures the obstacles of women in the early 20th century and the pathway to leadership and earning the right to vote.
The exhibit will be free and open to the public from May 19th at noon. Opening day will feature an ice cream social hosted by the Winnebago County League of Women Voters and a talk by former Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, who is now executive director of Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission in Washington, D.C.
The exhibits will include: a hands-on display of women's work within the home in the 1900s, which will allow guests to try to work out different kitchen and home accessories; a fashion display that highlights the use of the corset that guests can try on; a segment featuring local women who played a major role in the suffrage movement; a look at 1920s feminism and the opportunity to fill out a mock ballot for the 1920 presidential election.
Among the local women featured include suffragist Jesse Jack Hooper of Oshkosh, who became the first president of the Wisconsin League of Women Voters and made a life of political and peace activism, and Carrie Chapman Catt of Ripon, who founded the League of Women Voters.
The anniversary comes at a time when there is a record number of women serving in Congress, with 127 representatives in total as well as several female presidential candidates on the campaign trail for 2020.
"It's amazing that women have come this far," Lang said. "It's been a hundred years and in some ways, it's mind-boggling to think it's only been 100 years that women have had the right to vote.
"On the other hand, I think there's so much more that needs to be done and women need to step up and participate and at the very least exercise their right to vote because it's a privilege that was hard-fought for."
Posy Thurow of the Winnebago County League of Women Voters said she is happy to see the 19th Amendment given recognition.
"We're really fortunate to have the Neenah Historical Exhibit here to create public awareness about this," Thurow said.
Thurow said she hopes visitors to the exhibit will leave with the understanding of the importance of voting.
"We just have so many people who think voting doesn't matter, that their vote doesn't count, and we want to dispel that," Thurow said.
Lang wants people to understand the significance of the women's suffrage movement and the impact it had on the local community.
"I think I want them to understand that our community had a very significant impact on this movement and that's a point of pride for the community," Lang said. "I would want them to kind of feel a personal sense of responsibility as a result."