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  • Women's Suffrage

Women's Suffrage

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Find a document in the Arizona State Library catalog that would be a good addition to this topic? Have a suggestion for another Arizona Research Topic? Contact us.

Decade: 
1880s, 1890s, 1910s, 1920s
Subject: 
Community Groups, Government and Politics, Society and Culture, Women

Frances Willard Munds

As early as 1848, activists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony began fighting for a woman’s right to vote in the United States. This struggle came to Tucson, Arizona with Frances Willard who at the time was the president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Activists successfully introduced bills “to Extend the Right of Suffrage to Women” in 1881, 1883, and 1885 but the Territorial Legislature defeated them each time.

As Arizona began its bid for statehood in 1891 the issue of women’s suffrage was again discussed, this time during the first Arizona Constitutional Convention. The problem was raised by Josephine Hughes, Frances Munds, Mary J. R. West, and Mable Ann Hakes. Unfortunately, statehood, and as result suffrage, was denied by President Benjamin Harrison. Arizona would not be allowed to pursue statehood again for 10 years. In the meantime, aspiring voters formed the Arizona Suffrage Association with future senator Frances Willard Munds as secretary.

In 1903, it seemed that the work of these suffragettes would finally find success when a Suffrage Bill was passed by both houses of the Arizona Legislature. Despite its success, Governor Alexander Brodie vetoed the bill citing constitutional issues.

The Second Arizona Constitutional Convention in 1910 provided another opportunity. The National Women’s Suffrage Association sent representatives and money to Arizona to encourage the writing of women’s suffrage into the state constitution. This time Governor Brodie objected because he thought it would jeopardize the bid for statehood with President William Taft.

Eventually, Arizona became a state on February 14, 1912, and activists were prepared to ask voters to decide the fate of women voters. The initiative qualified for the ballot on July 5, 1912. By November of that same year, voters (all men) overwhelmingly approved women’s suffrage, and Arizona joined nine other states and territories: Territory of Wyoming (1869), Territory of Utah (1870), Territory of Washington (1883), Territory of Montana (1887), Colorado (1890), Idaho (1896), California (1911), Oregon (1912), and Kansas (1912). It would be another eight years until the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, “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,” would pass on August 26, 1920.

 

Resources

Research Documents
letter
A telegram from a group of Globe, Arizona citizens to Arizona Territorial Legislator George W.P. Hunt to show their support for the “womans suffrage bill,” 1899
Letter
letter
A telegram from some of the citizens of Globe, Arizona to George W.P. Hunt urging him to oppose the “womans suffrage bill,” 1899
Letter
letter
A hand-written letter from William Herring to George W.P. Hunt about the “Suffrage Bill,” 1899
Letter
letter
A hand-written letter from one of the owners of The Arizona Silver Belt newspaper, Jos. H. Hamill, to George W. P. Hunt outlining his reasons for opposing the woman’s suffrage bill, 1899
  • Letter 1
  • Letter 2
Letter
letter
A hand-written letter from Jos. H. Hamill to George W. P. Hunt expressing his happiness about the failure of the “woman suffrage bill,” 1899
Letter
letter
A letter form Laura Gregg to the Rev. Anna Shaw about the progress in the Arizona women’s suffrage campaign, 1909
Letter
photo
A photograph of Frances Willard Munds, an active suffragist and the first woman elected to the Arizona Legislature, 1910
photo
letter
A letter from Frances Willard Munds to Rev. Anna Shaw about work on the Arizona campaign for equal suffrage, 1910
Letter
document
A report by suffragist Frances Willard Munds for the National Suffrage Convention, 1910
Document
newspaper
A newspaper editorial written by Mrs. B.T. Viall supporting “woman suffrage,” 1911
newspaper
document
A speech written by Frances Willard Munds discussing the history and progress of the women’s suffrage movement in Arizona, 1911-1912
Document
document
The petition for a voter initiative to add an amendment to the Arizona State Constitution allowing women the right to vote, 1912
Document
newspaper
The Weekly Journal-Miner’s front page story about the Arizona House approving the “woman suffrage” amendment, 1912
newspaper
newspaper
A magazine article by Frances Willard Munds asking “Do Arizona women want the ballot?” on page 7, 1912
newspaper
document
A handbill circulated by women’s suffrage supporters encouraging Arizona voters to vote yes on the Suffrage Amendment on November 5, 1912
Document
newspaper
The Arizona Republican’s headline story about Arizona ratifying the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, 1920
newspaper
website
Arizona Legislators: Then & Now—Frances Willard Munds
website
Additional Resources

Ready for more information on this topic? You can find more resources, in addition to the ones listed below, in the State of Arizona Research Library located at the Polly Rosenbaum Archives and History Building, 1901 W. Madison St., Phoenix, AZ 85009. Phone: 602-926-3870 Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. If the collection has a second copy of a listed book, it may be available via interlibrary loan at your local library. Contact Us

vertical file
Vertical File Subject: Women’s Suffrage
vertical file
vertical file
Legislator Bio Files: MUNDS, Frances Lillian
vertical file
biography
AZ Biographical Database
biography
archive
Arizona State Archives Collections: Relevant information may be found in the manuscript collection of George W.P. Hunt as well as the records of the Secretary of State, Elections Division. The Arizona State Archives also maintains the Women’s Suffrage Collection. Please contact Archives for more information.
archive
book
Winning their place: Arizona women in politics, 1883-1950
book
book
The majesty of the law: reflections of a Supreme Court Justice
book
book
History of woman suffrage
book
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