August 18, 2020 marked the 100^th anniversary of the ratification of the 19^th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. Organizations, archives, and museums are offering exhibitions and events in commemoration of this special anniversary, and this includes local entities such as Missouri State University Libraries and the History Museum on the Square.

We are excited to share a pop-up exhibition created by the National Archives, Rightfully Hers, on the third floor of Meyer Library, located just outside of Special Collections and Archives.

Rightfully Hers contains simple messages exploring the history of the ratification of the 19^th amendment, women’s voting rights before and after the 19^th, and its impact today. Despite decades of marches, petitions, and public debate to enshrine a woman’s right to vote in the constitution, the 19^th Amendment – while an enormous milestone – did not grant voting rights for all. The challenges of its passage reverberate to the ongoing fight for gender equity today.  This exhibit runs through October 30, 2020.  Please contact Archives@MissouriState.edu with any questions.

The exhibit is organized by the National Archives and Records Administration. In celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the 19^th Amendment, the National Archives has launched a nationwide initiative and major exhibition that explores the generations-long fight for universal woman suffrage. The exhibition is presented in part by the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission and the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of Unilever, Pivotal Ventures, the Carl M. Freeman Foundation in honor of Virginia Allen Freeman, AARP, and Denise Gwyn Ferguson.

You can also celebrate the 100^th Anniversary of the 19^th Amendment with Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence, a Smithsonian Exhibit hosted by the History Museum on the Square from August 19, 2020 to September 27,  2020. Based on the National Portrait Gallery exhibition of the same name, Votes for Women seeks to expand visitors’ understanding of the suffrage movement in the United States. The poster exhibition addresses women’s political activism, explores the racism that challenged universal suffrage, and documents the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment which prohibits the government from denying U.S. citizens the right to vote on the basis of gender. It also touches upon the suffrage movement’s relevance to current conversations on voting and voting rights across America.

Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery. This project received support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative. The Museum has also highlighted many local political activist women. This exhibit is sponsored locally by Presenting Sponsor AARP Springfield, Stanton & Mott Sponsors- Junior League of Springfield, National Art Shop, Pure Romance by Megan Berryessa, Susan B. Anthony Sponsors- Morey Mechlin, Mostly Serious LLC, and Francie Wolff. This exhibit is free to members. General admission rates apply to all other guests.

Contact Krista Adams at (417) 849-6348 / krista@historymuseumonthesquare.org or visit www.HistoryMuseumOnTheSquare.org. for details on additional events related to the 10^th Amendment and the Women’s Movement.