A new exhibit at the Missouri History Museum brings to life the stories of 32 diverse and influential women who broke barriers and fought for their voices to be heard, becoming an integral part of a national movement that gave women the right to vote.
One hundred years ago, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on Aug. 18, granting women the right to vote. But the special exhibition, “Beyond the Ballot: St. Louis Suffrage,” highlights a movement that began long before 1920, starting with the colonial period through the women’s suffrage movement and continuing today.
“I think (the exhibit) is incredibly relevant to what’s happening in our world today,” said Missouri History Museum exhibit manager and ‘Beyond the Ballot’ content lead Katie Moon. “Now more than ever. women need to make their voices heard, and voting is one of the easiest and best ways to make that happen. Sadly, many of the challenges that women faced in our city’s history are still issues today. Affordable child care, equal pay and equal opportunity, and appropriate medical care, to name a few. But I think being reminded how courageous, strong and resilient St. Louis women have always been is a great encouragement to keep fighting for what’s important.”
The 6,000-square-foot exhibit, now extended through June 5, 2022, includes more than 80 artifacts and historic photographs, as well as never-before-seen graphic illustrations of the 32 women by local female artist Rori!.
“The 32 women chosen to be highlighted in the exhibit were the result of a group effort to identify and then discuss (and vote on!) who should be included,” Moon explained. “I wanted to make sure to present a mix of women who are more familiar to people, as well as many who should be known, but aren’t. I was also committed to including as many diverse stories as possible – so many women of color have been overlooked who were doing these incredible things in St. Louis. They deserve to be recognized! All of these women contributed in unique ways and were just fascinating. I wish we could have included hundreds more.”
The exhibit puts the stories of local women into context against the backdrop of the national women’s suffrage movement, particularly St. Louis’ unique role in the movement. In many ways, Moon said St. Louis was the center of the national suffrage movement.
“St. Louis has a long history of women making contributions that left a lasting impact both on the local community and on the national suffrage movement – many people don’t realize the latter. The first women’s suffrage organization started in St. Louis, the first suffrage convention was held here in 1869, and the last suffrage convention in 1919 was held here, too.”
And while many of the names behind the local movement may not be familiar, their stories of courage and achievement deserve to be told.
“For instance, Florence Wyman Richardson organized the Equal Suffrage League in 1910, which was the start of the modern suffrage movement in St. Louis,” Moon explained. “Another leader was Edna Gellhorn (yes, Martha Gellhorn was her daughter), who helped to organize the Golden Lane Parade in 1916 and was also the first president of the League of Women Voters in St. Louis. She was active in the community for over 60 decades and worked tirelessly for women’s rights.”
Notable artifacts in the exhibit include the pharmaceutical kit of Dr. Josie Johnson Hitchcock, who was one of the first women doctors to practice in St. Louis, a “Votes for Women” sash worn during the Golden Lane Parade, a homemade sanitary belt from the 1870s, and a variety of women’s clothing and textiles.
“The Missouri Historical Society has an incredible textile collection, and we have many dresses on display in the exhibit,” Moon noted. “I’m often amazed thinking that these women did all of these incredible things while wearing corsets and multiple layers of clothing.”
“Beyond the Ballot: St. Louis Suffrage” is on view through March 1, 2022.
