Frame Size (H x L): 24” x 45.5”
Pennant Size (H x L): 11” x 27” with 5.5” tassels.

Offered is a rare and extremely desirable women’s suffrage pennant, a similar example of which is held by the Museum of the City of New York.  The field of the pennant is made of purple felt, and it includes a “VOTES FOR WOMEN” overprint.  To the left thereof is a Bugler Girl and a “WOMEN’S POLITICAL UNION” overprint.       

In 1848, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton organized the first women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York.  As a result of this meeting in Stanton’s hometown, the document containing a declaration for women’s suffrage, right to education, and right to employment was drafted.  Over the next 50 years, numerous women’s conventions were hosted to bring strength to the movement in masses.  In 1906, the daughter of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriot Stanton Blatch, founded the Equality League of Self-Supporting Women, which later became the Women’s Political Union.  The Women’s Political Union organized working-class suffragists and, in 1910, organized the first large scale suffrage march in the United States (in New York City). 

Though initially targeted as a state-by-state movement, it was ultimately recognized that only an amendment to the Constitution would grant all women the right to vote.  Amendments were introduced in 1878 and 1914, both of which were defeated.  By 1918, both political parties were committed to women’s suffrage, in part based on the major role women played in World War I.  As such, in January of 1918 and June of 1919, an amendment was passed by two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate, respectively.  On August 18th, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the amendment, giving the two-thirds of state legislators necessary to ratify the amendment.  On August 26th, the Nineteenth Amendment became part of the Constitution, and stated the following:

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.  Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Conservation Process: This pennant was hand sewn to cotton fabric, and both were hand sewn to a mounting board.  To prevent the black dye in the cotton fabric from seeping into the pennant, it was first washed in a standard wash and then in a dye setting wash.  The pennant is positioned behind Optium Museum Acrylic.

Frame: This offering is in our Large Black and Gold Frame.    

Condition Report: A previous owner of this pennant stitched a circle and the letters C.P.H.S. to the pennant.  The C.P.H.S. was a reference to Cross Plains High School in Tennessee.  Because the previous owner displayed the reverse of this pennant, the obverse is still bright and bold.  The circle and the C.P.H.S. have been removed, but upon close inspection of the pennant, there are signs of the stitching on the obverse.  All in all, this pennant displays wonderfully and is among the very best of the remaining women’s suffrage pennants.     

Collectability Level: The Best – Perfect for Advanced Collectors  
Date of Origin: 1910-1915