(1830–1911) Eliza followed in the footsteps of her mother, Martha Coffin Wright, who together with Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and her aunt, Lucretia Mott, had called the first Women's Suffrage Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848.

After her marriage to farm machinery manufacturer David M. Osborne, with whom she had four children, she devoted her prodigious energies to both her household and the fight to enfranchise women, hosting regular meetings at her Auburn, NY, home with Anthony, Stanton, and other leaders in the movement. A witty and persuasive writer, Eliza was also active in promoting education and the arts. Among those she inspired to public service were her son, prison reformer Thomas Mott Osborne, and her grandson Lithgow Osborne, a diplomat and environmentalist. She held leadership positions in women's suffrage organizations until her death at age 81, nine years before the passage of 19th Amendment that granted American women the right to vote. Bio by: Nikita Barlow

(1816–1919) The only person who signed the Declaration of Sentiments who lived long enough to vote in 1918, Rhoda lived in a progressive household. Her father was an anti-slavery activist. She remembered “slaves coming to our home and then they would be sent on to another abolitionist, and so on, until they reached Lake Ontario.” She also recalled hearing a speech by the famous abolitionist Sojourner Truth.

Rhoda, along with her father, was in attendance at the first Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls in July of 1848. She was one of the signers of the Declaration of Sentiments. New York State enacted a women’s suffrage law before passage of the Federal Amendment which granted women the vote. Because of the New York law, Rhoda Palmer realized a long-held dream and voted in November, 1918, at the age of 102.

(1885–1975) Born in Plattsburgh, NY, Marian Inman Parkhurst, always known as “Dot,” appears in the Clinton County Suffrage History in early 1914 as corresponding secretary of the Clinton County Equal Suffrage Club. Her role in the movement was, among other things, to provide articles for the Plattsburgh Daily Press. These articles attacked the anti-suffragists and drew attention to the writings of the famous Alice Duer Miller and included Miller’s piece on "Why women should not travel on trains."

In October of the 1915, Dot marched as a star in the “living flag” during the suffragist parade in New York City. In December of 1915, she and longtime County suffrage supporter Helen Boomhower attended the annual convention of the New York State Women’s Suffrage Association. Dot went on to become the first female head of the Balance of Supply Division for the War Department in Washington. In 1918 she was involved with the Women’s Division of the Republican National Committee. In 1920 she toured abroad studying economic conditions of women and returned to become a Washington lobbyist for the Bill for Education and Child Labor. In 1924 she was President of the New York State Women’s Federated Clubs, Congressional secretary for the National Committee for a Department of Education, and Congressional secretary for the League of Women Voters.

An admirer of Carrie Chapman Catt, Dot was known to quote one of Catt’s favorite slogans, “And I wouldn’t subscribe to that." Later Dot’s niece Bea remembered that shortly after World War I, she and Aunt Dot attended a Thanksgiving dinner at Catt’s New Rochelle home where many of the leading feminists were present. Catt later came to Plattsburgh to appoint her Marian ("Dot") as President of the Clinton County League of Women Voters.

(1892–1958) Clara was an active member of a small African American Buffalo community. During World War I Clara served at Marin Hospital as a nurse volunteer during the influenza epidemic of 1917 and 1918. She was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Buffalo Urban League and remained involved from 1927 until 1958. Clara helped initiate the first integrated YWCA in the Buffalo area. In 1926 she was elected to the Board of Directors and served as a member of the Y's Business Girls' Council and the Inter-racial Committee.

Clara was also involved in Republican party politics. In April 1920 she was reported as one of two organizers of a Leonard Wood Club among African American women in Buffalo. The newspaper account in the Buffalo Evening News of April 16, 1920 noted, "it is hoped to enroll every colored woman in Buffalo in the league." General Leonard Wood was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican presidential nomination that year. *Courtesy AlexanderStreet.com

(1839–1903) Mary "Jennie" was active in both the temperance and suffrage movement. In 1891, Jennie gave the welcome address of the 23rd annual convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association held at the Opera House in Auburn, NY. She was later named as the recording secretary for the association and also served as auditor.

Jennie was also a member of the executive committee for the Women's Christian Temperance Union, where she served in Auburn as county superintendent for juvenile work and the department of mercy in 1895.

(1860–1932) Helen was an earnest believer in women’s suffrage from a young age. She wrote and spoke to advocate for enfranchisement in NY and other states. She was an officer of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. From the book Families of Western New York, by William Richard Cutter.

(1843–1901) Emily was a founding member of the Easton Political Equality Club, the first suffrage club in Washington County, NY along with her sister Chloe Peckham Sisson.

(1810–1892) Mary was noted in the History of Women's Suffrage 1886-1885 as an Honorary Vice President (among many others) of the National Women's Rights Association in 1886. In the same volume, she is also noted as having provided valuable services in a passage regarding women voting illegally in 1871.

(1928–1920) Delia’s place in history was first told in 1918 in the Daily News of Batavia with the headline, “Woman Aged 91 Voted in Le Roy.” Delia received the honor of voting first even though she was joined by fifty-seven other women for the first vote in Le Roy at the Municipal Building. It is assumed she was the leading woman to cast her vote due to her age and standing in the community.

Delia joined the Presbyterian Church when she moved to Le Roy at the age of 61, teaching Sunday school there as well. She was active in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union co-leading the evangelistic and Sabbath observances. Her gravestone lists her name and years of birth and death. It doesn’t indicate her place in Le Roy history. The historical marker in Le Roy now fills in that gap.

If you know more about Delia, you can help us tell her story. Please use our Add a Suffragist form to submit your information.

(1878–1936) Ethel was an artist, socialite and a supporter of suffrage. She exhibited her work along with other female artists to support this cause. Ethel joined with a group of women who crashed a male-only boxing match to plead for the right to vote. The women were arrested for trespassing.

Ethel was the Vice President of the Society of Illustrators and Artists and exhibited at the Society of Independent Artists in 1910, the MacDowell Club in 1915, and the Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture by Women Artists for the Benefit of Woman Suffrage Campaign at the Macbeth Gallery (1915).

1915 was a big year for her work; a poster she designed included a soon to be familiar female figure in the fight for voting rights. The caption read: "You ask us to attend shows with you, and join you for dinner, and marry you, so why don't you ask us to vote with you?" NY TIMES MAGAZINE, 10/3/1915.

In 1925, Ethel Plummer became the first woman artist published in The New Yorker, with her work chosen for the inaugural issue.

(1893–1976) Lucy Popenhusen was a member of The Grange, WCTU, and the Ladies Aid Society. She was among the women who voted in 1917. Lucy and her family were very active Quakers. If you know more about her, you can help us tell her story. Please use our Add a Suffragist form to submit your information.

(1803–1889) Involved in the suffrage movement from its inception until the end of her life, Amy Kirby Post attended the Seneca Falls Women's Rights Convention in July 1848 where she signed the Declaration of Sentiments. She served on the arrangements committee for the continuation of the convention held in Rochester, NY, in August 1848.

Amy was instrumental in nominating a woman to preside over the meeting, which was unheard of at the time. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott were opposed to this "most hazardous experiment;." However, Amy won them over when she "assured them that by the same power by which they had resolved, declared, discussed, and debated, they could also preside at a public meeting."

Together with two seamstresses, Amy formed the local chapter of the Working Women's Protection Union which promoted wage increases for women and served as the treasurer. After the Civil War, she joined to the Equal Rights Association and later, the National Woman Suffrage Association. She was one of the women who attempted to vote in the national election along with Susan B. Anthony in 1872 but was turned away. She tried a second time in 1873, without success.

(1798 –1872) An abolitionist, Isaac, along with his wife Amy, is credited with assisting the largest number of escaped slaves across the border to Canada from his home, which was an important stop on the Underground Railroad. He was a close friend of Frederick Douglass, and his home was a frequent meeting place for reformists such as Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, Sojourner Truth and Susan B. Anthony.

Isaac was also known as an early supporter of women’s rights who actively attended women’s rights conventions. In 1853, he signed “The Just and Equal Rights of Women,” a call and resolution for the Woman’s Rights State Convention held in Rochester, New York on November 30 and December 1, 1853.

(1853–1934) Elmina “Mina” lived at 27 Monroe Avenue and was one of the founding members of the Pittsford Political Equality Club. The Club was one part of a decades-long movement to establish women’s right to vote.

If you know more about Elmina, you can help us tell her story. Please use our Add a Suffragist form to submit your information.

(1872–1935) Florence graduated from the Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn in 1894. Florence Gibb Pratt and Helen Sherman Pratt were sisters-in-law and well-known members of the Glen Cove community. In addition to other philanthropic causes, they used their considerable wealth and political influence to work for women’s suffrage and help secure political equality for women.

Florence and husband Herbert’s summer estate was called Braes. (It is now the home of Webb Institute of Naval Architecture). Helen and husband George’s summer estate was Killenworth. Their homes were right around the corner from each other and were often sites of parties, dances, and fundraisers – all to benefit suffrage.

In December of 1917 Florence held the post of Treasurer of the Woman Suffrage Party of New York City, as well as Third Vice-Chairman of the Manhattan Borough. That same month she joined a group of delegates from New York State and traveled to Washington DC for the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association.

(1853–1938) Harriet was an educator and active in civic affairs in Manchester and the surrounding area. She was a member of the Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Church, and a lead member of the Shortsville Political Equity Club (established in 1915). They hosted the well-attended Ontario County Political Association Convention. While her exact contributions were not documented, it appears that Harriet dedicated herself to suffrage and serving her community.

If you know more about her, you can help us tell her story. Please use our Add a Suffragist form to submit your information.

(1869–1923) Helen was born in Brooklyn. Her father was John Taylor Sherman, a descendant of Roger Sherman, signer of the US Constitution. She attended the Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn. In 1897 she married George DuPont Pratt, whose father, Charles Pratt one of the founders of Standard Oil.

In addition to other philanthropic causes, both Helen and her husband were avid supporters of the suffrage movement. In addition to generous financial support, they frequently opened their home to fund raisers and activities promoting equality under the law.

(1827–888) Rhoda attended the State suffrage convention held in Saratoga Springs in July 1869. The goal of the convention was to create a permanent organization for the State of New York. Rhoda was elected to be a member of the Executive Committee, joining several other representatives from Syracuse. Without a doubt Rhoda "did the work" of suffrage in her day, and yet in regards to herself there's still much left to say. If you know more about Rhoda, you can help us tell her story. Please use our Add a Suffragist form to submit your information.

(1864–1944) Jeanette was an individual who went by many names (Janette, Janet) in the records including "Nettie". Born in Dresden, NY she lived in Gorham for most of her adult years. Jeanette was the vice president of the Gorham Political Equity Club. She was a member of the Ontario County League of Women Voters as well as the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

"Janet" is found in Gorham Cemetery buried with her first husband, W. Thomas Pybus while William S Thompson, her second husband, is buried along with his first wife. Nettie and William had been married for 40 years, so were they honoring their first spouses? Had Nettie's political activities created a wedge between them? We can only wonder.

If you know more about her, you can help us tell her story. Please use our Add a Suffragist form to submit your information.

(1879-1946) Katherine was a Virginia native and long time resident of The Bronx. She arrived in New York just before the Great Migration, the wave of over six million African Americans who left the South for the North and West during the World War I era until the 1970s. She attended the 1913 Empire State Federation of Women's Clubs convention. This fifth annual gathering of the umbrella organization for all NYS African American Clubs was held in Buffalo, NY.

The group focused on programs to assist young black women and support for Harriet Tubman. After Tubman's death, the 1913 meeting was dedicated to education and suffrage for women of color. While her exact contributions from this point on have not been documented it has been stated that she continued to "champion for suffrage and the rights of African American women."

If you know more about Kate, you can help us tell her story. Please use our Add a Suffragist form to submit your information.