(1851–1929) Jennie was a prominent suffragist and member of the New York State Equal Suffrage Association, first serving as district director and then third vice president. She went on to become the Vice President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association.

Known for her forceful and talented speaking skills, Jennie was active on the local level. She maintained the Delhi, New York headquarters for the suffrage campaign. In 1914, Jennie organized an Equal Suffrage Convention in Delhi which included Carrie Chapman Catt as a speaker.

In 1915, she organized a mass suffrage meeting in Hancock, New York, and advocated for suffrage by driving around Delaware County in her decorated automobile. Jennie provided the club with its headquarters.

(1869–1944) Elizabeth was a suffrage leader in Syracuse in the 1910s. She held two key roles in 1915-1917, the final years of New York’s long crusade for the vote: she was president of the Syracuse Political Equality Club, and district leader for the New York State Woman Suffrage Party, responsible for Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, Jefferson, and Madison counties.

The districts were defined by Carrie Chapman Catt, who had created a highly organized structure to lobby the men who would vote on a suffrage amendment in New York. This three-part process required passing a bill through both houses of the legislature, passing the same bill in the subsequent legislature, and then going to the voters for a popular referendum. In 1915, despite three years of ceaseless effort, they lost at the last step. The men of New York defeated the suffrage bill by a wide margin. Two nights after the defeat, the women of New York gathered at the Cooper Union in the East Village and immediately vowed to try again. They raised $100,000 that night to fund a do-over—about $2.5 million in 2020 terms.

A few months after that, as the movement sought to shore up its leaders for the next round, Elizabeth spoke at a dinner in Syracuse honoring “suffrage pioneers.” In November 1916, at the state suffrage convention in Albany, she was elected leader of her district, known as District 5. We don’t know a lot about Elizabeth's work over the following year, but it must have been substantial: the referendum passed in 1917, and New York women finally became full citizens.

Elizabeth and her husband William, a lawyer, had three children, but none of them lived to adulthood. After suffrage, Elizabeth continued to contribute to her community, serving as a member of the Syracuse Housing Authority during the Great Depression. She focused on establishing minimum housing standards for Syracuse. Bio by Rachel B. Tiven.

(1859–1947) Carrie began working for woman suffrage in Iowa in 1887. In 1900 she succeeded Susan B. Anthony as president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), and held that position until 1904. In 1902 she founded the International Woman Suffrage Alliance (IWSA) and served as president until 1923, with affiliates eventually being founded in Australia, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Norway, Sweden and the United States.

After accepting another term as president of NAWSA in 1915, Carrie worked for the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which would grant suffrage to women. At a convention marking NAWSAs 50th anniversary Carrie announced the founding of the League of Women Voters (LWV), which would succeed the NAWSA and enable women to become informed voters. The 19th Amendment was eventually ratified on August 26, 1920.

In 1915 she helped establish the Woman's Peace Party, and helped to organize the Committee on the Cause and Cure of War in 1925, serving as chair until 1932. Following World War I she campaigned for American participation in the League of Nations and later the United Nations. (Bio by: Diane Carmichael Blank)

(1875–1962) Lucy was an active member of the Political Equality Club of Glens Falls. In 1915, she was Fourth Ward supervisor helping to coordinate the canvassing of Glens Falls to ascertain how many men and women in the city were in favor of granting women the right to vote.

This local canvass committee was part of the Empire State Campaign of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Glens Falls was in the 11th campaign district led by Katharine Notman.

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

(1843–1907) In 1884, Mariane attended her first women's suffrage convention held by the Woman Suffrage Association of Brooklyn. At the time, Lucy Stone was president. Shortly after, Mariane became a member of the association and went on to become president herself. Later, from 1897 to 1902, Mariane was president of the New York State Woman's Suffrage Association. Throughout her time leading these organizations, Mariane was frequently in contact with other well-known activists such as Susan B. Anthony and Carrie Chapman Catt.

(1843–1917) Elizabeth was a suffragist who served as the private secretary to Susan B. Anthony in the late 1800s. She resided at 18 Front Street in Owego (different from Oswego) until eventually moving to New York City for her work with Anthony. While Susan B. Anthony was touring and promoting “Revolution,” the newspaper on women’s suffrage, she presented her case at the Tioga County Courthouse in 1894 and stayed overnight and was hosted by Elizabeth.

(1924–2005) The first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress, Shirley was a passionate and effective advocate for the needs of minorities, women, and children and changed the nation's perception about the capabilities of women and African Americans.

Shirley spent seven terms in the NYS House of Representatives. As a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1969, Shirley championed minority education and employment opportunities. In 1972, she became the first major-party black candidate (and the second woman) to make a bid for the U.S. presidency.

Shirley was one of the early members of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and active in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993. From Shirley Chisholm—Unbought and Unbossed.

(1879–1930) Helen was not only a member of the Colored Women’s Suffrage Club of New York (affiliated with the New York City Woman’s Suffrage Party), but traveled with the group to attend a women’s suffrage conference in Saratoga, New York. The New York Age noted Helen's attendance in an article from September 6, 1917 saying, “Among the women who accompanied Mrs. Lewis to the convention were Mrs. M. M. Young, Mrs. Helen Christian, Miss LeRue Sand, Mrs. Ella.”

It was during this convention that a few of the members of the Colored Women's Suffrage Club felt they had been treated differently and unfairly, in comparison to the white women in attendance. On September 13, 1917, the club held a meeting to address these issues. The New York Age reported that in response to the racist allegations made, "Mrs. Helen Christian, another colored delegate, stated that she had attended every session of the convention and had not seen the slighting indication on the part of anyone to snub the colored women who were made welcome as the white women to all privileges and courtesies."

In 1929, Helen Christian was listed as living at what was once the headquarters of the Colored Women's Suffrage Club of New York City, at 2285 Seventh Avenue. Bio courtesy of alexanderstreet.com

(1818–1901) Charlotte stood strongly for temperance, total abstinence, and the enforcement of law. She was an active member and a liberal supporter of the Women's [sic] Christian Temperance Union, and was especially interested in temperance instruction in the common schools. It is well and widely known that Charlotte was particularly interested in the civil and political rights of women. For many years she had been closely identified with this movement, giving it her most earnest effort, and laboring diligently to secure the fullest suffrage for her sex. She regarded the successful prosecution of many reforms in the light of equal suffrage.

Charlotte sought the opportunity to vote, not for itself alone, but as a means to the attainment of many ends, not only for the betterment but the highest good of society and the State. She had read much upon this subject, thought deeply, and of all public questions it was nearest her heart. Cheerfully accepting important official positions, both in the county and the state, and always holding herself for the most strenuous service, she lived to see her hopes realized in the hard won privilege of a limited suffrage for women, and she passed away with an unwavering faith in its future enlargement and complete accomplishment. (courtesy of AlexanderStreet.com)

(1858–1941) Married to suffrage activist Francis Gertrude Goodnow, Frank himself became active in women's suffrage. His sister-in-law is also active in women's suffrage, Alice E. Goodnow. Frank owned Cobb Drug Store and was probably influential within the community. All three are buried next to each other in Boughton Hill Cemetery, Victor. If you know more about Frank, you can help us tell his story. Please use our Add a Suffragist form to submit your information.

(1862–1922) Frances was active in the Victor Equal Suffrage Association and her church St Pauls' Universalist Church, where according to her obituary in the Victor Herald, Jan. 6, page 5, she was "an interested and willing worker in all its societies". Notably she was a Matron of Eastern Star in 1917.

Her husband Frank E. Cobb was also active in Women's Suffrage as was her sister, Alice Goodnow. If you know more about her, you can help us tell her story. Please use our Add a Suffragist form to submit your information.

(1830–1915) Asenath was a well known author who lived in Watertown, NY, serving as a representative to New York State Woman Suffrage Association. She applied her writing skills to drafting letters in support of or against those running for office, and she promoted women continuing to be able to vote in their local school elections.

(1845/6–1922) Mary was "an enthusiastic temperance and suffrage worker" who was President of the Political Equality Club of Phelps and the Civics Club of Clifton Springs. She hosted many civic gatherings for women and attended the State Convention in Geneva. Mary was also active in Clifton Springs Grange and worked with the local orphan asylum.

(1832–1904) Alonzo was elected governor of New York State in 1879. In his first message to the legislature, he spoke on the value of women as school officers, and on February 12, 1880, he signed a bill that secured women's right to vote in all school matters, and also made women eligible to serve as school officers. The following day, Lucy Brand of Rochester became a registered voter. While women still could not vote in all elections, Alonzo was a key figure in guaranteeing women local voting rights.

(1877–1957) Born in Beaver Falls, NY, Grace was the daughter of Julia Slocum and James Polk Lewis, founder of J. P. Lewis Paper Company. She was actively involved in the paper industry for years, inheriting shares of her father’s company.

Grace married Harold D. Cornwall in 1911, and devoted her time to several community organizations throughout Lewis County. As an advocate for women’s suffrage, Grace served as the district leader of the Lewis County Woman’s Suffrage League from 1914–1916. During her chairmanship, the number of suffrage clubs throughout the county increased from only two to sixteen. Once she was able to vote, Grace continued her civic involvement by becoming a member of the Lewis County Women’s Republican Club.

(1871–1948) Irene never married, instead devoting her personal and financial freedom to suffrage. She joined her good friend Rosalie Gardiner Jones on her famous marches to Albany and Washington, DC. In 1915, Irene joined fellow suffragist Edna Buckman Kearns in her work as a poll watcher. The two canvassed voters at the polls in Sayville, asking them to sign a slip of paper stating, “I believe that the vote should be granted to the women of New York in 1915.” Irene’s sisters, Amelia and Susan were active suffragists as well. Always seeking unique and innovative activities to garner publicity, Irene and her friends staged an all-night “Aerial Party” on the Hempstead Plains aviation field (which later became Roosevelt Field) in September of 1913. The New York Times reported: “About 200 women and eight men were marshaled for the parade down Hanger Row.” Present were other well-known suffragists including Harriet Burton Laidlaw and Mrs. Rhoda Glover, said to be the oldest suffragist in Nassau County. Once suffrage was won, Irene devoted herself to philanthropic causes and worked with the League of Women Voters to educate women on the importance of the vote. The League named her “the outstanding suffragette in Nassau County” and, in 1931, listed her name on a bronze plaque in Albany honoring the “great women of the State of New York who courageously led the long struggle for the enfranchisement of the women of this nation.” Irene Corwin Davison broke many barriers for women in her life, but her greatest achievement was helping them to enjoy political equality and have their voices heard through the vote.

Born in East Rockaway, Irene was the youngest of three sisters whose family had settled there in the early 19th century. She attended the Packer Institute in Brooklyn, graduated from Pratt Institute and taught art in the Jericho schools. Later she became one of the first women to open her own insurance agency. When her father died, she took over his farm and sold the property to create one of the first housing developments on Long Island.

(1860–1947) Ida was born in Brooklyn, NY where she spent most of her life devoted to helping women obtain equal rights. The work she did for the women's movement mostly took place in New York City or New Jersey. She was well known for her participation in suffrage hikes, led by "General" Rosalie Jones. These events involved a group of women marching throughout the country advertising for women to have the right to vote and were seen as somewhat militant.

Beginning in New York City, the first march went to Albany; a second, longer hike went through New Jersey to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., arriving just before Woodrow Wilson's inauguration in March 1913. Ida Craft was second in charge of these walks, earning the nickname "Colonel Craft."

Almost everyone referred to her by this name. Sometimes when Craft marched, she was tired and in pain; however, she persevered and led the group to where they needed to go. Craft led her women to the Capitol in Washington to protest the exclusion of women from political rights. When she arrived in Washington, she would often be the guest of honor at luncheons. She was given a gold medal in 1913 for her "devotion and courage to her cause." (Bio courtesy of alexanderstreet.com)

(1873–1964) Caroline completed four years of college, worked as a stenographer, and was then the first woman to be admitted to the bar in NYS.

She went on to practice law in Canandaigua and was active in the Republican Party. Caroline was a delegate to the Republican State Convention in 1922.

(1868–1943) Cora Lane Crosier was an officer of the Gorham Political Equity Club.

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

(1853–1925) Ella was always devoted to her home, Hillcrest, in Warsaw, and to the cause of women's suffrage. In September,1891 she organized a convention in Warsaw where the Wyoming County Suffrage Association was formed with Ella named as president, a position that she held for many years.

Shortly thereafter the Warsaw Political Equality Club was formed and Ella was named president of this group as well, a position she retained until national women's suffrage was enacted into law.