Susan Fye’s head spins when thinking about what women had to endure to gain equal political rights a century ago — especially when the public fight stretched for more than 40 years in Bartholomew County alone.
Fye was among three area women, along with Jessica Brown and Deb Sloane, who dressed as suffragettes for the recent opening of the exhibit “Securing the Vote: Women’s Suffrage in Indiana,” at the Bartholomew County Historical Society, located at 524 Third St. in Columbus.
The exhibit helps mark the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment, which was ratified on Aug. 18, 1920. Each year, on Aug. 26, Women’s Equality Day is celebrated to commemorate the amendment’s adoption.
“So many of these women stuck with this for so long,” Fye said. “And how many people, men or women, would stick with something that long not knowing if you’ll ever have success? These women are absolute heroes.”
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The display, a traveling exhibit from Indiana Historical Society, will be open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Tuesday.
The exhibit explores how women across the state labored for suffrage through countless meetings, campaigns and other grassroots efforts. Visitors will learn how, despite many defeats and setbacks, women persisted toward the goal of full citizenship and the power to make change through voting.
In the exhibit, it also covers the first women’s rights convention in the state, held in Dublin, Indiana, in 1851, and follows the fight through Indiana’s ratification of the 19th Amendment. Along the way, the exhibit delves into stories of change such as the first woman elected to the Indianapolis School Board in 1909, and the evolution of state groups like the Legislative Council of Women.
The exhibit is supplemented by rich local history, and features women such as Miranda Hinman, who presided at the first suffrage meeting held in Columbus in 1882. Hinman also spoke at Indiana’s women’s suffrage convention that year.
Also bringing the national issue to the home front is a display featuring news clippings from October 1879 that famed activist Susan B. Anthony had spoken in Columbus. According to The Republican newspaper, Anthony was “quite sarcastic at times” during the event. Admission was 25 cents.
Bartholomew County Historical Society Executive Director Diane Robbins said that the display is eye-opening.
“It’s really been informative reading through this exhibit and looking at some of what went on in Bartholomew County then,” Robbins said. “It makes you really admire women who stood up for their rights 100 years ago.”
The Women’s Giving Circle of Bartholomew County sponsored the exhibit’s opening last week.
“Women persisted for generations to gain the right to vote and fight for equality,” said Katie Glick, chair of the local Women’s Giving Circle.”We are still working on issues related to equality and equity today, and I hope this will give the women and men visiting a renewed sense of urgency to engage on these issues while learning about the history.”
While many events highlighting women’s suffrage have been cancelled due to COVID-19, Robbins feels that it’s important to still showcase the exhibit.
“I don’t think we’ve all had the chance to talk about all this so much,” Robbins said. “And I feel like there still are a lot of people unaware that this the 100th anniversary.”
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What: The Indiana Historical Society traveling exhibit "Securing the Vote: Women’s Suffrage in Indiana."
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Tuesday.
Where: Bartholomew County Historical Society, 524 Third St. in Columbus.
Admission: Free, but donations accepted.
Information: 812-372-3541 or bartholomewhistory.org
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