Female Leaders Who Led Us to Women’s Suffrage

When the 19th Amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920, it marked a significant historical event by finally granting women the right to vote in the United States. This victory, however, required decades of non-stop protests, courage, and determination. From the 1840s to the mid-1900s, this period is known as the Women’s Suffrage Movement, which was most notably led by Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucy Stone. While these women spearheaded the movement with their determination and dedication, there are hundreds of under-recognized feminist leaders that contributed to the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Let’s take a look at a few of them!

Matilda Joslyn Gage

Matilda Joslyn Gage (March 24, 1826 – March 18, 1898) is known as a women's suffragist, Native American rights activist, abolitionist, freethinker, and author.

Some of her most notable achievements include:

• Being the youngest speaker at the 1852 National Women's Rights Convention

• Being a co-author of the first three volumes of History of Woman Suffrage, along with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton

• Serving as the president of the National Woman's Suffrage Association from 1875–1876

• She served as president of Woman's National Liberal Union from the first year it was established until her death in 1898

Fun fact: Gage’s home was also a station for the Underground Railroad.

Frances Ellen Watkins

Frances Ellen Watkins (September 24, 1825 – February 22, 1911) was most notably known as an abolitionist and suffragist.

Some of Watkins’ most notable achievements include:

• Watkins’ "Two Offers" made history in 1859 after it was published in the Anglo-African by making it the first short story published by a black woman.

• When the Civil War ended, Watkins moved to the south to serve as a teacher to newly freed black people during the Reconstruction.

• She founded the American Woman Suffrage Association to advocate for equality of black suffragists.

Fun fact: Watkins published her first poetry book at 20.

Adella Hunt Logan

Adella Hunt Logan (February 10, 1863 – December 10, 1915) is known as an African-American writer and suffragist.

Some of Logan’s most notable achievements include:

• She was a teacher at Booker T. Washington's Tuskegee Institute and was also the first librarian there.

• Logan’s activism work focused a lot on universal suffrage, especially suffrage for women of color.

• She earned her certification as a teacher at the age of 16 after attending Bass Academy

Fun fact: Along with universal suffrage, Logan also advocated for improvements in the healthcare system and prison reform.

The efforts of these women, along with many other important leaders in the Women’s Suffrage movement, led to the implementation of the 19th Amendment– granting women today the ability to vote.