New Hampshire’s Centennial Celebration of the 19th Amendment

Posted on 4 June, 2019 by Janice Brown

Oct 24, 1914 cover of The Suffragist magazine. Internet Archive.

There are at least three dates that are of particular interest to New Hampshire regarding suffrage. It was 100 years ago today, on 4 June 1919 that the 19th Amendment was passed by the United States Congress. This amendment granted women the right to vote. Victory was not easy. Decades of women and suffrage supporters tirelessly “lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience.”

Women however could still not vote or run for office. After passing Congress at least 36 states were needed to vote in favor of the amendment for it to become law.  On September 10, 1919, New Hampshire voted in favor of the 19th Amendment. Continue reading →

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Was Your New Hampshire Ancestor a Suffragist?

Posted on 3 June, 2019 by Janice Brown

Women picketing for suffrage. From Suffragist magazine 1918.

I remember my grandmother proudly speaking about the day that she had the right to vote. In 1920 when she first could, she was forty-one years of age, married and would within the next few years give birth to her 12th child.

I never asked her if she was a suffragist. I suspect she was, but probably not an activist–she would have been too busy taking care of all her household of children.  My mother was only a year old in 1920. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire Suffragist and Civic Leader: Lois (Warren) Shaw of Manchester (1884-1964)

Posted on 2 June, 2019 by Janice Brown

Photograph of Lois (Warren) Shaw with one of her daughters. From Photograph from: Jailed for Freedom by Doris Stevens, 1920. Internet Archive.

She was born Lois Warren, daughter of John E. & Sarah Harriet “Hattie” (Brown) Warren on 5 September 1884 in Westbrook, Maine. The 1900 U.S. Census shows her living in Westbrook Maine with her family, her birth date given as September 1884. She attended Vassar from 1899-1900, and began as a freshman student at Radfcliffe in 1900/01. She graduated from Radcliffe in the 1905/1906 Class.

Lois Warren married on 5 Sep 1905 in Portland Maine to Winfield L. Shaw, son of Horace H. & Celeste M. (Gay) Shaw.  She moved to Manchester, New Hampshire with him, and raised their family there at 16 Salmon Street. In the 1940 U.S. Census she was living in New Boston, New Hampshire. She is known to be buried in the Cemetery Road Cemetery, New Boston, New Hampshire with her tombstone stating her death date as 6 February 1964. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire Suffragist, Club-Woman, Civic Leader, Social Service Worker: Martha Smith Kimball of Portsmouth (1870-1967)

Posted on 27 May, 2019 by Janice Brown

Photograph of Martha Smith Kimball from One Thousand New Hampshire Notables, 1919. Internet Archive.

Martha Smith Kimball was born into a wealthy Portsmouth New Hampshire family. Her father Edward Payson Kimball was a well-known banker and her mother was Martha J. Thompson.  She was born 28 February 1870 in Portsmouth NH.

On 12 Nov 1902 she completed a passport giving the following description: aged 32, 5 ft 3 inches tall, high forehead, brown eyes, small mouth, average chin, dark brown hair, light complexion, oval face, ordinary nose. Her residence was that of her parents, at the corner of Union and South treet, Portsmouth NH (889 South Street).  His house is part of Portsmouth’s House Tour, called the “E.P. Kimball House.”

Martha Smith Kimball attended the local Portsouth schools.  Later she attended and received a  B.A. from Smith College in 1892. Continue reading →

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New Hampshire Suffragist, National & Local Civic Leader, Peace Proponent, Lecturer, Teacher: Mary Nettie Chase of Andover (1863-1959)

Posted on 22 May, 2019 by Janice Brown

The Spirit of Woman Power, cover of Suffragist newsletter, December 1918. Internet Archive.

With the upcoming 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment being passed by the U. S.  Congress, my focus shifts to women (and men) who promoted suffrage in New Hampshire and nationally.  When Mary Nettie Chase’s name was mentioned on “The Turning Point,” web site, I had to wonder why I had not known about her.  All I knew was from this brief notice: “Mary N. Chase, Unknown City: President of the New Hampshire Auxiliary of the NWSA. Delegate at the NWSA 44th Convention in 1912. President from as early as 1906.” Continue reading →

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