An Unfinished Revolution: The Woman’s Suffrage Centennial

Greenwich Historical Society Honors Centennial of 19th Amendment with Exhibition Spotlighting Local Women Who Became National Leaders in the Fight for the Right to Vote
“An Unfinished Revolution: The Woman’s Suffrage Centennial”
On view: February 5 through September 6, 2020

The Historical Society will unveil a dynamic exhibition that showcases the role Greenwich women played on the national stage in achieving the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment. Opening February 5th and on view through September 6th, An Unfinished Revolution: The Woman’s Suffrage Centennial features a wide variety of historic objects from museums, libraries, private collections and descendants of suffragists to illustrate the long struggle for the right to vote. Through educational and interpretive programming, the Historical Society will explore broader social and civic issues that resonate today, such as voter registration, voter suppression and the Equal Rights Amendment.

In addition to exploring the stories of Greenwich’s preeminent suffragists, An Unfinished Revolution will also address the equally important impact of the women and men who opposed suffrage. The exhibition also highlights the participation of working women, women of color, and middle-class families in the fight for equal suffrage, with a special focus on the suffragist activities of Elmer and Constant MacRae, proprietors of the Holley Boarding House in Cos Cob (now the Bush-Holley House Museum).

Featuring striking protest banners and historic clothing, sashes, and heirlooms worn by prominent suffragists, visitors to the exhibition will be immersed in the thrilling atmosphere of activism that defined the Progressive Era. Original correspondence, vintage photographs, and works of art from the Greenwich Historical Society’s collections open a further window into this tumultuous period.

Gallery interactives testing visitors’ knowledge of American voting rights today provide an opportunity for visitors of all ages to reflect on the changes that have taken place in our society over the last 100 years – and the important work still ahead to ensure equal rights for all.