St. Louis Public Library

Celebrate the Vote Festival

Honors 1916 Suffragists

August 15, 2016 | 2 min reading time

This article is 8 years old. It was published on August 15, 2016.

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Photo by www.slpl.org Title: St. Louis Public Library logo
Source: www.slpl.org

CELEBRATE THE VOTE FESTIVAL HONORS 1916 SUFFRAGISTS

In 1916 more than 3,000 suffragists staged a "Walkless, Talkless Parade" in downtown St. Louis to remind delegates attending the Democratic National Convention that women still didn't have the right to vote.

 

One hundred years later, organizers of the "Celebrate the Vote Festival" hope to duplicate the enthusiasm of those women and all those who play a role in the democratic process today.

 

The St. Louis Public Library and the League of Women Voters will hold the "Celebrate the Vote Festival" on Sept. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.in front of Central Library, 1301 Olive Street and in the neighboring park. The event celebrates the centennial of the St. Louis Suffragists of 1916 and honor the women of today. It also features girl bands, art, food trucks, speakers, shopping and voter registration.

 

The Democratic delegates to the 1916 convention were set to re-nominate Woodrow Wilson as president. The women had one demand, a plank in the party platform supporting women's suffrage. With their white dresses, yellow parasols and golden sashes that said, "Votes for Women," the suffragists lined the streets between the delegate hotels and the convention center.

 

"Our foremothers enabled today's reality where women not only vote but use their voices at all levels of government, business and society," said Angie Dunlap of the LWV. "Because of the women who stood in silence in 1916, it was acceptable for my grandma to be a "Rosie the Riveter," my mom to serve on a jury and choose to have me, and for me to play a sport in college and study engineering. And today my daughters pursue their dreams with the knowledge that women have achieved positions of authority and power in all walks of life."

 

In addition to St. Louis Public Library and the League of Women Voters, sponsors of Celebrate the Vote Festival include Missouri History Museum, Webster University, American Association of University Women, St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners and Rebecca Now And Then.

 

For more information and to reserve a banner, visit:  http://lwvstl.org/ctv_festival.html.

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  • Department:
    St. Louis Public Library
  • Topic:
    Community