Henry County Historical Highlights: During battle for women’s rights, there were suffragists among us

By Cathy Garretson Helman

The year 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of our Constitution's 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting woman's right to vote. Those who took up the cause of women's suffrage were called 'Suffragists.”

The activities of women in Salem and the surrounding area during what is deemed the Progressive Era is evidence that, though perhaps not named as such, there certainly were 'Suffragists among us!”

Iowa was among the first to form a State Association for Woman's Enfranchisement, formed at the Woman's Suffrage Convention in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa on June 16 and 17, 1870. The presiding officer was Mrs. Belle Babb Mansfield, graduate of Iowa Wesleyan University, a young lawyer of 'solid intelligent ability and sterling moral worth.” Notably the state was recognized for its liberality in admitting women to the bar.

Attending the convention required a long day's buggy ride, but that did not deter area women from carefully planning the journey. Caroline Shedd of Denmark, Iowa, writes to 'Joseph A. Dugdale and wife” in May 1870, of attending the convention 'with Mr. Shedd and our daughter in our own conveyance unless providentially prevented.”

Another notable event was the visit by Sojourner Truth in the late 1870s. Born a slave, she earned her freedom and set out in 1843 to change the course of history. She had a remarkable ability to speak to truth on the issues of slavery, emancipation and women's rights - the right to vote and to own property in their own names. In the late 1870s Sojourner visited the area and spoke at the assembly room in old Whittier College in Salem.

Woman's club movement

As suffrage grew so did a social movement called the Woman's Club movement. The Salem Woman's Club was organized in June, 1895, previously called the Woman's Literary Club in 1893. On April 2, 1903 it was admitted to the Iowa Federation of Woman's Clubs.

A part of the Progressive Era, such clubs became a source of reform as members were involved in issues surrounding education, temperance, child labor, justice systems, legal reform, environmental protection, library creation and woman's right to vote. The clubs allowed women who had little political standing at the time, to gain greater influence in their communities.

Meetings of the Salem Woman's Club included readings of biographies, books on history, debates on current topics, orations, Shakespeare, poetry readings and book critiques. The Club established and maintained a traveling library for the community. Proceeds from dues and fundraising helped purchase books, which arrived by train and picked up at the Salem depot.

Community improvement projects were undertaken to build sidewalks, improve the cemetery, and add hitching posts around the town square. In 1903, the club began to hold meetings in the Salem Opera House. A committee was formed to 'secure a stove and wood.” Rooms in the BeeHive and Bicksler Building were also used as club rooms.

Each year, a topic was chosen to read and report, such as the Bay View Course of Study of Russia and Japan. Picnics were held in the summer months, with community Fourth of July celebrations and a parade. Needless to say, the club was very involved in Salem's Old Settlers.

Disease, war

There were sad times during epidemics, such as the outbreak of polio in 1911 and the pandemic of the Spanish flu in 1918. Meetings had few in attendance or were canceled. The club sponsored efforts to ensure safe drinking water in the public schools.

Members worked for the Red Cross during the First World War, holding surgical dressing workshops. To raise money they made and sold candy at the movie theatre, and then sent some of the candy to the soldiers. A huge 'Welcome Home” dinner was held 'for the boys” returning home.

Suffrage

The club was active in the women's suffrage movement and passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Members signed a petition to the Iowa State Legislature to ratify the Federal Suffrage Amendment giving women the right to vote. Following passage of the amendment in 1920, members encouraged women in the area to be sure to exercise their newly won right to vote.

To ensure that women would be informed of political parties, a program in 1922 was entitled 'What the Republican Party offers the Woman Voter” and 'What the Democratic Party offers the Woman Voter.” Program topics in the 1920s included highway safety and juvenile delinquency. In 1928, the club began to consider a public library for Salem. In 1929 members passed a resolution asking Iowa Senators to vote for the bill allowing the U.S. to enter the League of Nations.

During the Great Depression, the club increased efforts to supply food and/or funds to orphanages and the Red Cross, as well as funds and supplies to local schools. A meeting in 1933 included readings from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's book entitled 'It is Up to the Women.”

Today, America's women vote in higher numbers than men. Candidates for public office nationwide seek the woman's vote.

The minutes of the Salem Woman's Club are kept in the Salem Crew Public Library.