We invite you to explore the stories of women's access to the vote across America, through the histories of these 20 people who were among those who made it possible. Looking for more histories of suffragists? Scroll to the bottom of the page!
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Jane Addams
Jane Addams was a suffragist, social activist, and author.
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Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony was a suffragist, abolitionist, and activist for women's rights.
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Carrie Chapman Catt
Carrie Chapman Catt was a suffragist, peace activist, and co-founder of the League of Women Voters.
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Septima Poinsette Clark
Septima Poinsette Clark was an educator and civil rights activist. She worked to register African American voters.
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Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass, formerly enslaved, was an abolitionist, suffragist, publisher, and author.
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Wilhelmina Kekelaokalaninui Dowsett
Wilhelmina Kekelaokalaninui Widemann Dowsett was a suffragist in Hawai'i.
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First Territorial Legislature of Alaska
The first act of the just-formed Territorial Legislature of Alaska in 1913 was to grant women the vote.
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Dolores Huerta
Dolores Huerta is a labor organizer; co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association; and works to register agricultural workers to vote
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Helen Keller
Helen Keller was a civil rights activist, women's rights activist, author, and speaker.
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Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee
Dr. Mabel Lee advocated for women's suffrage for years, even though as a Chinese immigrant, she was unable to vote.
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Adelina "Nina" Otero-Warren
Nina Otero-Warren was a suffragist, author, business woman, and homesteader.
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Dr. Alice Paul
Alice Paul was a suffragist and activist for women's rights.
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Jeannette Rankin
Jeannette Rankin was a suffragist, and the first woman elected to US Congress.
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Tye Leung Schulze
Tye Leung Schulze was the first Chinese person in the United States (and perhaps in the world) to vote in a democratic election.
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Rev. Dr. Anna Howard Shaw
Rev. Dr. Anna Howard Shaw was an activist, physician, clergy, and President of the National American Women's Suffrage Association.
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Elizabeth Cady Stanton
One of the driving forces behind the First Women's Rights Convention in 1848
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Mary Church Terrell
Mary Church Terrell was a suffragist, activist, businesswoman, and educator.
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Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth was born Isabella Baumfree. She was an abolitionist, activist, and supporter of women's rights including suffrage.
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Dr. Mary Edwards Walker
Dr. Mary Walker was a physician, women's suffrage advocate, Civil War veteran, and the only woman to receive the US Medal of Honor.
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Ida B. Wells-Barnett
Ida B. Wells-Barnett was an anti-lynching advocate, author, suffragist, founder of the Alpha Suffrage Club in Chicago.
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Zitkala-Ša
Zitkala-Ša was a writer, political activist, teacher, intellectual, and musician. She fought for Native American suffrage.
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Where's My Favorite Suffragist?
Explore the list below to learn about more suffragists.
Last updated: February 5, 2024