Many of the programs planned in 2020 were postponed or delayed because of the corona virus. Keep and eye on this space to see what is being rescheduled.
The story of Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Catt and those other brave women who led the long hard battle for women’s rights at the national level is great history. But the story of Southwestern Indiana’s suffragettes has been largely untold. It’s time we told it and pay tribute.
We can celebrate the achievements of Evansville women over the past century as civil rights leaders, educators, business leaders, laborers, artisans, healers. We can consider how some obstacles they faced in 1920 are still unresolved today. And we can look to what the future might hold.
MARCH 2020
4th – Andiron Lecture Series “Votes for Women – Then What?” by Roberta Heiman, 4 p.m. March 4 in Ridgway University Center, University of Evansville.
8th – Evansville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. –Empowerment of the Double Drawback: Reenactment of the 1913 Women’s Suffrage March with Monologues begins at Evansville Civic Center and marches to the Evansville African American Museum at 3 p.m. Sunday March 8.
26th – Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science – Women Speaker Series: Katie Waters, Emerita Professor of Art at the University of Southern Indiana and Active Artist, will speak on Picture This: The Art of the Suffrage Movement at 6 p.m. March 26.
Continuing through December 2020:
Evansville African American Museum: Exhibit – Empowerment of the Double Drawback: African American Women and the Suffrage Movement, through December 2020
Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science – Exhibit A Celebration of Women – selected works from the permanent collection to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage. The exhibition highlights images of women from American and European artists from the 3rd through 21st centuries and work by American female artists dating from the 1920s through the present. Continues through December 2020
WNIN with Stepping Up, presents Celebrating the Women’s Vote Centennial, stories of 12 area women in their own voices tell their stories of career successes, overcoming gender stereotypes, appreciating the women who came before them, and the importance of exercising their right to vote. Will be aired on WNIN radio, television and available online, https://video.wnin.org/show/celebrating-womens-vote-centennial/
2020 Vote Centennial Calendar
No Events on The List at This Time
The year 2020 will mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted all women the right to vote. That calls for Evansville to have a non-partisan community-wide observance.
Follow this page to stay up to date about the events and celebrations from planning through the fun. Join us.
Evansville will celebrate in a number of ways throughout the year. The Evansville African American Museum will start with a program at the end of 2019. The the League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana (which will be celebrating its 100th anniversary also in 2020) will kick off events in 2020 with an appearance on February 9, 2020 by Elaine Weiss, author of The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote. The appearance will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, February 9 at the Victory.
Organizations planning events throughout the year include:
- Evansville Museum of Art’s and Sciences
- Arts Council of SW Indiana
- University of Southern Indiana
- WNIN
- University of Evansville
- Evansville African American Museum
- Human Relations Commission
- Women’s Equality Day
- Stepping Up
- League of Women Voter’s of Southwestern Indiana
APRIL 2020
16th – Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science – Women Speaker Series – Women in the Law: Breaking Ground, a discussion with a panel of female attorneys who were first in their roles at 6 p.m. April 16.
6th – Art’s Council of Southwestern Indiana Call for Entries forthe art competition to the theme “Women Have the Vote – Now What?”
MAY 2020
7th – Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science – Women Speaker Series – Living as a Women Visibly of Color or Religion, panel discussion led by Summer El-Khodary, Founder of Cultural Communicationsat 6 p.m. May 7.
May 22, 26 and 27 – Art’s Council of Southwestern Indiana will accept entries for the art competition to the theme “Women Have the Vote – Now What?”
MAY- AUGUST 2020
Southwestern Indiana Master Gardeners will grow a “yellow garden” (display garden) to echo the “Yellow Rose” symbol of the proponents of women’s suffrage in the early 20th century.
JUNE 2020
6 th – Art’s Council of Southwestern Indiana – Reception of works to the theme “Women Have the Vote – Now What?” Call for entries April 6; art accepted May 22, 26, 27. Reception June 6. Exhibit on display June 6-25.
JULY 2020
30th – Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science – Women Speaker Series – Archaeology and Scandal: The Adventures, Accomplishments, and Secrets of Mary Ellingson by Dr. Alan Kaiser at 6 p.m. July 30.
AUGUST 2020
13th – Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science – Women Speaker Series – Women Executive Director Panel Discussion featuring Karen Chapman-Shank, Executive Director, Wayne County Historical Society, Ashley Jordan, Executive Director, African American Museum, Mary Bower, Executive Director, Evansville Museum at 6 p.m. August 13.
26th – Women’s Equality Centennial Celebration – celebration of the 100th anniversary of the certification into law of the 19th Amendment with keynote speaker Dr. Mae Jemison, Astronaut, Engineer, Physician, on August 26, 1920. Luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. August 26 at Old National Events Plaza. Tickets http://SteppingUpEvv.com
27th – Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science – Women Speaker Series – Votes for Women – Then What? The Untold Story of Evansville’s Suffrage Movement by Roberta Heiman, retired Evansville journalist at 6:30 p.m. August 27.
SEPTEMBER 2020
10th – Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science – Women Speaker Series – Battle for the Ballot: The Long National Fight for Women’s Suffrage by Dr. Denise Lynn, Associate Professor of History, University of Southern Indiana at 6:30 p.m. September 10
17th – Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science – Women Speaker Series – Femicide in the Juarez Desert by Diane Kahlo, Artist and Women Activist at 6 p.m. September17.
OCTOBER 2020
8th – Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science – Women Speaker Series – The Daily Fight against Injustice by Soreyda Begley, Fashion Designer at 6 p.m. October 8.
22nd – Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science – Women Speaker Series – From Seneca Falls to Seymour and South Bend: Mapping Indiana’s Suffrage History by Melissa Gentry, Map Collection Supervisor, Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection in partnership with the Vanderburgh County Historical Society at 6:30 p.m. October 22.
29th – University of Southern Indiana (USI) Student conference to celebrate the 2020 anniversary of votes for women and the 19th Amendment. October 29 at USI.
Human Relations Commission Annual Dinner & Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity Awards TBA
NOVEMBER 2020
12th – Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science – Women Speaker Series – Women of the High Museum’s Permanent Collection by Catherine Huff, Coordinator of Exhibitions and Permanent Collections at the High. Juror of the 60th Mid-States Art Exhibition, Evansville Museum at 6 p.m. November 12.
13th – University of Evansville (UE) Fiddick Lecture, November 13, 2020, 7:00 p.m. – Dr. Sally Roesch Wagner.
14th – Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science – Women Speaker Series – Stories and personalities of the people involved with the suffrage movement in Evansville by Amber Gowen inconjunctionwith: History Celebration: A Coming Together of Organizations from the Tri-State Archivist, Vanderburgh County Clerk’s Officeat 2 p.m. November 14.
Continuing through December 2020:
Evansville African American Museum: Exhibit – Empowerment of the Double Drawback: African American Women and the Suffrage Movement, through December 2020
Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science – A Celebration of Women, selected works from the permanent collection to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage. The exhibition highlights images of women from American and European artists from the 3rd through 21st centuries and work by American female artists dating from the 1920s through the present, through December 2020
WNIN with Stepping Up, presents Celebrating the Women’s Vote Centennial, stories of 12 area women in their own voices tell their stories of career successes, overcoming gender stereotypes, appreciating the women who came before them, and the importance of exercising their right to vote. Will be aired on WNIN radio, television and available online, https://video.wnin.org/show/celebrating-womens-vote-centennial/