Tag Archives: Inez Milholland

Inez Milholland is a focus as New York State hits the ground running for its 2017 suffrage centennial!

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New York State is celebrating its 2017 suffrage centennial! on Vimeo.

A New Yorker has taken center stage as New York State hits the ground running in 2017 for its year-long suffrage centennial. Canada had its national suffrage centennial in 2016. Another year-long campaign is still ongoing to support President Obama in awarding a presidential citizens medal to Inez Milholland (1886-1916) before he leaves office.

New York State residents have been speaking up. Recent media of note includes:

(1.) WAMC coverage by reporter Allison Dunne about the citizens medal nomination and the New York State angle. Link to “Petition Supports NY Suffragist for Presidential Citizens Medal.

(2.) An opinion piece by John Tepper Marlin, family relative of Milholland. Link to “A Suffrage Warrior.”

(3.) Point of view by author Sandra Weber stressing Milholland’s inspiration for us today. Link to Inez Milholland. There’s “There’s inspiration in Inez Milholland.”

There is increased support for the Inez citizens medal as 2017 opens the door for New York State to celebrate its suffrage centennial. New York State women won the right to vote in 1917. When they did, the large numbers of new voters from New York tipped the balance in the direction of women voting nationwide. However, it took considerable focus and determination to achieve the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It took several generations of women numbering in the tens of thousands.

A medal for Inez goes beyond honoring honoring her as an individual. She was a catalyst and one of many who devoted their lives to win this essential human and civil right. A citizens medal for Inez will bring awareness to the long hard struggle. Support President Obama in awarding a presidential medal before he leaves office. A medal will be exhibited and travel around the nation for exhibition. A medal will symbolize the connection between the past, present, and future. A medal is long overdue.

For more information: InezMilhollandCentennial.com, nwhp.orgInezMilholland.org, RememberingInez.com, SuffrageWagon.org, SuffrageCentennials.com.

The Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association supports the citizens medal as well as the importance of shedding light on the broad coalition of American women it took to win voting rights at the turn of the 20th century. It is an inspiring story. The Inez Milholland Centennial work is a special campaign of the National Women’s History Project. Martha Wheelock, filmmaker, has made tremendous leaps spreading Inez Milholland’s story by way of a 15-minute documentary on Inez, her life and times. A free DVD is available through InezMilholland.org

Suffrage CentennialsimagesFollow SuffrageCentennials.com on Facebook page, Twitter, email subscription, and the Quarterly Newsletter. Sign up for email on this web page. Stay up to date with postings, audio podcasts, and videos. Plan for your suffrage centennial event. And don’t forget to pass on women’s suffrage storytelling to the next generation. Suffrage Centennial videos on Vimeo.

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Christmas Day & Inez Milholland 100 years ago: all part of national suffrage movement history

WAMC radio about Inez MilhollandLINK to WAMC public radio feature story about Obama citizens award nomination.

On Christmas Day in 1916, 100 years ago, over one thousand women and men gathered in Washington, D C to honor a fallen young leader. They put their holiday to the side for an emotional memorial service for suffrage martyr Inez Milholland Boissevain in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol. It was the first time a woman was honored there.

At the Statuary Hall memorial service on Christmas Day 1916, California suffrage activist Maude Younger presented the eulogy for Inez and declared, “Liberty cannot die. No work for liberty can be lost. It lives on in the hearts of the people, in their hopes, their aspirations, their activities. It becomes part of the life of the nation. What Inez Milholland has given to the world lives on forever.”

After refusing to cancel an intense speaking tour for the 19th Amendment in 1916, Milholland collapsed and died in Los Angeles on November 25 of exhaustion and pernicious anemia. Her shocked colleagues immediately mourned her as a martyr to the cause of justice and women. Milholland was buried near the family home in Lewis, New York. She was born in Brooklyn in 1886 and graduated from Vassar College and New York University School of Law. Milholland practiced law in New York City in addition to advocating for American women’s voting rights.

NOMINATION OF INEZ MILHOLLAND FOR PRESIDENTIAL CITIZENS MEDAL PENDING AT THE WHITE HOUSE

U.S. women have worked hard during 2015 and 2016 to win support for a Presidential Citizens Medal for Milholland, an effort that U.S. Representative Jackie Speier of California endorsed in November 2015. The Milholland petition supporting the nomination has been submitted to the White House for consideration.

For the past year, the National Women’s History Project, located in Santa Rosa, California, has sponsored the campaign to draw attention to Milholland and other suffrage activists who contributed to the enfranchisement of women. Marguerite Kearns and Robert P.J. Cooney Jr. are co-chairs of the NWHP Inez Milholland centennial campaign (InezMilhollandCentennial.com).

“A MEDAL AFFIRMS OUR RICH LEGACY…”

Molly Murphy MacGregor, executive director and co-founder of the National Women’s History Project, noted: “I have sent a holiday greeting thanking Rep. Speier for her valuable support and urging her to make recognizing Inez Milholland with a Presidential Citizens Medal a priority. A presidential medal affirms our rich legacy in the area of American history.”

Over one thousand individuals and organizations from around the nation and from other parts of the world have signed the campaign’s petition in support of the award. The campaign’s momentum accelerated after the April 2016 release of “Forward into Light,” a 15-minute documentary by filmmaker Martha Wheelock about the life and death of Inez Milholland. The DVD is available free from InezMilholland.org.

Follow InezMilhollandCentennial.com, InezMilholland.org, RememberingInez.com, SuffrageWagon.org.

Suffrage CentennialsimagesFollow SuffrageCentennials.com on Facebook page, Twitter, email subscription, and the Quarterly Newsletter. Sign up for email on this web page. Stay up to date with postings, audio podcasts, and videos. Plan for your suffrage centennial event. And don’t forget to pass on women’s suffrage storytelling to the next generation. Suffrage Centennial videos on Vimeo.

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History activism: The example of Inez Milholland & Obama’s citizens medal!

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Thank you for your support of Obama presidential medal for Inez Milholland! on Vimeo.

Music on the above video by Eighty Bug, the Suffragist Sisters et. al. The “Spirit of 1776.”

NYS suffrage centennialThe celebration of American history isn’t only a dry and dusty affair. More organizations and web platforms than ever are engaging in history activism. SuffrageCentennials.com has been focusing on digital technology and social media to take the message of women’s history to a wider audience. We’ve been partnering with individuals and organizations, a cooperative effort that has already resulted in significant gains.

History activism is seen in such recent efforts as to kickstart planning for the 2020 suffrage centennial, support the New York State suffrage centennial in 2017, and the campaign for a presidential citizens medal for Inez Milholland from President Obama so that we can write American suffrage martyr Inez Milholland into American history, and much more.

Follow InezMilhollandCentennial.com, InezMilholland.org, RememberingInez.com, SuffrageWagon.org.

Suffrage CentennialsimagesFollow SuffrageCentennials.com on Facebook page, Twitter, email subscription, and the Quarterly Newsletter. Sign up for email on this web page. Stay up to date with postings, audio podcasts, and videos. Plan for your suffrage centennial event. And don’t forget to pass on women’s suffrage storytelling to the next generation. Suffrage Centennial videos on Vimeo.

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Santa involved with Inez Milholland citizens medal award & President Obama!

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Santa and the Inez Milholland citizens medal! on Vimeo.

Citizens Medal Petition2-speier3-speier

Check the InezMilhollandCentennial.com web site for updates.

Suffrage CentennialsimagesFollow SuffrageCentennials.com on Facebook page, Twitter, email subscription, and the Quarterly Newsletter. Sign up for email on this web page. Stay up to date with postings, audio podcasts, and videos. Plan for your suffrage centennial event. And don’t forget to pass on women’s suffrage storytelling to the next generation. Suffrage Centennial videos on Vimeo.

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Inez Milholland citizens medal petition now in circulation during Obama’s last days in office!

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Petition to President Obama about Inez Milholland, American suffrage martyr! on Vimeo.

The nomination for a presidential citizens medal for Inez Milholland (1886-1916) is now circulating in Washington, DC. More than a year ago U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier nominated Milholland for the honor. We have no word as to the prospect of the award being considered before the transition of one administration to another. This year, 2016, is the centennial observance of Milholland’s death. For the past year the National Women’s History Project has been working hard to write Inez into American history as the nation’s suffrage martyr. See the centennial web site: InezMilhollandCentennial.com

This past week, high school students in Lake George, New York featured Inez along with other votes for women activists in a production, “Forward into Light,” that attracted considerable attention in Lake George, NY and surrounding communities.

Suffrage CentennialsimagesFollow SuffrageCentennials.com on Facebook page, Twitter, email subscription, and the Quarterly Newsletter. Sign up for email on this web page. Stay up to date with postings, audio podcasts, and videos. Plan for your suffrage centennial event. And don’t forget to pass on women’s suffrage storytelling to the next generation. Suffrage Centennial videos on Vimeo.

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A Santa wish list for 2016 focuses on women’s suffrage projects & centennial programs!

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Santa, will you save the day for a citizens medal for Inez Milholland? on Vimeo.

Will “Spirit of 1776” will on exhibit in 2020? on Vimeo.

We’re coming down to the wire. Every year we circulate our Santa wish list. Take a look at our wish list for December 2014. We wished for a funded New York State suffrage centennial commission. NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed legislation creating and funding a suffrage centennial commission from 2017 through 2020, the nation’s suffrage centennial when American women will have been voting for 100 years.

This year, 2016, we’re asking Santa for a miracle: a presidential citizens medal for our nation’s suffrage martyr, Inez Milholland. This year, 2016, is the centennial observance of her death on November 25, 1916. Visit the centennial web site for details. InezMilhollandCentennial.com The citizens medal application has been sponsored and supported by the National Womens History Project.

We’re carrying forward two wishes from the past: a national women’s suffrage memorial as proposed and being planned by Turning Point Suffragist Memorial. And a statue in NYC’s Central Park honoring Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and many others. Let’s support the completion of a memorial and a women’s statue in Central Park on or before the national 2020 suffrage centennial. To these wishes, we’ve added the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution!

Suffrage CentennialsimagesFollow SuffrageCentennials.com on Facebook page, Twitter, email subscription, and the Quarterly Newsletter. Sign up for email on this web page. Stay up to date with postings, audio podcasts, and videos. Plan for your suffrage centennial event. And don’t forget to pass on women’s suffrage storytelling to the next generation. Suffrage Centennial videos on Vimeo.

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Holiday gift ideas, plus we’re asking Santa & Obama about a citizens medal!

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ASK SANTA AND PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR A CITIZENS MEDAL FOR INEZ MILHOLLAND!

TREAT SOMEONE WITH A GIFT OF A TRIP TO THE CRADLE OF THE WOMEN’S RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES DURING 2017, THE NYS SUFFRAGE CENTENNIAL!

Let’s Rock the Cradle by taking a trip! on Vimeo.

OTHER GIFT IDEAS INCLUDE:

BOOKS: The Inez Milholland film by Martha Wheelock and Wild West Women. There are more books than ever available about the suffrage movement. There are treasures in the catalogue of women’s history books and memorabilia in the UK. Or visit the search engine on your laptop or smart phone and start browsing. The National Women’s History Project has a gift shop, in addition to most suffrage-related historic sites. You might get started by looking at a few examples: The women’s suffrage postcard book by Kenneth Florey. “Jailed for Freedom” by Doris Stevens. A book about the anti-suffrage movement by Susan Goodier. “Winning the Vote” by Robert P.J. Cooney is a basic reference book on the movement. And there is so much more!

DONATIONS: Support the planning and building of the Turning Point Suffrage Memorial. Think about contributing to the kitty funding the 15-minute film by filmmaker Martha Wheelock that is being distributed free about Inez Milholland, America’s suffrage martyr. Lend a hand to the proposed statue of women planned for Central Park in NYC.

HAVE YOU VISITED ROCHESTER, NY TO SEE THE SUSAN B. ANTHONY HOUSE? Or the Matilda Goslyn Gage home in Fayetteville, New York? When you plan a trip to the “Cradle” of the women’s rights movement in the United States, there are many choices from east to west of the Finger Lakes region in NYS and then back again. And there are scads of women’s historic sites across the nation. Check out the “Travel” page on SuffrageCentennials.com

Celebrate Susan B. Anthony’s Trial for Illegal Voting on Vimeo.

Suffrage CentennialsimagesFollow SuffrageCentennials.com on Facebook page, Twitter, email subscription, and the Quarterly Newsletter. Sign up for email on this web page. Stay up to date with postings, audio podcasts, and videos. Plan for your suffrage centennial event. And don’t forget to pass on women’s suffrage storytelling to the next generation. Suffrage Centennial videos on Vimeo.

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The question being asked President Obama: How long should we hold our breath?

WILL PRESIDENT OBAMA AWARD SUFFRAGIST INEZ MILHOLLAND A PRESIDENTIAL CITIZENS MEDAL? No hints as to the outcome of the nomination of America’s suffrage martyr

 Breaking NewsWill the nomination of America’s suffrage martyr, Inez Milholland, for a Presidential Citizens Medal get lost in the shuffle from one administration to the next?

“We’re holding our breaths, waiting and hoping,” said Molly Murphy MacGregor, executive director and co-founder of the National Women’s History Project (nwhp.org). “The centennial of her death gives the nomination a once in a 100 years significance. Hundreds of people have signed our petition of support and sent in letters and post cards.”

U.S. Representative Jackie Speier of California nominated Inez Milholland for the Presidential Citizens Medal in November 2015. For the past year, the NWHP has sponsored the Inez Milholland Centennial Campaign to draw attention to this young woman who died in California 100 years ago working for Votes for Women. The medal has rarely been awarded recently, and never to a suffragist.

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL CAMPAIGN NOT IN ISOLATION

“This nomination of Inez for a Presidential Citizens Medal isn’t in isolation,” according to MacGregor. “It is part of the continuation of a long and difficult struggle dating back to the 1848 women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York, and culminating in the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.”

New York attorney and suffrage leader Inez Milholland (1886-1916) died in Los Angeles on November 25, 1916 of exhaustion and pernicious anemia. She collapsed during a grueling speaking tour and became a martyr to the cause of justice and women. Information about this beloved suffragist is available on InezMilhollandCentennial.com. A free DVD about the life of Inez Milholland is available through InezMilholland.org.

Milholland was a founding member of the National Woman’s Party, which had its headquarters at the Sewall-Belmont House in Washington, DC. President Obama recently designated the house the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument.

2017 MARKS THE SUFFRAGE CENTENNIAL IN NEW YORK STATE

Next year, 2017, marks the centennial of women winning the right to vote in the Inez’s native state of New York, a key step towards passage of suffrage nationally. Three additional states will celebrate their suffrage centennials in 2018: Michigan, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. There have already been centennial celebrations in half a dozen other states. The year 2020 will mark the centennial of women winning the vote nationally.

For the past 35 years, the NWHP has been carrying out its mission of educating the public about women’s history. The establishment of Women’s History Month by Congress in 1987 was one such accomplishment.

For more information: Molly Murphy MacGregor at (707) 636-2888 or nwhp@nwhp.org

Suffrage CentennialsimagesFollow SuffrageCentennials.com on Facebook page, Twitter, email subscription, and the Quarterly Newsletter. Sign up for email on this web page. Stay up to date with postings, audio podcasts, and videos. Plan for your suffrage centennial event. And don’t forget to pass on women’s suffrage storytelling to the next generation. Suffrage Centennial videos on Vimeo.

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Inaugural meeting of NYS women’s suffrage commission held in Seneca Falls, NY

NYS suffrage centennial

NEWS: The campaign is in the last stages for the nomination of America’s suffrage martyr, Inez Milholland, to be awarded a presidential citizens’ medal. The online digital petition is still available for your signature.

The kick-off for New York State Women’s Suffrage 100th Anniversary Commemoration Commission was held in Seneca Fall, NY in August 2016. The commission is responsible for a series of statewide programs celebrating the suffrage victory in New York State in 1917. New York women won the right to vote in November of 1917.

“We will be taking the message of women’s equality all across the State over the next three years and celebrating the accomplishments of women and their contributions history,” said Commission Chair Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “At the same time, as the state’s highest-ranking elected woman, I hope we can inspire the next generation of young women who want to rise up and achieve great things themselves.”

The New York State Women’s Suffrage 100th Anniversary Commemoration Commission was sponsored by Sen. Betty Little and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther and signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo. During its inaugural meeting in 2016, members of the Commission outlined plans for events to take place over the next three years highlighting historic achievements for women that include voting rights.

Women voters: Voting rights didn’t come easy! on Vimeo.
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Free 15-minute film when you sign petition to President Obama to award Inez Milholland with citizens’ medal!

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Imagine award for InezThe awarding of Inez Milholland with a presidential citizens’ award is an important step in greeting the New Year. Such an award would be a special gift for the holiday season.

The petition in support of the nomination to award the Presidential Citizens Medal to Inez Milholland Boissevain, attorney and American suffrage martyr (1886-1916), on the centennial observance of her death is gathering momentum. Nominated by California U.S. Representative Jackie Speier, the award is supported by the Inez Milholland Centennial, the National Women’s History Project, The National Woman’s Party at the Belmont-Paul Equal Rights National Monument, Turning Point Suffragist Memorial, and many others. If your name and your organization is not included here, become a partner at InezMilhollandCentennial.com

If you haven’t signed the petition, please do so NOW.

And order your free copy of the 15-minute film about Inez, “Forward into Light” from Martha Wheelock. The DVD is a treasure and perfect for school groups, personal and organizational use.

Suffrage CentennialsimagesFollow SuffrageCentennials.com on Facebook page, Twitter, email subscription, and the Quarterly Newsletter. Sign up for email on this web page. Stay up to date with postings, audio podcasts, and videos. Plan for your suffrage centennial event. And don’t forget to pass on women’s suffrage storytelling to the next generation. Suffrage Centennial videos on Vimeo.

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