League honors county's elected women

PULLMAN—In early August Whitman County Commissioners approved a proclamation declaring August 18, 2020, Day of Women Leaders in Whitman County on the 100th anniversary of ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution that granted some women suffrage.

During the last six months a three-member committee of Pullman League of Women Voters has been searching –COVID-wise--to find the names of women who were elected mayor and city council members in Whitman County communities over the last 100 years.

“We felt this was one marvelous way we could recognize the League’s 100 anniversary and remind county residents of the women who have made contributions to city governments over the last decades,” said Karen Kiessling, league committee member.

The League’s “birthday” was Feb. 14, 1920. The amendment was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, and ratified on Aug. 18, 1920. The party to recognize these city government leaders will be held when it is safe to gather the women in one location.

“It has been a learning experience finding the names of these women,” said Mary Collins, another committee member. “We will set an event to reintroduce the councilmembers and thank them personally for their time in office.” The names of every woman council member will be listed on a special certificate to each of the country’s 16 communities when the time comes.

“What has really been fun is the chance to work with the city clerk in each community,” said Sue Hinz, league committee member. “Each one has a wealth of information because many have been in their towns for years. Others knew exactly where to find the information. The County’s Elections Office helped begin the search by providing the Oath Book.

“We will not have every name, but the clerk are checking and rechecking their history, looking for these women’s names,” Hinz said. “We are hoping county families will also remind us of their histories in government work.”

Committee members in the request to county commissioners stated that the proclamation recognizes the ratification of the 19th Amendment in further promoting the core values of our democracy as promised by the U.S. Constitution.

With their approval, the commissioners Michael Largent, Art Swannack and Dean Kinzer reaffirmed the opportunity for students and adults in the county to learn about and commemorate the efforts of the women’s suffrage movement and the role of women in our democracy.

The state of Washington became the fifth state to ratify the 19th Amendment providing suffrage for American women on March 22, 1920. Native Americans who did not gain the right to vote until 1924. For Asian Pacific Islander Americans, it was 1952. African-Americans and Latin Americans suffered vote suppression until passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and 1975.