America’s suffrage leaders were women who recognized that the right to vote is essential to any meaningful form of citizenship. The 19th Amendment was ratified August 18, 1920.
It is often overlooked today that the Wyoming Territory was a leader in women’s suffrage, granting the vote to women in 1869. But in 1889, when Wyoming was seeking statehood, many felt that women’s suffrage might be an impediment.
That is when Cheyenne, Wyo., civic leader Therese Jenkins climbed into her horse-drawn buggy and rallied the women of the Wyoming Territory to protest. Confronted by the women, male legislators quickly withdrew the resolution banning women from voting. The buggy ride was so rough that Mrs. Jenkins promptly went into labor and was delivered of a daughter.
In 1892 Jenkins was the first woman to attend a Republican National Convention as a delegate. She was a leader in the national suffrage movement. It was at Jenkins’ urging that the governor of Wyoming called a special session of the state legislature to ratify the 19th Amendment.
We hope that Therese Jenkins and her beloved Wyoming will receive due credit for their contributions as we celebrate women’s suffrage this year.
