Women's Suffrage
Women's Suffra
Women in Kansas used their connection to other causes and social organizations to advocate for equal rights. Clarina Nichols, an early Kansan and fervent abolitionist, was also an advocate for women's rights.
She gave speeches on women's suffrage early in the territory's history and succeeded in getting women the right to vote in school board elections in 1861.
Kansas State Historical Society
In 1887, Kansas became the first state to give women the right to vote in city elections. As a result, that same year, Argonia, Kansas elected the first woman mayor in the country: Susanna Salter. Closer to home, Baldwin City elected their first woman mayor in 1889: Lucy Sullivan.
Kansas State Historical Society
Clarina Nichols
Susanna Salter
Library of Congress
In 1912, Kansas became the eighth state in the country to give women full suffrage. After more than 50 years of fighting for the right to vote, Kansas women were victorious! But of course, not all women automatically became full participating citizens, and it would take until the 1965 Voting Rights Act to overturn the discriminatory practices African Americans and other people of color faced at the polls.
Visit the other tabs on this website to learn about suffrage stories in Douglas County and find out how you can get involved!