California Equal Suffrage Association

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The California Equal Suffrage Association was a political organization in the state of California with the intended goal of passing women's suffrage.

Mary Simpson Sperry

Founding[]

The California Equal Suffrage Association (CESA) was headquartered in northern California and was founded by suffragist Elizabeth Lowe Watson.[1] It was incorporated in 1904.[2] The original name of the organization was The California Woman's Suffrage Association.[3][4] Part of the reason for rebranding the organization was to reach out to men for support of the suffrage cause.[5] The CESA would actively seek out the support of men.[6] Activists affiliated with this organization lobbied for women's suffrage from automobiles and produced goods for purchase such as playing cards and postcards.[7]

Political work[]

Suffragist Gail Laughlin traveled the state in November of 1904 campaigning on behalf of suffrage and spreading the word about this organization.[8] Historian Gayle Gullett noted that the Los Angeles Times referred to the attendees as "several hundred assertive-appearing women."[9] In 1905 the organization distributed pamphlets promoting the suffrage cause in the California Senate chamber.[10] In September of that year they held their state convention.[11] Attendees included Caroline Severance, Mary Sperry, Anna Bidwell and Ellen Clark Sargent.[11]

Lillian Harris Coffin

Caroline Severance was designated an honorary president of this organization in 1905.[12] Suffragist created a central committee for the CESA in 1906.[13] Berkeley attorney Mary McHenry Keith also served as president of the CESA.[14]

Prominent leaders[]

References[]

  1. ^ "History of Women's Suffrage in California".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "San Francisco Call 17 May 1904 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  3. ^ "San Francisco Call 24 October 1904 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  4. ^ Swatt, Susie (2019). Paving the Way: Women's Struggle for Political Equality in California. Berkeley Public Policy Press. p. 66.
  5. ^ Cherny, Robert (2011). California Women and Politics: From the Gold Rush to the Great Depression. University of Nebraska Press. p. 210.
  6. ^ "" Women Suffragists of State Gather in Their Annual Convention" San Francisco Call". cdnc.ucr.edu. 6 October 1906. Retrieved 2021-05-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ Cooney, Jr., Robert P.J. "A Brief Summary of the 1911 Campaign from the National Women's History Project".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "Marysville Daily Appeal 29 November 1904 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  9. ^ Gullett, Gayle (2000). Becoming Citizens: The Emergence and Development of the California Women's Movement, 1880-1911. University of Illinois Press. p. 147.
  10. ^ "San Francisco Call 3 February 1905 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  11. ^ a b c "Stockton Independent 28 September 1905 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  12. ^ "San Jose Mercury-news 6 August 1905 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  13. ^ Gullett, Gayle (2000). Becoming Citizens: The Emergence and Development of the California Women's Movement, 1880-1911. University of Illinois Press. p. 166.
  14. ^ a b Cherny, Robert (2011). California Women and Politics: From the Gold Rush to the Great Depression. University of Nebraska Press. p. 224.
  15. ^ a b c d "San Francisco Call 17 May 1904 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
Retrieved from ""