First Meetings of the Winchester Equal Suffrage League
Before the League of Women Voters of Winchester was founded on June 2, 1920, there was the Winchester Equal Suffrage League. As part of the celebration of the League’s 90th Anniversary, these notes were gathered at the Winchester Archival Center in Town Hall with the assistance of League member Nancy Schrock to give you some historical background. The meetings were held at 3:30 in the afternoon in the homes of the first members and refreshments were invariably served. The minutes described the topics presented by the invited speakers. Frequently a musical program ended the proceedings. There were usually 9-30 ladies present.
March 20, 1888,
Record of the 1st meeting of the Winchester Equal Suffrage League. A meeting of those interested in Woman Suffrage was called by Miss Pond, State organizer, at Madam Norwell’s Winchester, MA. A League was organized and a constitution adopted. Owing to the short notice and bad walking [conditions] the meeting was small and it was voted to postpone the election of officers, with the exception of treasurer, to the next meeting to be called early in April. Mrs. M.D.Norwell was chosen treasurer and secretary pro tem.
April 10, 1888
The parlor was filled with ladies who listened with great interest to Miss Lucy Stone* of Boston, who gave a short account of the progress of the Suffrage movement during the last fifty years, closing with some details of the International Congress of Women at Washington, from which she had just returned.
April 30, 1888
Miss. Norwell read portions of Mr. Pellew’s essay on Women in the Commonwealth.
Nov 13, 1888
Owing to the stormy weather only about fifty people were present at the evening meeting held in Harmony Hall. Very able & interested addresses were given by Mr. William Lloyd Garrison and Mrs. S.S. Fessenden. Eight new members were added to the League. The League may feel that their first Public [meeting] was a success.
- Jo Ann Michalak
* Click here for information about Lucy Stone event at Next Door Theater, March 9
Future issues of the Bulletin will give accounts of later meetings.
