On Monday, June 10^th starting at noon, the Wisconsin Historical Society along with the Wisconsin 19^th Amendment Centennial Celebration Committee established by Gov. Tony Evers and chaired by First Lady Kathy Evers and the Women of the 104^th Legislature session will be hosting an event at the Wisconsin State Capitol, celebrating the 100-year celebration of Wisconsin ratifying the 19th amendment, which would give women the right to vote.

During the centennial celebration event, attendees will hear from Wisconsin women in leadership including, First Lady Kathy Evers, Rebecca Kleefisch, executive director of Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission, the Honorable Justice Ann Walsh Bradley and others. Guests will also watch as descendants from Suffragists unveil Wisconsin’s original 19th Amendment. There will also be other items on display throughout the day and a public reception with Women Members of the 104th Legislative Session from 1:00-3:00 pm where American Girl will also have a doll dressed in a suffrage outfit on display. 

Wisconsin’s original 19^th amendment will be on display for ONE DAY ONLY in the Capitol for the public to view until 10:00 pm that day. Everyone is also encouraged to wear white.


You can visit wisconsinhistory.org/votesforwomen for information.

A media advisory is below with more information. We hope to see you for this celebration for the entire state of Wisconsin.

Thanks for your consideration.

Kara

Media Advisory: Centennial Celebration of 19^th Amendment

When: Monday, June 10, 2019

Where: Wisconsin State Capitol Building, 2 E Main St, Madison, First Floor

Please note: The press riser will be set up in the NW Wing of the 1st floor rotunda. The best entrance to enter is West Washington.

Time: Event starts at noon; a full schedule of activities is below.

Schedule:

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 19^th Amendment Unveiling Ceremony (1st Floor) PUBLIC

• First Lady of Wisconsin, Kathy Evers
• Unveiling of the 19th Amendment
• Christian Overland, Ruth and Hartley Barker Director of the Wisconsin Historical Society
• Rebecca Kleefisch, Executive Director of the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission
• State Representative Jessie Rodriguez
• State Representative Shelia Stubbs
• Shannon Holsey, President of the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe
• Justice Ann Walsh Bradley

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Reception (Assembly Parlor) PUBLIC

• Sponsored by Women Members of the 104th Legislative Session
  • See American Girl Doll Wearing a Wisconsin Suffrage Tunic

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

• 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Suffragists in costume by Forward statue (West Lawn)
• 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Take your photo with Forward statue w/sash (West Lawn)
• 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM Viewing of Amendment & Artifacts (Capitol Rotunda)

Why: On June 10th, 1919 Wisconsin legislators voted to ratify the 19th amendment, giving women the right to vote. When documents were filed in Washington D.C. a few days later, Wisconsin became the first state to ratify the 19th amendment. 

The struggle for women’s suffrage in Wisconsin lasted for over 70 years. Throughout those decades, Wisconsin legislatures introduced dozens of bills that would have granted state and local voting rights to women but the bills needed to pass two consecutive legislatures before being submitted to the people of Wisconsin as a referendum.

After decades of activism, in 1919, the United States Congress finally passed a proposal to amend the Constitution and grant women the right to vote in all elections. As with all amendments it needed to be ratified by thirty-six states in order to be approved. From that day on, suffrage supporters in each state had to petition their state legislatures to approve the amendment.

On June 10, 1919, Wisconsin legislators voted to ratify the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which would give women the right to vote. On June 13, 1919, Wisconsin Senator David James of Richland Center reported to the proper bureau in Washington, DC, to file Wisconsin’s ratification documents making Wisconsin the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment.

Contact: Kara O’Keeffe 608-250-9699 (day of event)

Interview opportunities: Simone Munson, archivist and librarian for the Wisconsin Historical Society