Historic Women's Suffrage Records Will Be Displayed on 100th Anniversary of PA Ratification

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the 100th anniversary commemoration of women gaining the right to vote, Pennsylvania's original document ratifying the 19^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution will be on display in the Capitol Rotunda from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Monday, June 24.

Acting Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar, Sen. Camera Bartolotta, Rep. Joanna McClinton and Lynn Yeakel, founder and president of the Vision 2020 coalition, will offer brief remarks at the commemoration event.

The document and other historical records on loan from the Pennsylvania State Archives will be available for public viewing during a celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the Legislature's vote for women's suffrage. Those attending are encouraged to wear suffragist white.

"We are pleased to share with the public these historic documents as we celebrate the commonwealth's role in achieving women's suffrage," Secretary Boockvar said. "Pennsylvania helped lead the way with its early ratification vote."

On June 24, 1919, the commonwealth became the seventh state to ratify the 19^th Amendment.

More than a year later, on Aug. 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36^th state to ratify the amendment, finally meeting the requirement that three-fourths of the nation's then 48 states approve the amendment before it could become law.

The public will have the opportunity to "ratify" copies of the 19^th Amendment by adding their signatures.

MEDIA CONTACT: Wanda Murren, 717-783-1621

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of State

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us