Established in 1897, the Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association (MWSA) sought "to use every available means in our power to obtain for the women of Mississippi the right of franchise." The twenty-five items in the collection document their efforts in growing the association, printing and distributing literature, and proposing legislation on issues of particular interest to females.
Despite all the work of the MWSA, the state never extended suffrage to women. It would take federal action to gain the right to vote for women with the addition of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920. Mississippi officially ratified the Nineteenth Amendment on 22 March 1984.
This digital collection includes:
- 9 printed reports on the organization's annual conferences between 1897-1917
- MWSA presidential communications and constitutions
- Handwritten minutes of the Equity League of Jackson, Mississippi between the years 1911-1916
- Two pamphlets promoting the public speaking career of Mississippi suffragist Belle Kearney (in 1922, Kearney became the first female senator elected to the Mississippi legislature)
Related Resources: The MWSA publications and the handwritten Equity League minutes are part of the much larger Lily Thompson Collection. Lily Thompson was an active member and leader in both of these organizations, and the collection contains more suffrage-related material not included in this digital collection.
For more informational on political holdings at the Archives & Special Collections, consult the Politics & Government Subject Guide and the Modern Political Archives website.
Photo from this collection: Constitution and By-laws of the Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association (1912)
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How Mississippi Women Work for the Ballot
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association and Nellie Nugent Somerville
Outlines reasons why Southern women should have political rights
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Senator Belle Kearney: Lecturer, Writer, Stateswoman
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Material related to Belle Kearney, the first female state senator for Mississippi, including biographical information and press comments
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Senator Belle Kearney
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Includes biographical information and endorsements for Kearney's ability as a lecturer
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President's Letter
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association, Carrie Chapman Catt, and Marion Bankston Trotter
Letters from the national president Carrie Chapman Catt and the Mississippi president Marion Bankston Trotter
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Ballots for Both: Thirteenth Annual Convention of the Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Program outlining the agenda and speakers who are at the convention held in Starkville, Mississippi
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Women as Trustees of Educational and Eleemosynary Institutions
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association and Nellie Nugent Somerville
Article supporting Women's involvement in education
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Equity League Minutes 1915-1916
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association and Secretary Mrs. Harmon Thompson
Meeting minutes from the Equity League which include information on activities and funds. Also includes refrences to campaining in local fair and parade on pages 1 and 31 of the notebook.
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Equity League Minutes 1914-1915
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Meeting minutes containing detailed accounts of discussions, projects, visitors, and members' dues.
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Minutes of the Ninth Annual Convention: Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Contains lists of officers, meeting minutes, president's address and reports
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Constitution and By-laws of the Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Contains the constitution and by-laws of the Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
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Eighth Annual Report: Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Contains list of officers and committee members, information on the annual meeting held in Flora, MS, Report of Enrollment, and the President's Address
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Program: Eighth Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Outlines the events and speakers at the meeting held in Flora, MS
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Second Quarterly Report: Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Recounts membership increase and financial information
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Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association: Address of President
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association and Nellie Nugent Somerville
Details changes and goals for the association to work toward
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Third Quarterly Report: Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association, Lily Thompson, Ella O. Biggs, and E. M. Tucker
Recounts activities of the association
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Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association 77th Annual Session
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Contains list of officers, reports and meeting minutes
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Equity League Minutes 1911-1914
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association, Nancy Burke, and Ruth Noble Warren
Meeting Minutes containing information on election of officers, dues, by-laws, campaigning and raising funds in various meetings. On page 5 of the notebook, they discuss possible names for their organization.
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Sixth Annual Report of the Mississippi Woman Association 1910
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Contains list of officers, resolutions, reports, and meeting minutes
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Fifth Annual Report of the Mississippi Woman Association 1909
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Contains reports, resolutions and meeting minutes
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President Taft Letter
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association and William H. Taft
Letter to Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association expressing gratitude for flowers
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Fourth Annual Report of the Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association 1908
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Includes a list of national officers, information on the previous year's activities and the fourth annual meeting in Jackson, and the reports of the Superintendent of Press Work and Treasurer
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Minutes of the Second Annual Convention of the Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Contains list of officers, program outlining the meeting, proceedings, reports, and resolution
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Constitution and By-laws of the Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Contains the constitution and by-laws of the Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
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Minutes of the Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Provides list of officers and the proceedings of the convention held at Skinner's Hall in Greenville, Mississippi
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Report of the Organization of the Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association
Contains list of officers, a report of the convention, and the Mississippi Woman Suffrage Association Constitution