Women’s History, Women’s Future

In 1983, a project was born that to this day humbles me. The intention of this project was to support the efforts of national women’s organizations to encourage women to vote in the 1984 national elections. Women’s History, Women’s Future became more than a series of interviews with women who remembered what it took to gain the vote and what it was like to use that vote for the first time.

The project set a context for making our own voices heard in the political debate. If change was going to happen, women needed to exercise their voting rights. There was a personal realization in this project — I had missed an opportunity with my own grandmother to hear her story. She was among these women with a political bent who had voted in that historic election in 1921. Now was my chance to hear the stories of others and capture them for women of the future.

The women featured in Women’s History, Women’s Future were AAUW members from branches all over the state of California. Branch members did the searching, conducted taped interviews of over 90 women who voted in the first election following the passage of the 19th Amendment, and submitted slides of these amazing women. With a grant from the California State Division and generous financial and technical support from the Atlantic Richfield Company, 11 of the interviews were woven together to form a slide-tape presentation (today’s technology would have made this step so much easier!) that was distributed to branches around the state — and then around the country — for use in branch and public programs. The next step was to send a video crew to do interviews with the women and create 10-, 30-, and 60-second spots for televised public service announcements prior to the election. They aired across the nation. These women made a difference with their stories, and I believe they nudged us all to engage in the debate and back it up with a vote.

Women told of obstacles such as poll taxes and tests that had to be passed and of intimidating voting locations. But they also spoke of their pride in being there to mark history, having the power to make their own choice, and exercising an essential part of life in this country.

One of the speakers — 97-year-old Ella Stalker — offered the following:

At 97, I am still interested in what is going on. I’m interested in politics. This right has been given to you over women who have fought for it for years and years and years. Take a part, not only in just voting but in knowing your candidates, knowing what’s going on in your schools. You are entitled to stand up for your vote and see that it means something.

Whoo Hoo! I salute Stalker for her story and her wisdom. I know my grandmother would heartily agree!

Women’s History, Women’s Future was accepted into the permanent display and archives of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in March 1987.

This project was one of love and dedication for me and for all who helped me turned it into a reality. Histories were recorded, preserved, and used to inspire women to use their right to vote. I came to know and respect each of the women who offered their story — their images and cassette tapes were guests on my dining room table for a year. Then they pushed their chairs back and sprang to life on tape!

This post was written by AAUW Lake Washington (WA) Branch member Barbara Jirsa.