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California Equal Suffrage Association

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Mary Simpson Sperry

The California Equal Suffrage Association was a political organization in the state of California with the intended goal of passing women's suffrage.

Founding

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In 1870 the California State Woman Suffrage Society or California Woman Suffrage Association was founded by Laura de Force Gordon.[1] The California Woman Suffrage Association changed its name from California Woman Suffrage Association to California Equal Suffrage Association in 1896 to appeal to male sympathisers.[2]

The California Equal Suffrage Association (CESA) was headquartered in northern California and was founded by suffragist Elizabeth Lowe Watson.[3] It was incorporated in 1904.[4] The original name of the organization was The California Woman's Suffrage Association.[5][6] Part of the reason for rebranding the organization was to reach out to men for support of the suffrage cause.[7] The CESA would actively seek out the support of men.[8] Activists affiliated with this organization lobbied for women's suffrage from automobiles and produced goods for purchase such as playing cards and postcards.[9]

Political work

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Suffragist Gail Laughlin traveled the state in November 1904 campaigning on behalf of suffrage and spreading the word about this organization.[10] Historian Gayle Gullett noted that the Los Angeles Times referred to the attendees as "several hundred assertive-appearing women."[11] In 1905 the organization distributed pamphlets promoting the suffrage cause in the California Senate chamber.[12] In September of that year they held their state convention.[13] Attendees included Caroline Severance, Mary Sperry, Anna Bidwell and Ellen Clark Sargent.[13]

Lillian Harris Coffin

Caroline Severance was designated an honorary president of this organization in 1905.[14] Suffragist Lillian Harris Coffin created a central committee for the CESA in 1906.[15] Berkeley attorney Mary McHenry Keith also served as president of the CESA.[16]

Prominent leaders

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References

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  1. ^ The Public City: The Political Construction of Urban Life in San Francisco .
  2. ^ California Women and Politics: From the Gold Rush to the Great Depression
  3. ^ "History of Women's Suffrage in California".
  4. ^ "San Francisco Call 17 May 1904 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  5. ^ "San Francisco Call 24 October 1904 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  6. ^ Swatt, Susie (2019). Paving the Way: Women's Struggle for Political Equality in California. Berkeley Public Policy Press. p. 66.
  7. ^ Cherny, Robert (2011). California Women and Politics: From the Gold Rush to the Great Depression. University of Nebraska Press. p. 210.
  8. ^ "" Women Suffragists of State Gather in Their Annual Convention" San Francisco Call". cdnc.ucr.edu. 6 October 1906. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  9. ^ Cooney, Jr., Robert P.J. "A Brief Summary of the 1911 Campaign from the National Women's History Project".
  10. ^ "Marysville Daily Appeal 29 November 1904 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  11. ^ Gullett, Gayle (2000). Becoming Citizens: The Emergence and Development of the California Women's Movement, 1880-1911. University of Illinois Press. p. 147.
  12. ^ "San Francisco Call 3 February 1905 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  13. ^ a b c "Stockton Independent 28 September 1905 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  14. ^ "San Jose Mercury-news 6 August 1905 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  15. ^ Gullett, Gayle (2000). Becoming Citizens: The Emergence and Development of the California Women's Movement, 1880-1911. University of Illinois Press. p. 166.
  16. ^ a b Cherny, Robert (2011). California Women and Politics: From the Gold Rush to the Great Depression. University of Nebraska Press. p. 224.
  17. ^ a b c d "San Francisco Call 17 May 1904 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
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