Archive Pertaining to the Struggle for Women's Suffrage in Pennsylvania by [WOMEN] [SUFFRAGE] [PENNSYLVANIA] - ca.1912-1918

Harrisburg & Philadelphia: Various Imprints, ca.1912-1918. Diverse archive consisting of 27 items, which provide key insights into the struggle for women's suffrage in the state of Pennsylvania. Given the ownership evidence of the address book, and the rubber-stamping to several of the handbills, the materials in the archive were likely gathered and held by a member of the Equal Franchise Society of Philadelphia. A proliferation of local suffrage societies emerged in Philadelphia in the early 1900's, representing various constituencies within the city. The Equal Franchise Society of Philadelphia, founded in 1909, was among the more prominent groups, drawing its membership primarily from Philadelphia society women who were tirelessly committed to passing an amendment to the state constitution. While the state senate and house both passed suffrage bills in 1913 and 1915, when the suffrage referendum was presented before Pennsylvania voters in 1915, it was not approved, with the 'nays' winning by less than 60,000 votes. A substantial portion of the printed materials within the archive drew attention to the issues surrounding the November 2, 1915 vote.

Caroline Katzenstein (1888-1968) was an American suffragist, ac tivist, and advocate for equal rights. Born in Warrenton, North Carolina, she spent her early life in her home state, moving to Philadelphia's Powelton Village neighborhood in 1907, after the death of her father. She became involved in the women's suffrage movement in her early 20's, serving the various Philadelphia suffrage societies in different capacities. After serving postitions for the Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association and the Woman Suffrage Society of Philadelphia, she was asked by the Equal Franchise Society of Philadelphia to serve as its publicist and executive secretary, a role she fulfilled from 1914-1916. After the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified in 1920, Katzenstein turned her hand to writing and to the insurance industry, enjoying a successful career as an agent for the Philadelphia branch of the Equitable Life Insurance Society of New York (cf. Pennsylvania Historical Society, Background Notes for the Caroline Katzenstein papers). 1. Votes For Women A Success - The Map Proves It. Harrisburg: National Woman Suffrage Publishing Co., Inc. / Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, [1915]. Original handbill, with text and map of the United States printed in black on newsprint, measuring 12.5 x 17.75cm (5" x 7"). A few old horizontal folds smoothed out, touch of dustiness, else Very Good+ or better. OCLC notes a single holding (UC Davis).

2. Isn't It True? [...] Vote for the Woman Suffrage Amendment in November. Harrisburg: National Woman Suffrage Publishing Co., Inc. / Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, [1915]. Original handbill, with text printed in black on beige stock, measuring 12.5 x 17.75cm (5" x 7"). Some toning and dustiness, a few old folds smoothed out; Very Good+. OCLC notes a single holding (Millersville University).

3. Plain Facts For The Working Man [...] Think It Over and Vote for the Woman Suffrage Amendment November 2d. Harrisburg: National Woman Suffrage Publishing Co., Inc. / Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, [1915]. Original handbill, with text printed in black on gray stock, measuring 12.75 x 17.75cm (5" x 7"). Subtle toning to right edge, with one small tear; Near Fine. Not separately listed in OCLC, though we do note single holdings for the New York and Plainfield, NJ imprints.

4 & 4a. Women Do Want the Vote - These Women Have Said So. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association. April, 1915. Original handbill, with text printed in black on beige stock, measuring 13.5 x 18.5cm (5 3/8" x 7.25"). Mild toning and dustiness, faint horizontal fold smoothed-out at center, with rubber-stamp of the Equal Franchise Society of Philadelphia along right margin; Very Good+. [Together with] Another copy, with printed date of June, 1915, adding a single line of text beneath the sub-heading "Women Should Have the Vote - These Men and Women Have Said So." Condition identical, but for minute wear to lower right corner; Very Good+. Not separately listed in OCLC, though we do note single holdings for the New York and Richmond, VA imprints.

5. True Democracy [...] If You Believe This, Vote for the Woman Suffrage Amendment in November. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, [1915]. Original handbill, with text printed in black on cream stock, measuring 12 x 15.75cm (4.75" x 6.25"). Light wear and dustiness, a few old folds smoothed-out, with a tiny nick at upper edge; Very Good+. Not separatey listed in OCLC.

6. Twelve Reasons Why Women Should Vote. Harrisburg: National Woman Suffrage Publishing Co., Inc. / Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, [1915]. Original handbill, with text printed in black on beige stock, measuring 12.5 x 17.75cm (5" x 7"). Light toning and wear, a few old folds and creases smoothed-out, with a few edge tears, and the rubber-stamp of the Equal Franchise Society of Philadelphia along upper margin; Very Good. OCLC notes a single holding (Millersville University).

7. Women under Pennsylvania Laws, 1914. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, 1914. Small bifolium (18.25cm); circular with text printed on cream stock; [4]pp. Unprinted upper margin of front wrapper clipped, modest wear, handling, and light dustiness, with a few old folds smoothed-out, and several short tears; several holograph check marks (in pencil and ink) to margins, with partial rubber-stamp of the Equal Franchise Society of Philadelphia evident along upper margin; complete; Good or better. No physical copies located in OCLC.

8. Dennett, Mary Ware. The Real Point. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, [1918]. Handbill, with text printed in black on white stock (recto and verso), measuring 15.5cm x 18cm (6 1/8" x 7"). Modest wear and handling, old folds smoothed-out, with several small tears, and the rubber-stamp of the Equal Franchise Society of Philadelphia evident along upper margin; Very Good. Not separately listed in OCLC, though we do find several holdings for the New York imprint.

9. An Appeal To Men - You Should Vote Against Woman Suffrage For Ten Thousand Reasons. Philadelphia: Pennsylvania Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, [1915]. Original handbill, with text printed in black (recto and verso) on cream stock, measuring 13.5cm x 19.75cm (5 3/8" x 7 3/4"). Light wear and handling, a few old folds and creases smoothed-out, with a few tiny tears; Very Good. Not separately listed in OCLC.

10. The Right to Vote - Who Gave MEN Their Right to Vote and When? Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, 1915. Original handbill, with text printed in black on pink stock, measuring 16cm x 24cm (6.25" x 9 3/8"). Old horizontal fold smoothed-out at center, some trivial wear, with rubber-stamp of the Equal Franchise Society of Philadelphia at upper margin; Very Good+ or better. Not separately listed in OCLC.

11. Woman Suffrage and the Liquor Question - Facts Show Women's Votes Have NOT Aided Prohibition. Philadelphia: Pennsylvania Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, [1915]. Bifolium (22.5cm); single sheet of pink stock with text printed in black, folded to create a 4pp pamphlet. Light wear, dustiness, and a few small splits and tiny tears, with a few old folds smoothed-out; Very Good. OCLC notes a single holding (U.Wisconsin-Madison).

12. The Woman's Reason: Because. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, 1915. Original handbill, with text printed in black on cream stock, measuring 16cm x 24cm (6.25" x 9 3/8"). A few old horizontal folds smoothed-out; Very Good+ or better. Not separately listed in OCLC.

13. The Woman Suffrage Amendment To Be Voted On In Pennsylvania, November 2nd. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, [1915]. Original handbill, with text printed in black on beige stock, measuring 15.5cm x 24.5cm (6" x 9"). Old horizontal fold smoothed-out at center, hint of toning, else Near Fine. Not separately listed in OCLC.

14. Woman Suffrage Parade. Philadelphia, On Friday Evening, October 22nd, 1915. [Philadelphia: S.i.,], 1915. Original handbill, with text and decorative vignette printed in black on cream stock, measuring 15cm x 22.75cm (6" X 9"). Light wear and dustiness, horizontal fold at center, with a few creases and small tears; Very Good. Not separately listed in OCLC.

15. Pennsylvania Catholic Clergy - Opinions on Woman Suffrage. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, [1915]. Original handbill, with text printed in black on cream stock (recto and verso), measuring 17.5cm x 26.5cm (6 7/8" x 10 3/8"). Horizontal fold smoothed-out at center, diagonal crease to lower left corner, with rubber-stamp of the Equal Franchise Society of Philadelphia along upper right margin; Very Good+. Handbill not separately listed in OCLC, although a 4pp bifolium under the same title appears in various locations.

16. On Tuesday, November 2, 1915 there will be elected in Philadelphia THE MAYOR, City Solicitor [...] Get Busy, Get Registered, Get Good Candidates, GET THEM ELECTED. [Philadelphia: S.i.], 1915. Original handbill, with text printed in black on cream stock, measuring 17.5cm x 26.5cm (6 7/8" x 10 3/8"). Horizontal fold and several creases smoothed-out, mild handling and a few tiny tears, with rubber-stamp of the Equal Franchise Society of Philadelphia along upper left corner; the names of six women written in pencil on verso, in an undetermined hand; Very Good. Not separately listed in OCLC.

17. Lowe, Caroline A. The Wage Earning Woman and The Ballot. Philadelphia: The Equal Franchise Society of Philadelphia, [n.d but ca.1912-13]. Bifolium (22.5cm); single sheet of beige stock with text printed in black, folded to create a 4pp pamphlet. Mild toning, old folds smoothed-out, with a few tiny tears, and some contemporary holograph notations (in pencil) to front and rear wrappers; Very Good. OCLC notes a single holding (Harvard).

18. As Man To Man [...] Vote for the Woman Suffrage Amendment in November. Harrisburg: Pittsburgh Men's League for Woman Suffrage / National Woman Suffrage Publishing Co., Inc., [1915]. Original handbill, with text printed in black on beige stock, measuring 13cm x 18cm (5 1/8" x 7"). Mild wear and toning, with minute loss to upper left corner; Near Fine.

19. Votes For Women - Some Say [...] We Say [...]. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, 1915. Original handbill, with text printed in black on pale green stock, measuring 15.75cm x 24cm (6 1/8" x 9.5"). Some wear and handling, a few creases smoothed-out, with several edge tears; Very Good. Not individually listed in OCLC.

20. The Woman's Liberty Bell, Silent Until November 2nd. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Woman Suffrage Association, [1915]. Original handbill, with text and decorative vignette printed in black on pale green stock, measuring 15.75cm x 24cm (6 1/8" x 9.5"). Horizontal fold smoothed-out, modest wear and handling, with several closed tears; Very Good. OCLC notes a single holding (Cornell).

21 & 21a. Two-page typed promotional letter for Philadelphia's Suffrage Festival of Light, held Friday, October 22, 1915. Two pages, typed, on brown stock, measuring 9 1/8" x 11.75"; text incomplete; ca.495 words, with a few holograph omissions in pencil. Toning, old folds, with mild handling, a few small tears and creases; Very Good. Accompanied by an original, unused pledge form, "Join The Suffrage Festival of Light - Pledge to March in the Philadelphia Suffrage Parade, Friday, October 22, 1915." Text printed in dark blue on pale blue stock, measuring 5 5/8" x 3 5/8". Fine.

22. Original silver gelatin photograph [Philadelphia, ca.1913], measuring 28.5cm x 17.75cm (11 2/8" x 7"), and captioned "Suffrage Caravan" in pencil on verso. Two vertical folds smoothed-out, some handling and a few surface scratches on image, with shallow losses and a few creases to corners.

23. Original silver gelatin photograph [Philadelphia, ca.1914-15] of three suffragettes and a little girl, handing out literature on the street. Measures 25.5cm x 20.25cm (10" x 8"). Mild handling, faint diagonal crease to lower left corner, with shallow loss to upper left corner, with a few small nicks, tears, and creases; patchy offsetting on verso, with a small tape-repair to same.

24. Original silver gelatin photograph [Philadelphia, ca.1914-15] of Mrs. J. Claude Bedford and Susan Elmina Anthony (1859-1944) seated in an automobile, measuring 25.5cm x 20.5cm (10" x 8"). Captioned "Left to right / Miss Anthony / Mr. J. Claude Bedford" in pencil on verso. Light surface wear and handling, a few small nicks and tears to extremities, with "Reversed" rubber-stamped at upper left corner.

25. Original address book for the Equal Franchise Society of Philadelphia, consisting of 17 leaves of lined three-ringed notebook paper (3.75" x 6.75"), held together at left edge with a paper-clip. "Equal Franchise Society of Philadelphia / S. 9th St. / Miss Caroline Katzenstein / Executive Sec" typed on preliminary leaf. Contents are largely comprised of clipped and mounted letterhead stationary featuring the addresses and contacts of the various Pennsylvania suffrage societies, with several typed and holograph (pencil) entries. Light wear and handling, impression along left margins from paper-clip, with some occasional smudging to pencil entries, else very well-preserved.