Telling the Full History Project
In 2022 The League of Women Voters connected with Green Bicycle Co. and the Sheboygan County Historical Museum, with funding through from the Telling the Full History Fund - a grant program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, made possible through the National Endowment for the Humanities. The project’s goals were to highlight the roles that underrepresented communities played in the history and evolution of Sheboygan County, as well as educating and creating a model for continued data collection, communications, and partnerships.
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Green Bicycle Co. worked to interview local women in politics. There are 14 interviews that were conducted and transcribed. The majority of participants were selected as they represented women who ran for office specifically in the City of Sheboygan or to represent Sheboygan on a county and state level. |
Women in Politics Interviewees:
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Links to interviews coming soon! |
These interviews, through the Live Forever Project, were turned into beautiful poetry.
Live Forever Project was founded in 2013 by a small group of artists in Wisconsin who wanted to tell the stories of World War II veterans. The mission of the Live Forever Project (LFP) is to keep memories alive through the power of the arts and to empower every citizen of the world to participate in this mission, no matter what level of artistic experience they have, or where they happen to be in their personal journey.
Live Forever Project was founded in 2013 by a small group of artists in Wisconsin who wanted to tell the stories of World War II veterans. The mission of the Live Forever Project (LFP) is to keep memories alive through the power of the arts and to empower every citizen of the world to participate in this mission, no matter what level of artistic experience they have, or where they happen to be in their personal journey.
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The Voyage Forward a poetry duet by Colleen Machut The poem is based on interviews with Sheboygan native Deb Sabol-Williams about her experiences interviewing family members who lived during the time of the historic women’s rights movement in Wisconsin. This poem presents two perspectives on the women’s rights/suffragist movement. Read the original here:
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Women’s Suffrage Resources
From Wisconsin Historical Society :
“On May 21, 1919 the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, prohibiting state and federal governments from denying the right to vote on the basis of gender. The Senate followed suit on June 4, and Wisconsin became the first state to ratify this amendment, on June 10, 1919. This historic moment was the culmination of decades of efforts from many different women's rights groups that had been working since 1846. Over 100 years after this pivotal moment in history, we honor the Wisconsin women who worked tirelessly to obtain the vote. The Society has put together this page with stories, images, and artifacts from our suffrage collections. These collections just scratch the surface of the history of the suffrage movement in Wisconsin. Please take an opportunity to explore these resources below.”
"It is important to note that while the 19th amendment granted women the right to vote, women of color were still largely disenfranchised. For example, state laws could still keep Black Americans from voting even though Black women had been fighting for the right to vote before white women did in Seneca Falls in 1848. It wasn't until the 1965 Voting Rights Act in which voting became a real possibility for Black women (and men). Additionally Asian American immigrants were ineligible for naturalized citizenship and, therefore, unable to vote until 1943."
“On May 21, 1919 the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, prohibiting state and federal governments from denying the right to vote on the basis of gender. The Senate followed suit on June 4, and Wisconsin became the first state to ratify this amendment, on June 10, 1919. This historic moment was the culmination of decades of efforts from many different women's rights groups that had been working since 1846. Over 100 years after this pivotal moment in history, we honor the Wisconsin women who worked tirelessly to obtain the vote. The Society has put together this page with stories, images, and artifacts from our suffrage collections. These collections just scratch the surface of the history of the suffrage movement in Wisconsin. Please take an opportunity to explore these resources below.”
"It is important to note that while the 19th amendment granted women the right to vote, women of color were still largely disenfranchised. For example, state laws could still keep Black Americans from voting even though Black women had been fighting for the right to vote before white women did in Seneca Falls in 1848. It wasn't until the 1965 Voting Rights Act in which voting became a real possibility for Black women (and men). Additionally Asian American immigrants were ineligible for naturalized citizenship and, therefore, unable to vote until 1943."
History of The League of Women Voters
FEBRUARY 14, 1920 The League was Founded
The League was officially founded in Chicago in 1920, just six months before the 19th amendment was ratified and women won the vote. Formed by the suffragists of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, the League began as a "mighty political experiment" designed to help 20 million women carry out their new responsibilities as voters.
The League was officially founded in Chicago in 1920, just six months before the 19th amendment was ratified and women won the vote. Formed by the suffragists of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, the League began as a "mighty political experiment" designed to help 20 million women carry out their new responsibilities as voters.
LWV Celebrates 100 Years
February 14th, 2020, marks 100 years that the League of Women Voters has empowered voters and defended democracy. Over the last century, we’ve fought for election protection, democratic reforms, and equal access to the ballot—all while maintaining our commitment to non-partisanship and fostering an informed electorate. As we look into our next hundred years, we aim to build power for the next generation of women leaders and voting rights activists. That’s why we’re celebrating our 100-year milestone by launching our new programmatic focus, Women Power Democracy. Sheboygan County League of Women Voters History The original Sheboygan County League was original founded around 1920 and even hosted Carrie Chapman Catt as a speaker at the new Central High School building downtown. It is unclear when or why this league disbanded, but we think it was in the last decades of the 20th Century. The current league chapter was re-established in 2017 and has been hard at work providing non-partisan voter education and information to the residents of Sheboygan County since. |