Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial
In 2020 the Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial organized a number of activities and programs to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Catalyzed by Indiana Humanities, the Indianapolis Propylaeum, the Indiana Historical Society and the Indiana Historical Bureau, the group worked with a state commission and many grassroots and local partners to communicate about and hold events.
Through the Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial, we invited Hoosiers to honor the ideas and ideals that fueled the suffrage movement in Indiana, and the people who led the way; to engage in a conversation about inclusion, equity, perseverance and power; to consider what remains to be done to ensure that our democracy truly includes everyone; and to identify and act on the lessons of the women’s suffrage movement.
Two projects that will leave a legacy for future generations include the May Wright Sewall Fellowships and the Preserving Women’s Legacy Grants.
Suffrage Resources
Preserving Women's Legacy Grants
Preserving Women’s Legacy Grants were created to catalyze Main Street communities to discover, preserve and activate locations that tell stories about women’s contributions in Indiana. The one-time grants are a legacy project of the Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial, presented by Indiana Humanities and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Three Preserving Women’s Legacy Grants were awarded. They are:
Rediscover Downtown Peru, to create the Miami County Woman’s Suffrage Trail. | Watch video
The trail will begin with a life-size bronze statue of Marie Stuart Edwards as a young teen standing by her bike on the grounds of the Peru Public Library. The statue, as well as displays and plaques around the county, will increase awareness of the role local women played in the fight for suffrage. This project is in partnership with Miami County Worth Remembering, AcesPLUS and the Daughters of the American Revolution. (Grant: $35,000)
Downtown Angola Coalition, to commission a life-size sculpture of abolitionist Sojourner Truth. | Watch video
In 1861, Truth gave a speech on the Steuben County courthouse grounds supporting civil rights and the Civil War. This sculpture will commemorate Truth’s connection to the city of Angola and serve as a reminder of the significance that women and women of color had in the fight for equal rights and suffrage. With help from the public library system, the project will also include book studies and lesson plans about Truth. This project is in partnership with the Steuben County Commissioners, the City of Angola and the Steuben County Tourism Bureau. (Grant: $40,000)
Michigan City Mainstreet Association to construct a sculpture in Charles R. Westcott Park to honor Naomi Bowman Talbert Anderson. | Watch Video
Anderson was born in Michigan City in 1843 to free African American parents and became a significant suffragist, civil rights activist, orator, writer and poet. The artwork will have a narrative format for all ages, and a companion to this will be the creation of an archived collection of biographical information about Anderson. This project is in partnership with the Lubeznik Center for the Arts, the NAACP LaPorte County Branch–Unit 3061 and the Unity Foundation of LaPorte County. (Grant: $40,000)
To learn more about the projects, watch the announcement video featuring Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch, chair of the Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission. The short video also delves into the details of each project and features interviews with staff members and volunteers associated with the projects.
Contact: George Hanlin, Indiana Humanities director of grants (ghanlin@indianahumanities.org / 317-616-9784)
Teaching Materials
Program Toolkit
Research Grants
Four May Wright Sewall Fellows will uncover the histories of Hoosier women’s role in the suffrage movement and their work in politics after 1920. Read about the Fellows and learn about their research projects.
Suffrage Timeline Poster
Download a digital version of the timeline of Indiana Women’s Suffrage