Letter Acknowledging Receipt of Tennessee's Certificate of Ratification of the 19th Amendment
8/31/1920
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This is a carbon copy of a letter that Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby sent to A. H. Roberts, Governor of Tennessee, on behalf of President Woodrow Wilson. Colby acknowledged receiving a letter from Governor Roberts that included Tennessee's certificate of ratification of the 19th Amendment.
After Congress passed a women's suffrage amendment, three-fourths of states (36 at that time) had to ratify the 19th Amendment before it could be added to the Constitution. Many states quickly approved the 19th amendment. By the end of March 1920, only one additional state was needed for ratification. On August 18, 1920, after calling a special session of the state legislature, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify, clinching the passage of the amendment allowing women the right to vote.
At the time, the Secretary of State was responsible for administering the ratification process. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the certificate of ratification on August 26, 1920. Today this is done by the Archivist of the United States at the National Archives.
After Congress passed a women's suffrage amendment, three-fourths of states (36 at that time) had to ratify the 19th Amendment before it could be added to the Constitution. Many states quickly approved the 19th amendment. By the end of March 1920, only one additional state was needed for ratification. On August 18, 1920, after calling a special session of the state legislature, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify, clinching the passage of the amendment allowing women the right to vote.
At the time, the Secretary of State was responsible for administering the ratification process. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the certificate of ratification on August 26, 1920. Today this is done by the Archivist of the United States at the National Archives.
This primary source comes from the General Records of the United States Government.
National Archives Identifier: 120548519
Full Citation: Carbon Copy of Letter from Bainbridge Colby, Secretary of State on Behalf of the President to A. H. Roberts, Governor of Tennessee Acknowledging Receipt of Letter and Enclosed Certificate of Ratification of the 19th Amendment, with Resolution and Tra; 8/31/1920; Amendment XIX: Women's Right to Vote, 1920 - State: Tennessee; Ratified Amendments, 1795 - 1992; General Records of the United States Government, Record Group 11; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/colby-roberts-19th-amendment, December 11, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.