Petition of Lucinda F. Proebstel Praying for the Removal of her Political Disabilities
2/7/1878
In this petition to Congress, Lucinda Proebstel requests a relief from her political disabilities. This petition was part of a petition drive organized by the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) calling for a constitutional amendment that would give women the right to vote. The petition closely follows a template provided by NWSA (an example of this type is the Petition of Dr. Clemence Lozier). The organization encouraged women to personalize their messages to Congress by including their personal reasons for desiring the the right to vote. In her petition, Lucinda Proebstel expresses that she wants to vote because in the state of Oregon, women are classed with minors and persons of unsound mind.
This petition was referred to to the Committee on the Judiciary in the House of Representatives on February 7, 1878. On January 10, 1878 Senator Aaron Sargent first introduced the joint resolution for an amendment to the Constitution that would ultimately extend the right to vote to women as the 19th Amendment, 42 years later. Petitions like this one from Lucinda Proebstel show how women exercised their rights to bring about change in the decades-long fight for the right to vote.
Transcript
PetitionOF
Lucinda F Proebstel
For
Relief From Political Disabilities
To the Senate And House of Representatives
Of The United States, In Congress Assembled:
Lucinda F. Proebstel, a citizen of the United States and a resident of the State of Oregon, County of Union, hereby respectfully petitions Your honorable body for the removal of her political disabilities, and that she may be declared invested with full power to exercise her right of self government at the ballot-box, all state constitutions or statute laws to the contrary notwithstanding.
My reason for wanting to vote is that according The Statute of Oregon, women (and married women in particular) are classed with minors And persons of unsound mind.
Petition
of
Lucinda F. Proebstel
a citizen of
Le Grande
Union Co.,
Oregon
Praying for the removal of her political disabilities.
Hon. Richard Williams
Oregon
Comt on the Judiciary
Feby 7 1878
Referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
Activities that use this document
- Why Did Women Want the Right to Vote?
Created by the National Archives Education Team
Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
