Woman Suffrage Scenes
ca. 1919
Add to Favorites:
Add all page(s) of this document to activity:
This silent footage shows scenes from the women's suffrage movement. Women activists are seen arriving on their train that they called the "Democracy Limited" as part of their "Prison Special" tour of 1919. The train stopped in 15 major cities around the United States. These were some of the women who had been imprisoned at Occoquan Workhouse following their arrest for picketing the White House. They wore replica prison uniforms and reenacted scenes from their time at the workhouse, including their mistreatment. They also told stories and gave speeches.
Other scenes show women picketing the White House during the Wilson administration, and women in New York waiting in line to vote for the first time on November 5th, 1918 (women won the right to vote in New York State in 1917). Gubernatorial candidate Alfred E. Smith and his wife Catherine Ann Smith – one of the first women to vote in New York that day – are seen entering and leaving their polling place.
This footage comes from a longer film reel. Also included are scenes of swimmer Eleanor Holm (with sound) winning a race and making a short speech on how happy she is to win the championship. Amelia Earhart is seen in Ireland following her solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, the first for a woman. Other scenes include: Martin and Osa Johnson (with sound) on their return from Africa, Clare Booth Luce addressing a group in a Washington office, workers coming out of factory entrance (with sound), and New York City street scenes from the early 1900s.
Other scenes show women picketing the White House during the Wilson administration, and women in New York waiting in line to vote for the first time on November 5th, 1918 (women won the right to vote in New York State in 1917). Gubernatorial candidate Alfred E. Smith and his wife Catherine Ann Smith – one of the first women to vote in New York that day – are seen entering and leaving their polling place.
This footage comes from a longer film reel. Also included are scenes of swimmer Eleanor Holm (with sound) winning a race and making a short speech on how happy she is to win the championship. Amelia Earhart is seen in Ireland following her solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, the first for a woman. Other scenes include: Martin and Osa Johnson (with sound) on their return from Africa, Clare Booth Luce addressing a group in a Washington office, workers coming out of factory entrance (with sound), and New York City street scenes from the early 1900s.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer.
National Archives Identifier: 23889
Full Citation: Motion Picture 111-ADC-10127; Woman Suffrage Scenes; ca. 1919; Moving Images Relating to Military Activities, 1947 - 1964; Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, Record Group 111; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/woman-suffrage-scenes, January 26, 2025]Rights: Copyright Not Evaluated Learn more on our privacy and legal page.