Dublin Core
Source
MHC Archives
Title
Matilda Calder, Class of 1896, Letters to family, October-November 1895
Description
Matilda mentions the school-wide suffrage vote in three of her letters home in the fall of 1895. In the letter dated October 21, she announces that she will lead the pro-suffrage faction and gauges her family’s opinion by asking, “what does papa think of having a Woman’s Rights daughter.” In her next letter, she talks about the pro-suffrage rally: “our side for Woman's Suffrage held the rally on Saturday night. The speeches were very good and we had some patriotic songs.” On November 9, she announces her faction’s defeat, but believes that “all the good arguments were on our side” during the debate that took place on the weekend before the vote.
Creator
Matilda Calder
Date
October 21, 1895; October 27, 1895; November 9, 1895
Format
Paper, ink, pencil
Language
English
Type
Letter
Identifier
case04_votes_008
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Oct 21: There is a great deal of interest here now in the Woman Suffrage question. You know the people here in Mass. are going to vote as to the advisability of giving the municipal suffrage to women and letting her vote on all city matter as well as the school question. The girls’ colleges are taking it up and are going to vote on it in a mock election. At Wellesley & Smith they are in favor of it. Here they are pretty fairly divided but the majority seems to be opposed. We have divided into two parties and elected leaders. They have made me leader of one side and guess which side I am on. The side in favor. What does papa think of having a Woman’s Rights daughter. The campaign is going to be lots of fun and I think we will at least learn what it means. (Pages 4-5)
Oct 27: Our side for Woman’s Suffrage held the rally on Saturday night. The speeches were very good and we had some patriotic songs. The other side will hold forth next Wednesday night and then we have a joint debate on Saturday night. The voting in Massachusetts comes a week from Tuesday, that is on Nov. 5. and we are going to vote then on the question. (Page 2)
Nov 9: We had a great deal of excitement last week over the Woman Suffrage question. We had a very exciting debate on the subject Saturday night and all the good arguments were on our side - for it. But when the ballots were counted Tuesday night, for we had a regular election, the vote stood 185 No & 114 Yes. At Wellesley the majority were in favor. Of course the majority in the state went against. (Pages 8-9)
Oct 27: Our side for Woman’s Suffrage held the rally on Saturday night. The speeches were very good and we had some patriotic songs. The other side will hold forth next Wednesday night and then we have a joint debate on Saturday night. The voting in Massachusetts comes a week from Tuesday, that is on Nov. 5. and we are going to vote then on the question. (Page 2)
Nov 9: We had a great deal of excitement last week over the Woman Suffrage question. We had a very exciting debate on the subject Saturday night and all the good arguments were on our side - for it. But when the ballots were counted Tuesday night, for we had a regular election, the vote stood 185 No & 114 Yes. At Wellesley the majority were in favor. Of course the majority in the state went against. (Pages 8-9)