Western New York
Located in the former home of the famous women's right's activist the museum is named after, the National Susan B. Anthony Museum offers exhibits that interpret the history of women's suffrage and the life and influence of Susan B. Anthony. One of the most influential Americans of the late 19th century, Anthony challenged the assumption that men and women should occupy different classes of citizenship. She was arrested for voting in 1872 and used the event to publicize the lack of political rights for women. Anthony worked with other suffragists such as close friend Elizabeth Cady Stanton and created the National Woman Suffrage Association. The museum has a variety of artifacts related to this organization, as well as a collection of documents for researchers.
This house was the first home Frederick Douglass bought in Rochester. Douglass likely lived here from 1847 until the purchase of his next home in 1852. Douglass’s relationship with his neighbors is recounted in local newspapers, including the North Star- an abolitionist newspaper that Douglass edited while living here. The Douglass family used this home as a stop on the underground railroad, along with the other homes he owned in the area. This is also the home where Frederick Douglass’s wife, Anna Murray-Douglass, decided she would not receive a formal education since she saw more personal value in tending the home. The home burned down in 1954 and was later turned into a parking lot. A historical marker was installed here on November 5, 2018.
Jean Brooks Greenleaf (1831-1918) was a leader in the suffrage movement and friend of Susan B. Anthony. Greenleaf served as the president of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association between 1890 and 1896 and worked with Anthony on the "Second New York Campaign" for a state constitutional amendment for women's suffrage in 1894. At her death in 1918, her obituary remarked: "With the death yesterday of Mrs. Jean Brooks Greenleaf there passed the last of the little band of devoted suffragists who received their first inspiration from Susan B. and Mary Anthony. Mrs. Greenleaf was the only one of the women who saw their dream come true in the state where they had lived the greater share of their lives."
Clarina I. Howard Nichols was a journalist, women's rights suffragist, abolitionist, and reformer who wrote and spoke for many years on issues of women's rights. During the 1850s Nichols was active in campaigning for a free Kansas during the conflict known as "Bleeding Kansas" and she traveled through New York to organize relief efforts for free-state settlers in that state. Her stop at Sinclairville was delayed both by a railroad accident and by the Congregationalist pastor before she spoke about organizing a relief committee here.
The 31st Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association (NYSWSA) was held in Dunkirk, NY November 1-4, 1899. Events were held at the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union building and Academy Hall with the Hotel Gratiot serving as the conference hotel. Participants attended lectures and meetings about advancing the cause of women's suffrage.
Between 1869 and 1912, Lochland was the home of Elizabeth Smith Miller and her daughter, Anne Fitzhugh Miller. The Millers were active reformers for women’s rights and education. They organized both conventions of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association held in Geneva and founded the Geneva Political Equality Club.
White Springs Farm was first established in 1801, and over its agricultural history has been used to grow grain crops, to raise sheep, to raise cattle, and as one of the largest orchards in the state. Between 1898 and at least the 1940s, White Springs was the home of Agnes Bevan Slosson Lewis, a suffragist and social activist.
The 29th Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association (NYSWSA) was held in Geneva, NY November 3-6, 1897. Events on November 3 were held at Collins Music Hall on South Main Street and events on November 4-5 occurred at the Smith Opera House. Executive meetings and conference lodgings were at the Hotel Nester on Exchange Street.
The 39th Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association (NYSWSA) was held in Geneva, NY on October 15-18, 1907. Convention sessions and meetings were held at the First Baptist Church with a reception held October 17 at Lochland, the home of Elizabeth Smith and Anne Fitzhugh Miller.
Suffragist Susan B. Anthony was tried in June 1873 and convicted of the crime of illegally voting at the Ontario County Courthouse. Anthony had registered to vote and then voted in Rochester, NY during the 1872 presidential election. She had intended to attempt to register and when turned away, sue the register to push a legal case. However, she managed to actually vote and was then prosecuted for violating the Enforcement Act of 1870.
Central New York
The Women's National Historic Park commemorates the first Women’s Rights Convention, which was held here in Seneca Falls on July 19-20, 1848. The convention was organized by a group of women's rights activists led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) and Lucretia Mott (1793-1880), who was a Quaker and known for her excellent oratorical skills. The convention marked the beginning of the women's rights and suffrage movements in the country. Elizabeth Cady Stanton fought for these issues for the majority of her adult life and was one of the foremost political figures of the 19th century. Just over six acres in size, the park consists of two properties associated with the convention and the women's suffrage movement—Wesleyan Methodist Church and the Elizabeth Cady Stanton House—and a Visitor Center, which is located next to the church. Other landmarks related to the convention are on the Votes for Women History Trail, including the M'Clintock House and the Richard Hunt House, both of which are located just to the west in the town of Waterloo. The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
This historic home is significant for being the home of Amelia Bloomer (1818-1894), one of the leading women's rights advocates of the 19th century. She was also a supporter of the temperance movement, which was the movement against consuming alcohol, and the first woman to own and operate a newspaper, which was called The Lily. Bloomer was also known for her association with lower body garments called pantaloons worn by women in the 1850s. They were less cumbersome than traditional women's clothing of the day. She did not invent them but promoted them in her newspaper so as a result, they were called "bloomers." The house itself was originally built in 1830 in the Greek Revival style and was later enlarged and converted to the Italianate style in the 1850s. Apparently, Bloomer only lived in the house for just six months in 1840 after she got married. The home appears to be a private residence but can be viewed from the street.
The home of Martha and David Wright stood here until it was razed in 1880. Martha Coffin Pelham Wright was an abolitionist and suffragette who was a leader in both movements. The Wright home was a stop on the Underground Railroad and Martha Wright presided over anti-slavery meetings through the Civil War. Martha C. Wright, along with her sister Lucretia Mott, helped organize the First Women's Right Convention in Seneca Falls, organized national conventions after that, and served as the president of the National Woman Suffrage Association.
Built in the 1850s, the stately Greek Revival was the center for abolitionist and suffragist Matilda Joslyn Gage. She fought for human rights for more than forty years, between 1854 and 1898. Gage and her husband Henry and their four children lived in that home and were all abolitionists and offered that house as a stop on the Underground Railroad. The house is being restored as a house museum. The museum is open to the public and provides a look into the past. The Gage home was where people came together to discuss issues such as human trafficking, reproductive rights, religious freedom and native sovereignty. At this house, the Underground Railroad, women's rights, treaty rights and separation of church and state were pieced together.
The 36th annual convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association (NYSWSA) was held in Auburn, New York October 17-20, 1904. Events were held at the Auburn Music Hall and Osborne Annex. The Osborne House Hotel was the convention headquarters. Participants attended lectures and meetings about advancing the cause of women's suffrage.
1916-1917 headquarters for Broome County Women's Suffrage Party. 1st Assembly District Director: Margaret C. Topliff, 2nd Assembly District Director: Catherine R. Bartoo. (Original building demolished.)
Starting in 1851 this was the home of William and Hannah Howland, called Shady Lawn. Isabel Howland was born here in 1859 and owned the home until her death in 1942, renaming the estate Opendore. Isabel Howland was involved in the women's suffrage movement, serving as an officer for the Association for the Advancement of Women and the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Howland was the niece of Emily Howland, a prominent leaders in the women's suffrage movement. Opendore is now owned and is being restored by the Howland Stone Store Museum.
Emily Howland (1827-1929) was a prominent leader in abolition, women's suffrage, and education. She dedicated many years to the advancement of African American education during and after the Civil War and founded/funded fifty schools for African Americans in the south. Locally, Howland was influential in the Sherwood Select School. She was also a leader in the women's suffrage movement, working with the New York State Woman Suffrage Association and National American Woman Suffrage Association. Howland was the daughter of Slocum and Hannah Howland (of the Howland Stone Store) and aunt to Isabel Howland, another prominent New York suffragist whose house was Opendore.
The Howland Stone Store Museum was built in 1837 by entrepreneur, abolitionist, and suffragist Slocum Howland. Its cobblestone construction was popular in New York at the time and is an excellent example of this style. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994 for both its architecture and association with the abolitionist and suffragist movements. Howland, his daughter, and niece were very active in these movements. The museum features artifacts related to the sale of local products and the importation and exportation of goods, items, and memorabilia related to the abolitionist and suffragist movements, and numerous artifacts the family collected on their travels abroad. A highlight of the collection is an Underground Railroad pass brought by two escaping slaves who sought refuge with Howland. The town itself was recently placed on the National Register (as the Sherwood Equal Rights Historic District) because of its strong support for the abolition and suffrage.
This statue and historical marker commemorate the historic 1851 meeting between women's rights activists Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who were introduced to each other by fellow activist Amelia Bloomer. Susan and Elizabeth are depicted at the moment they shook hands for the first time, with Amelia looking on. On the ground next to the statue is the historical marker, which provides information about the meeting.
Erected in 2015, this monument commemorates the struggle women fought for their right to vote. It consists of three statues depicting men and a timeline that wraps around them. The first date is 1776 with a quote from Abigail Adams stating "remember the ladies." The last date is 1920, the year the 19th Amendment was ratified, which prevents the federal government and states from denying women the right to vote.
Located in a community that is widely regarded as the birthplace of the women's rights movement, the National Women's Hall of Fame offers exhibits that share the stories of women who have made significant contributions in a wide range of areas including science, sports, education, arts, business, government, and philanthropy. The organization was established in 1969 and is currently housed in the Helen Mosher Barben Building in downtown Seneca Falls. The Hall is the oldest membership organization in the country devoted to showcasing the achievements of women. In 2020, the Hall relocated to the newly renovated Seneca Knitting Mill. It is contributing property of the Seneca Falls Village Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The 33rd Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association (NYSWSA) was held in Oswego, NY October 29-November 1, 1901. Sessions were held at the First Presbyterian Church (now the American Legion) with an opening reception in the Council Chamber at the City Hall. The Hamilton House Hotel was the convention headquarters and lodging.
Hudson Valley
The First Albany Convention was held at Association Hall by the state's Woman's Rights Convention. Reform leaders met on February 14 and 15, 1854 to discuss the movement for women's rights and prepare resolutions to present to the New York State Legislature. During this convention Elizabeth Cady Stanton delivered her first major speech.
In August 1854 Susan B. Anthony, joined by Matilda Joslyn Gage and Sarah Pellet, organized a convention on women's rights held at St. Nicholas Hall. With the success of the 1854 event, a second Saratoga convention was organized for August 15-16, 1855, also at St. Nicholas Hall. The original St. Nicholas Hall no longer stands; it was changed to Putnam Music Hall in the 1880s, but the building was destroyed in one of the several fires that plagued Saratoga in the nineteenth century.
The 30th Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association (NYSWSA) was held in Hudson, NY November 8-10, 1898. The General Worth Hotel was the conference headquarters and lodging, daytime events were held in the Opera House (then City Hall), and evening events occurred in the County Courthouse. Participants attended lectures and meetings about advancing the cause of women's suffrage.
The 27th Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association (NYSWSA) was held in Newburgh, NY on November 8-12, 1895. Convention events were held at the Academy of Music Hall on Broadway and convention attendees stayed at the Palantine Hotel, which was located up Grand Street near the Newburgh Free Library.
Suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt lived in the home known as Juniper Ridge from 1919 to 1928. After years of frenetic activity, Catt moved to the home after passage of the Nineteenth Amendment along with her partner, Mary Garrett "Mollie" Hay. The house offered solitude and an escape from the pressures of public life, although Catt continued to be active after moving there. Because of its connection of Catt, the home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
New York City & Long Island
This was the final home of Carrie Chapman Catt and Mary Garrett Hay. Carrie Clinton Lane Chapman Catt (1859-1947) and Mary Garrett Hay (1857-1928) were both influential leaders of the women's suffrage movement. Carrie Chapman Catt was president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and oversaw the victory of passing and ratifying the 19th Amendment. Catt also founded the League of Women Voters. Mary Garrett Hay worked closely with Catt in the work of the NAWSA, but was also a leader in the New York suffrage movement. Hay was president of the New York Equal Suffrage League, president of the New York City Woman Suffrage Party, chair of the League of Women Voters in New York, and chairman of the Republican Women's National Executive Committee. After the death of Catt’s second husband, they lived together for 23 years. Catt and Hay moved to this New Rochelle home in 1928 from their home, Juniper Ledge, in Briarcliff Manor. Mary Garrett Hay died here on August 29, 1928, not long after they moved in. Carrie Chapman Catt continued her work and activism from this home from 1928 until her death here on March 9, 1947.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) was a leader of the Women's Rights Movement. Stanton and fellow abolitionists organized the Seneca Falls Convention, considered the beginning of the women's suffrage movement. Elizabeth Stanton and Susan B. Anthony worked together to advance suffrage and many other women's issues from the 1840s into the early 1900s. Stanton was a founder of the National Woman Suffrage Association and also served as president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association.
Carrie Clinton Lane Chapman Catt (1859-1947) and Mary Garrett Hay (1857-1928) were both influential leaders of the women's suffrage movement. Carrie Chapman Catt was president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and oversaw the victory of passing and ratifying the 19th Amendment. Catt also founded the League of Women Voters. Mary Garrett Hay worked closely with Catt in the work of the NAWSA, but was also a leader in the New York suffrage movement. Hay was president of the New York Equal Suffrage League, president of the New York City Woman Suffrage Party, chair of the League of Women Voters in New York, and chairman of the Republican Women's National Executive Committee.
This elaborate mausoleum is the resting place of Alva Erskine Smith Vanderbilt Belmont (1853-1933) and Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont (1858-1908). Alva Belmont was a leader of the women's suffrage movement, using her wealth and social status to support the movement. She founded the Political Equality League in 1909, served as president of the National Woman's Party in 1921, and financed the purchase of the party headquarters in Washington D.C. After Oliver Belmont’s death on June 10, 1908, Alva Belmont commissioned the mausoleum, which was completed in 1910. It is a replica of the chapel of Saint-Hubert at Amboise in France. Saint Hubert is the patron saint of hunters so there are many references to stags and antlers repeated in the design.
Located at the southern end of the Mall in New York City’s Central Park, the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument honors the lives and work of Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony. Sponsored by the all-volunteer non-profit group Monumental Women and designed by renowned sculptor Meredith Bergmann, the monument consists of three over-life-sized bronze likenesses of the early women’s rights advocates on an elongated oval granite pedestal. Unveiled in August 2020, it commemorates the centennial of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees women the right to vote. The first to be added to Central Park since 1965, the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument is also the first in the park’s history to depict actual women, as opposed to fictional female characters.
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This statewide digital story map includes landmarks throughout New York that are related to the history of the Women's Suffrage Movement.
Women's History
