Clio Logo
New York Women's Suffrage History Trail

Zone 1 of 4: Western New York

You are viewing item 9 of 33 in this tour.

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. 


Pamphlet, 39th Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association

Font, Handwriting, Rectangle, Art

Pamphlet, page 2

Handwriting, Font, Book, Paper

Pamphlet, page 3

Handwriting, Font, Rectangle, Tints and shades

Pamphlet, page 4

Forehead, Nose, Chin, Hairstyle

Pamphlet, page 5

Book, Publication, Font, Paper

Pamphlet, page 6

Font, Handwriting, Paper, Paper product

Pamphlet, page 7

Book, Font, Paper, Paper product

Pamphlet, page 8

Font, Book, Parallel, Paper

Pamphlet, page 9

Font, Book, Publication, Paper

Pamphlet, page 10

Handwriting, Font, Paper, Paper product

Pamphlet, page 11

Font, Book, Paper, Paper product

Pamphlet, page 12

Font, Handwriting, Paper, Parallel

Pamphlet, page 13

Font, Publication, Book, Parallel

Pamphlet, page 14

Font, Publication, Book, Paper

Pamphlet, page 15

Book, Publication, Font, Paper

Pamphlet, page 16

Font, Art, Tints and shades, Book

Postcard of the First Baptist Church, 1908

Sky, Cloud, Property, Building

Newspaper announcement that the 39th Annual Convention would be held in Geneva

Font, Publication, Paper, Paper product

Convention ribbon with portrait of Elizabeth Smith Miller

Product, Font, Drink, Liqueur

Geneva Daily Times, October 17, 1907

Newspaper, Publication, Font, Material property

Ella Hawley Crossett, President of the NYSWSA.

Forehead, Hair, Chin, Eyebrow

Harriet May Mills, Vice President of the NYSWSA (standing) with Ella Hawley Crossett, President of NYSWSA

Black, Sleeve, Style, Black-and-white

Nicolas Shaw Fraser, Recording Secretary of the NYSWSA

Forehead, Hair, Face, Head

Alice Williams, Corresponding Secretary of the NYSWSA

Forehead, Hair, Head, Lip

Annie E. Merritt, Treasurer of the NYSWSA

Forehead, Hair, Hairstyle, Eyebrow

Eliza W. Osborne, Auditor for the NYSWSA

Art, Vintage clothing, Tints and shades, Font

Fanny Garrison Villard, Auditor for the NYSWSA

Sleeve, Dress, Art, Oval

Caroline A. Baldridge, President of the Ontario County Political Equality Club

Forehead, Head, Chin, Hairstyle

Lucy E. Anthony, niece of Susan B. Anthony, presented prizes for essays at the convention

White, Black, Hat, Military person

Anne F. Miller, President of the Geneva Political Equality Club, with her mother, Elizabeth Smith Miller, at Lochland

Plant, Tree, Rectangle, Suit

Helen Z. M. Rodgers (right) offered a response to several greeting on the first night of the convention

Human, Standing, Gesture, Sleeve

Caroline Lexow offered an address titled "Industry and Woman Suffrage"

Smile, Chin, Outerwear, Eyebrow

Rev. Langdon C. Stewardson, President of Hobart College, offered the address "The Significance of the Movement."

Forehead, Chin, Eyebrow, Beard

Mary E. Craigie reported on the legislative work done in support of suffrage

Art, Headgear, Font, Circle

Florence Kelley presented the Industrial Report to the convention

Forehead, Hair, Head, Chin

Harriot Stanton Blanch, President of the Equal Suffrage League of Self-Supporting Women, gave an address titled "The New Demand for Suffrage"

Eyebrow, Tie, Art, Collar

Rose Schneiderman spoke on "Working Women and Suffrage" at the convention

Forehead, Chin, Eyebrow, Eye

Leonora O'Reilly addressed the convention on October 16

Smile, Jaw, Monochrome photography, Vintage clothing

Mary E. Remington addressed the convention on October 16.

Jaw, Sleeve, Tints and shades, Monochrome photography

Rev. Anna Howard Shaw was a keynote speaker on October 16.

Fashion design, Vintage clothing, Flash photography, Event

Professor Nathaniel Schmidt gave an address titled, "Vital Political Issues and the Suffrage Reform, with Finnish Illustrations"

Forehead, Face, Chin, Hairstyle

Greetings from W. Smith O'Brien, Geneva city attorney, at the 39th NYSWSA Convention, page 1

Font, Rectangle, Paper, Paper product

Greetings from W. Smith O'Brien, Geneva city attorney, at the 39th NYSWSA Convention, page 2

Font, Rectangle, Paper, Paper product

Greetings from W. Smith O'Brien, Geneva city attorney, at the 39th NYSWSA Convention, page 3

Rectangle, Font, Paper, Paper product

Greetings from W. Smith O'Brien, Geneva city attorney, at the 39th NYSWSA Convention, page 4

Rectangle, Font, Paper, Paper product

Hotel Nester, the convention headquarters and lodging

Cloud, Wheel, Building, Window

The New York State Woman Suffrage Association (NYSWSA) was organized in 1869 after the Fifteenth Amendment only granted the vote to men. Matilda Joslyn Gage organized the first state convention at Saratoga Springs, July 13-14, 1869 and the association held a convention annually after that. The annual convention was a strategy used by NYSWSA to bring together all the smaller societies throughout the state to work together to advance women’s suffrage in New York.

The 39th Annual Convention was held October 15-18, 1907 in Geneva, NY, ten years after the 29th Convention was also held in Geneva. The 1907 program was greatly expanded from the earlier conference. In addition to the typical meetings and committee reports, there were additional reports from Young People’s Clubs, the presentation of two prize essays, and discussions about increasing membership prior to the 1908 National Convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association.

All of the convention sessions were held in the First Baptist Church. The Romanesque Revival brick church was constructed in 1893-1984 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Attendees were also treated to a reception at Lochland, the home of Elizabeth Smith Miller and Anne Fitzhugh Miller.

Like the 1897 Convention, the Hotel Nestor served as the convention headquarters and lodging. The Hotel Nester (529-533 Exchange Street) was erected and opened in 1896 as the only first-class hotel in Geneva. The hotel was owned by Samuel K. Nester. In 1912 the hotel was expanded and renamed the Hotel Seneca. The hotel was a center of the social life in Geneva through World War II and the hotel then declined. For a period of time local clubs and events were held in the building until the hotel and the adjacent Jacobs building were demolished in 1981 to make way for a new senior housing complex.

“First Baptist Church, Geneva.” Freethought Trail. Accessed November 19, 2021. https://freethought-trail.org/trail-map/location:first-baptist-church/.

“Historic American Buildings Survey: The Nester Hotel (Hotel Seneca).” National Park Service. Accessed November 3, 2021. https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny0600/ny0623/data/ny0623data.pdf.

“Hotel Nester.” Freethought Trail. Accessed November 3, 2021. https://freethought-trail.org/trail-map/location:hotel-nester/.

“New York State Woman Suffrage Association (NYSWSA).” Freethought Trail. Accessed October 18, 2021. https://freethought-trail.org/profiles/profile:new-york-state-woman-suffrage-association-nyswsa/.

Osburn, Karen. “1907 and the New York Woman Suffrage Association Meeting.” Historic Geneva. February 24, 2017. Accessed November 19, 2021. https://historicgeneva.org/organizations/1907-new-york-woman-suffrage-association-convention/.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/.

“Thirty-Ninth NY State Suffrage Convention.” Freethought Trail. Accessed November 19, 2021. https://freethought-trail.org/historical-events/event:thirty-ninth-annual-nyswsa-convention/. 

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

"First Baptist Church, Geneva, NY." New York Heritage digital collections. Accessed November 22, 2021. https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15109coll6/id/2305/.

New York State Woman Suffrage Association Convention to be held in Geneva. Geneva, New York, March?, 1907. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller002126/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

New York State Woman Suffrage Association 39th annual convention, Geneva; Yellow Ribbon with button portrait of Elizabeth Smith Miller. United States New York Ontario Geneva, 1907. October 15-18. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001119/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

Geneva Daily Times. Women Name Same List of Officers; 39th annual New York State Woman Suffrage Association Convention. 1907. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001123/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

"Ella Hawley Crossett." Western New York Suffragists: Winning the Vote. Accessed November 19, 2021. https://rrlc.org/winningthevote/biographies/ella-hawley-crossett/.

Bain News Service, Publisher. Harriet May Mills, V. Pres. Woman's Suffrage Ass'n; Ella Hawley Crossett, Pres. , . [No Date Recorded on Caption Card] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014681637/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

New York State Woman Suffrage Association. New York Suffrage Newsletter, Harriet May Mills, editor. New York State Woman Suffrage Association, Syracuse, New York, Nov-06, 1906. Periodical. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001270/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

New York State Woman Suffrage Association. New York Suffrage Newsletter, Harriet May Mills, editor. New York State Woman Suffrage Association, Syracuse, New York, Nov-06, 1906. Periodical. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001270/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

New York State Woman Suffrage Association. New York Suffrage Newsletter, Harriet May Mills, editor. New York State Woman Suffrage Association, Syracuse, New York, Nov-06, 1906. Periodical. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001270/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

"Eliza Wright Osborne Residence." Freethought Trail. Accessed November 19, 2021. https://freethought-trail.org/trail-map/location:eliza-wright-osborne-residence/.

"Fanny Garrison Villard." Wikipedia. Accessed November 19, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Garrison_Villard.

Thirty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association. Geneva, New York, October 15-18, 1907. Online Text. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001293/. Accessed November 19, 2021.

"Lucy Elmira Anthony." Wikipedia. Accessed November 22, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Elmina_Anthony.

Elizabeth Smith Miller and Anne Fitzhugh Miller at Lochland, photograph. , 1909. Geneva, New York, ?. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001937/. Accessed November 22, 2021.

"Sisters in Law." University at Buffalo School of Law. Accessed November 22, 2021. https://www.law.buffalo.edu/history/sisters-in-law.html.

"Caroline Lexow Babcock." Wikipedia. Accessed November 22, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Lexow_Babcock.

"Past Presidents." Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Accessed November 22, 2021. https://www.hws.edu/about/pastpresidents.aspx.

Mrs. C. O. H. Craigie Mary E. Chairman, Legislative Committee, New York State Woman Suffrage Association addressed Albany suffrage hearings. United States Albany New York, . N. D. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001091/. Accessed November 22, 2021.

"Florence Kelley." Wikipedia. Accessed November 22, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Kelley.

"Harriot Stanton Blanch." Wikipedia. Accessed November 22, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriot_Stanton_Blatch.

"Rose Schneiderman." Wikipedia. Accessed November 22, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Schneiderman.

"Leonora O'Reilly." Wikipedia. Accessed November 22, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonora_O%27Reilly.

"Buffalo's Canal District, Part 2: Dante Place - Buffalo's Little Italy." Discovering Buffalo, One Street at a Time. Accessed November 22, 2021. https://buffalostreets.com/tag/mary-remington/.

"Anna Howard Shaw." Wikipedia. Accessed November 22, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Howard_Shaw.

"Nathaniel Schmidt." Wikipedia. Accessed November 22, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Schmidt.

O'Brien, W. Smith. Greetings, W. Smith O'Brien, Geneva city attorney, 39th annual New York State Woman Suffrage Association convention. Geneva, New York, 1907. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001070/. Accessed November 22, 2021.

O'Brien, W. Smith. Greetings, W. Smith O'Brien, Geneva city attorney, 39th annual New York State Woman Suffrage Association convention. Geneva, New York, 1907. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001070/. Accessed November 22, 2021.

O'Brien, W. Smith. Greetings, W. Smith O'Brien, Geneva city attorney, 39th annual New York State Woman Suffrage Association convention. Geneva, New York, 1907. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001070/. Accessed November 22, 2021.

O'Brien, W. Smith. Greetings, W. Smith O'Brien, Geneva city attorney, 39th annual New York State Woman Suffrage Association convention. Geneva, New York, 1907. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller001070/. Accessed November 22, 2021.

"Hotel Nester - 4." New York Heritage digital collections. Accessed November 22, 2021. https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15109coll6/id/2096/.