Suffrage In America

Suffrage: "Full suffrage became a political issue for Chicago in the 1860s. On the eve of the Civil War, Illinois was one of seven Midwestern states that denied the vote to African American residents. After the Fifteenth Amendment enfranchised African Americans in Illinois in 1870, black Chicagoans moved slowly into politics and political officeholding. Chicagoan John Jones, who had led the fight to remove all state and local restrictions on African Americans, was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1871, the first black man to hold elective office in the state, and John W. E. Thomas of Chicago was elected to the state legislature in 1876."

'via Blog this'

The Fight for Women's Suffrage Photos — History.com Picture Galleries

Fight For Womens Suffrage

If only we could go back while our grandmother's were still alive to ask them their thoughts on the Women's Suffrage movement in America! Did they participate or following with an intense and passionate feeling for "Rights of All Women?"

We found this list of Suffrage and the Women Behind It that dates back to the Session of National Woman's Suffrage Association in Chicago, 1880. The campaign for women's suffrage began in the decades before the civil War, though. It gained momentum in the 1850's, led by abolitionist activists such as Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Alice Paul.

The Fight for Women's Suffrage Photos — History.com Picture Galleries

"Session of the National Woman's Suffrage Association in Chicago, 1880: The campaign for women's suffrage began in earnest in the decades before the Civil War. It gained momentum in the 1850s, led by abolitionist activists such as Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Alice Paul." - The Fight for Women's Suffrage Photos — History.com Picture Galleries:

WIC - Women's History in America

The Legal Status of Women

The myth of the natural inferiority of women greatly influenced the status of women in law. Under the common law of England, an unmarried woman could own property, make a contract, or sue and be sued. But a married woman, defined as being one with her husband, gave up her name, and virtually all her property came under her husband's control. During the early history of the United States, a man virtually owned his wife and children as he did his material possessions. If a poor man chose to send his children to the poorhouse, the mother was legally defenseless to object. Some communities, however, modified the common law to allow women to act as lawyers in the courts, to sue for property, and to own property in their own names if their husbands agreed. - WIC - Women's History in America

Constance Warwick & Bill McGill - Castle on the Hill, Alva, OK

Constance Warwick & Bill McGill - Castle on the Hill, Alva, OK, a photo by NWOkie on Flickr.

Alva Westside teachers 1907-08

Alva Westside teachers 1907-08, a photo by NWOkie on Flickr.

Check out these single women teachers at the westside teachers of 1907-08, in Alva, Woods county, Oklahoma.

nwstc class 1933 grads

nwstc class 1933 grads, a photo by NWOkie on Flickr.

My grandmother, Constance Estella Warwick McGill is in this photo.

OU. Ph. A. 1936-37

OU. Ph. A. 1936-37, a photo by NWOkie on Flickr.

OU. Ph. A. 1936-37
OU, Norman, OK, 1936-37 group of OU Pharmacy Assoc. Gene M McGill is 4th row, 4th from left, with the mustache.

Let Me Tell You A Story . . .

Long, Long ago in a rural and evil land, near the community of Evilwood, there lived a young innocent maiden that worked to bring lives together. Her name was Phebe and she had the heart of gold, which is why everyone tended to gather around her.

This did not set well with her ugly step-sisters who clamoured for the spotlight. The oldest step-sister was Assie and had a son that was a bit on the crazy side.  As most crazy sons, Gork, was easily manipulated by his mother to do her dirty work of wiping out those that overshined Assie.  He kept his semi-automatic rifle by his side constantly just for that occasion.

The youngest step-sister, Spos, lived in a dream world of her own where nothing affected anyone but her.  Spos was good at playing the victim even when she was not a victim.  That is how she got what she wanted. Spos, like Assie, had a son, Torr, that she could manipulate and use to bring fear to outsiders who did not favour his mother, Spos. Torr was of the same mindset, crazy like Gork.  They were both greedy and did not care whose toes they stepped on to get to the big dog stage of the game.  You know what I mean? Torr and Gork both insisted being armed with semi-automatic guns to scare innocent bystanders.

They fit right in to the rest of the citizens of Evilwood in a land far away.  The judge of that small community was known to dabble in gun running and selling unlawful semi-automatic guns with a local attorney of Evilwood.  So . . . you can kind of see where this might be headed, huh?

The crooked attorney manipulated the mindless gun-running judge with blackmail to get the outcome he wanted in court cases.  Citizens were too afraid to speak up against the attorney and judge for fear of retribution by the court.

The only person who did not fall into the fear tactics of Evilwood's kingpins was Phebe.  She was finding her voice and calling the evil doers out on everything and showing the facts to support her allegations. You can be sure that the evil doers of Evilwood had to take Phebe down a notch, but how do they accomplish that task?  Phebe kept bouncing back and occupying every thought the evil doers tried.  It was like the Phoenix rising from the ashes.

Stay tuned for the rest of the story at different intervals as they happen!

Grandma's Penny Postcard Collection

Grandma's Penny Postcard Collection, a set on Flickr.

These are just a few of the over hundreds of penny postcards that my Grandma Constance Estella Warwick McGill collected over her lifetime and have been passed down to me for historical safe-keeping.