Women’s Suffrage – The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote nationally on August 26, 1920. As a result, we recognize women’s suffrage throughout the month of August and pay tribute in Missouri by honoring women and women’s equality with these special events.

 Western Missouri

• The Kansas City Library’s Missouri Valley Special Collection presents this year’s Women Who Made History history-themed coloring book. This edition highlights the extraordinary women who helped shape Kansas City into what is today. Download the booklet here.
• Join the League of Women Voters of Kansas City/Jackson-Clay-Platte Counties for its monthly meeting, Women’s Equality Week – The Struggle Continues on Saturday, August 14, 2021. With a recognition of August being the month Women’s Equality Week is celebrated, Alice Kitchen will introduce speakers on three topics relating to women’s equality. Councilwoman Ryana Parks Shaw will speak on Pay Equity in Kansas City, Erica Benson (Project 28A) will speak on what is happening with the ERA in the Senate, and Gail James will speak about the elimination of discrimination in the municipalities. Join at 9:30 a.m. for social time. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m.. The event is available via Zoom. Please visit the website for more details.

Central Missouri

• From March 14 to July 25, 2020, the Missouri Historic Costume and Textile Collection at the University of Missouri exhibited “Missouri Women: Suffrage to Statecraft.” This exhibit highlighted trailblazing women in Missouri politics from early suffrage to the present day. While not currently on display, the exhibit is documented in full on the Collection’s website. 

Eastern Missouri

• Visit the Missouri History Museum for a special exhibit, “Beyond the Ballot – St. Louis and Suffrage.” Women, often portrayed as secondary characters in the city’s formation, were actually key to the establishment, survival, and growth of St. Louis. This exhibit showcases women who made an impact in St. Louis before gaining the vote in 1920. This exhibit will be available for the entire month of August and is free to the public. For more information, please visit the website.
• Help raise funds to support the League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis at its virtual Theater Party, “Tea for Three: Lady Bird, Pat & Betty.” This special event takes place August 29, 2021, at 2 p.m. Gather with a group of friends in your home, but each must have a ticket.  We will be showing the performance in the League office for people who have purchased a ticket and are vaccinated. Space in the office is limited to fifteen people, so let us know when you purchase your ticket if you plan to come to the office to watch. Afternoon Tea will include a variety of tea and goodies. Recipes used to bake the goodies are those that were used by the First Ladies in the White House. There will be an opportunity to talk with the actors via Zoom at 3:30 p.m. following the performance. Tickets start at $60. For more information, please visit the website. 
• The Professional Women’s Alliance of St. Louis presents the August 2021 Signature Speaker Series. This special event takes place on August 11 beginning at 11 a.m. at Fleming’s Prime Steak House. Melissa joined the Art Museum in 2015 as curator and head of the Department of American Art. She oversaw an extensive reinterpretation of the museum’s American art galleries that opened in 2016. For more information or to preregister for this special event, please visit online.

Find out more about important events from women's history and issues important to women today:

• The Archive Research Catalog of the National Archives is a useful resource for historical information, records, and images of significant women’s events throughout time.
• The History Channel details the struggle for women's suffrage, along with stories on Elizabeth Cody Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and other pioneering women in America.