NWP

Library of Congress

A group of women and men from the National Woman’s Party (NWP) can be seen picketing President Woodrow Wilson outside of the International Amphitheater in Chicago, where he was delivering a speech.  The NWP, founded in 1913, helped raise national awareness about the woman’s suffrage campaign and the 19th Amendment.  This was achieved through traditional petitioning and lobbying but also through more public activities.  The NWP held parades, pageants, street speeches, and demonstrations to draw attention.  For months, the NWP even picketed the White House. 

"Broadside published by the National Woman's Party describing the need to picket the Wilson White House to bring attention to the women's suffrage amendment. On the bottom is an RSVP slip to be mailed to Irish Calderhead regarding a picket at the White House on September 1."

Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Alice Paul of Moorestown, New Jersey, was appointed chairman of the Congressional Committee of the National American Woman Suffrage Association in 1913, and went on to head the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage and the NWP. She served six prison terms for woman suffrage, including three in England and three in the United States. She was sentenced to seven months in October 1917 for picketing and served five weeks before being released on account of her condition from hunger striking. In August 1918 she was sentenced to 10 days for participation in Lafayette Square meeting, and in January 1919, to five days for lighting a watchfire. Source: Doris Stevens, Jailed for Freedom (New York: Boni and Liveright, 1920), 366.

Image printed in The Suffragist, 3, no. 52 (Dec. 25, 1915), 6. Captioned: "Miss Alice Paul."

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Lucy Burns, of New York City, who with Alice Paul established the first permanent headquarters for suffrage work in Washington, D.C., helped organize the suffrage parade of Mar. 3, 1913, and was one of the editors of The Suffragist. Leader of most of the picket demonstrations, she served more time in jail than any other suffragists in America. Arrested picketing June 1917, sentenced to 3 days; arrested Sept. 1917, sentenced to 60 days; arrested Nov. 10, 1917, sentenced to 6 months; in Jan. 1919 arrested at watchfire demonstrations, for which she served one 3 day and two 5 day sentences. She also served 4 prison terms in England. Burns was one of the speakers on the "Prison Special" tour of Feb-Mar 1919. Source: Doris Stevens, Jailed for Freedom (New York: Boni and Liveright, 1920), 356.

1917

Library of Congress 

Suffragists from the National Women's Party holding up sign in front of the White House that reads "'We shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest to our hearts-for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their government.' President Wilson's war message. April 2nd 1917."

c. 1917

Barnard Archives and Special Collections Barnard College and Columbia University

Women march through Washington, DC advertising the protest at the US Capitol on Sunday.

1917

Library of Congress

1917

Library of Congress

1917

Library of Congress

Women suffragists picketing in front of the White house. Ca 1917

Taken August 1917

Library of Congress

Taken October 20, 1917

Library of Congress