The Nineteenth Amendment

Votes for Women.

Combine one of my favorite cites in the United States, Newport, Rhode Island… with the Nineteenth Amendment… and you get Votes for Women.

Many years ago, my husband gave me a gift of six Votes for Women place settings that he purchased at the famous Marble House in Newport. I had seen the original service in the pantry of the Marble House while touring it with a group of my high school students. I loved the service, and I wanted my own children to see the pieces and know the significance of the Suffrage Movement. Of course, the originals are priceless… used in 1909 at a Suffrage open house at Alva Vanderbilt Belmont’s Tea House on the Marble House property… but fortunately for me, The Preservation Society of Newport County offered adaptations of the originals.

Over the years, my service has grown to twelve place settings, a teapot and accessories. I use this service every day. And each day, I honor the women who fought, debated, spoke for and realized Votes for Women. The commitment to these votes is something that we can never take for granted.

Study the issues. Learn about the candidates. Vote. For women, for men, for our world… and especially for our children.

�

The Nineteenth Amendment was last modified: February 9th, 2010 by Sharon Couto
SHOWHIDE Comments (6)

  1. There is a lot of wisdom in your words. I just caution everyone not to get caught up in the big elections (ie: President) and remember to learn about your local candidates and vote in those elections as well.

  4. Well said! It is hard to believe that women in the United States have not even had the vote for 100 years yet…. These women went through a lot to win the vote for us.

  5. I love those settings! What a great reminder. I’ve voted in every single election since I turned 18 (I turned 18 in 2000, so that was a big one!), even the local elections, because it’s so important.

  6. Sharon, as you know, I was born on November 7, 1952. My Mom raised me with the importance of voting, illustrating that important lesson with her story of voting in the Presidential election two days before I was born. In a torrential downpour. Wearing my father’s slippers to walk across the street to West Side School, their voting venue. She admonished me never to bypass the primaries. “You have to get your man in.” This was a different era.

    I registered as soon as I could at eighteen and have never missed an election since.

    Women’s suffrage seems an eternity ago, 1920, but let us not forget it was only our mothers’ generation. My Mom was born in 1922, only two years later, and I know you Mom did not follow herfar behind. Not that long.

    Votes for Women!

The Nineteenth Amendment was last modified: February 9th, 2010 by Sharon Couto