She Changed the World Sponsorship/A little GFWC-NC Suffrage History

Federation Friday: Volume 2, Issue 28 - January 10, 2020

She Changed the World: 

North Carolina Women Breaking Barriers 

The GFWC of North Carolina is proud to announce their sponsorship of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ (NCDCR) new initiative: She Changed the World: North Carolina Women Breaking Barriers. 

In August 2020, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, establishing women’s constitutional right to vote. Many early members of GFWC-NC were involved in the suffrage movement. Although this milestone did not end the struggle for voting rights, it represents a historic turning point. Across our state, this important initiative will celebrate North Carolina women. Check out the website to learn more about the program. Make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom to see a familiar logo and watch the video which features one of our very own members, Julia Carpenter. 

One special feature of She Changed the World is the traveling display of historical women’s suffrage documents. Assembled by the State Archives, the exhibit includes the original copy of the 19th Amendment sent to NC for ratification. Take a moment to review the schedule so you can be sure to see it in person. 

  • January 29, 2020, Southern Pines Public Library 
  • February 29, 2020, Morganton Public Library 
  • March 6, 2020, Alamance Community College, Graham 
  • April 18, 2020, Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum 
  • May 16, 2020, Edgecombe County Memorial Library 
  • June 6, 2020, Pack Memorial Library, Asheville 
  • July 25, 2020, Bennett College, Greensboro 
  • August 22, 2020, Scotland County Memorial Library 
  • Sept. 26, 2020, Caswell County Public Library, Yanceyville 
  • October 2020, Date tbd, Museum of the Albemarle 

Follow NCDCR on social media to learn more about important women along with special events and programs throughout 2020.


GFWC-NC History 

In 1902, The North Carolina Federation of Women’s Clubs was organized and over time many GFWC-NC members became supporters of the suffrage movement to grant women the right to vote. 

On March 3, 1913, 5,000 to 8,000 suffragists marched in a parade on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., drawing people away from the arrival of newly elected President Woodrow Wilson. They were mobbed and harassed as they marched. 

On May 8, 1913, North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice and women’s suffrage activist Walter McKenzie Clark addressed the Federation of Women’s Clubs in New Bern. In this speech, Clark compared the treatment of women to slavery. In 1915, Clark wrote a dissenting judicial opinion defending the rights of women to be notaries public and called for broader political rights for women. He made this argument again in his 1916 address, “Ballots for Both.” 

On May 10, 1913, the largest suffrage parade to date, was held in New York City, and included 500 men. 

In 1914, the first meeting of the Equal Suffrage League of NC, formed in 1894 in Ashville, was held in Charlotte. 

 All the best in 2020 as we celebrate Women and GFWC-NC! 

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