As the election draws closer, the Johnson County Museum of History is planning two ways to celebrate county and Hoosier women during the 100th anniversary year of women’s suffrage.
This weekend, the museum, in partnership with the Johnson County Public Library, is hosting a talk by Anita Morgan, a senior history lecturer at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Her presentation is titled “Motors and Mass Rallies: Expanding the Movement After 1909.”
Morgan will share her research on how Hoosier women organized the state suffragette movement with the help of, then, emerging technologies and political tactics, said David Pfeiffer, county museum director.
The event is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, at the museum, 135 N. Main St., Franklin. Only a few seats are left for the limited capacity event, and those who want to attend are asked to reserve a seat in advance due to coronavirus-related safety precautions, Pfeiffer said.
Beginning Oct. 29, the museum will debut an exhibit titled, “Fighting to be Heard: The Women’s Suffrage Movement,” which will feature stories, information and artifacts about Hoosier and Johnson County women who were important to the movement.
The new exhibit will also celebrate some of Johnson County’s earliest female elected officials and also-rans. The first woman to appear on a Johnson County ballot was Gertrude Miller, who narrowly lost her bid for county treasurer in 1920, Pfeiffer said.
The first woman to win an elected office in Johnson County was Zelia Keay Webb, who became county recorder in 1922. She was appointed to the office earlier to serve as interim recorder after her husband fell ill, but was elected for her own term in 1922, he said.
Both the event and exhibit will shed light on the lesser-known history of women’s suffrage and go beyond the short version taught in history classes, Pfeiffer said.
The more in-depth look for the exhibit took hours of research by museum staff, who pored over books and public records, he said.
“Historians love a good anniversary and this is a great way to show a story that people don’t know all of, or just know the bare bones,” Pfeiffer said.
To reserve a seat for Morgan’s talk, call the museum at 317-436-4500, or email Michelle Cataldi at [email protected].
The museum will host an opening for the exhibit from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 29, and the exhibit will remain open through the spring.
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“Motors and Mass Rallies: Expanding the Movement After 1909”
What: Talk by Anita Morgan, senior history lecturer at IUPUI, on how Hoosier women have applied innovative political strategies and technologies to win their fight for suffrage
When: 1:30 p.m. Oct. 3
Where: 135 N. Main St., Franklin
RSVP: To reserve a seat for Morgan’s talk call the museum at 317-436-4500 or email Michelle Cataldi at [email protected].
“Fighting to be Heard: The Women’s Suffrage Movement”
What: Exhibit showcasing how Johnson County and Hoosier women contributed to the suffragette movement
When: Opening 6-8 p.m. Oct. 29; open through Spring 2021
Where: 135 N. Main St., Franklin
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