It’s not often that nationwide television takes on the 72-year campaign for Votes for Women in the U.S. So when this happens, there’s a buzz that has people talking about the upcoming September 20, 2011 segment of “History Detectives” (8-9 ET, PBS).
Yvonne Crumlish of Maryland has been curious for the past 30 years about a suffrage pennant that belonged to her paternal grandmother, Addie Blemly. Yvonne’s father gave her Addie’s pennant, but it remained stored away until curiosity finally compelled Yvonne to contact “History Detectives.” Broadcast staff picked up the pennant and ran with it.
Was Yvonne’s grandmother involved in the suffrage movement in upstate New York where she lived all her life? If so, what got her involved? What did the pennant mean? Yvonne said grandmother Addie never mentioned anything about the movement, and when her father gave her the Votes for Women pennant as a treasured family heirloom, Grandmother wasn’t around to explain.
Historian and author Louise Bernikow is one of the historical consultants for the “History Detectives” segment, and the opportunity for much-needed national exposure about the Votes for Women movement has Louse organizing watching parties. That’s how much Votes for Women history excites and motivates her to spread the word.
Bernikow comments on the History Detectives segment. She tells suffrage stories and shares some provocative perspectives about the movement which can be found on “Votes for Women Salon” in three and four minute audio clips. This audio featured on the Suffrage Wagon News Channel addresses such topics as the significance of the New York State women winning the vote in 1917, myths about the suffrage movement, as well as surprising facts about the campaign that took 72 years and involved tens of thousands of women across the nation.
Louise Bernikow notes that suffrage history doesn’t get the exposure it deserves when compared to other civil rights movements. That’s why she’s set up a Facebook page for the History Detectives September 20th program, and she’s settled in to devote herself to more extensive research about the Votes for Women movement at a time when suffrage centennials are underway in the West. Washington State’s suffrage centennial is over. California’s is underway. And Oregon is gearing up for 2012. Women in the western states voted before others in the nation.