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Collection · 63 photographs

Votes for women

The 1913 procession, the Silent Sentinels at the White House gates, and the campaign that won the Nineteenth Amendment.

Washington was where the campaign for a federal suffrage amendment was fought most visibly. On March 3, 1913, the day before Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration, thousands marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in the Woman Suffrage Procession organised by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, and an allegorical pageant was staged on the Treasury steps. The crowds that broke into the line and the police who failed to stop them made the march national news.

From January 1917 members of the National Woman’s Party picketed the White House, the first group ever to do so; many were arrested and jailed. Congress passed the Nineteenth Amendment in June 1919, and it became part of the Constitution in August 1920.

Women in white dresses and hats on stone steps
1913 Suffragists in white on the Capitol steps, 1913. The CapitolNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F81- 959 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A line of open motor cars with women and cloth banners on a tree-lined street
1913 Motor cars decked with banners, the first marked "Officers", line up for a 1913 woman suffrage motor parade to the Capitol. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 822 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A woman in a flowing costume with a shield stands on the steps of a colonnaded building
1913 Hedwig Reicher as Columbia on the Treasury steps, in the allegorical pageant staged during the 1913 suffrage procession. The TreasuryBain News Service, Library of Congress · LOT 11052-2 <item> · No known restrictions on publication
A sea of people filling a broad avenue with tall buildings behind
March 3, 1913 Crowds fill 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue before the suffrage procession of March 3, 1913. Pennsylvania AvenueNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LOT 12351-10 [item] [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women with banners and flags walking along a wet, reflecting street past buildings
March 3, 1913 Suffragists carrying banners march along a rain-soaked street on March 3, 1913, the day of the great suffrage procession. Around the cityNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LOT 12351-10 [item] [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women in white robes posed on the broad steps of the Treasury Building
March 3, 1913 Performers in white robes in a tableau on the Treasury steps during the 1913 suffrage pageant. The TreasuryBain News Service, Library of Congress · LC-B2- 2502-13 [P&P] LOT 11052-2 (Corresponding print) · No known restrictions on publication
Parade of women with banners on a wide avenue, Capitol dome far behind
March 3, 1913 Marchers in the suffrage procession on Pennsylvania Avenue, with the Capitol dome in the distance. Pennsylvania AvenueBain News Service, Library of Congress · LC-B2- 2504-13 [P&P] LOT 11052-2 (Corresponding print) · No known restrictions on publication
A huge dense crowd filling a city street
March 3, 1913 The crowd packing the street on March 3, 1913, the day of the suffrage procession, which broke into the line of march. Pennsylvania Avenue place probableBain News Service, Library of Congress · LC-B2- 2504-14 [P&P] LOT 11052-2 (Corresponding print) · No known restrictions on publication
Dense crowds filling a broad avenue, leaving a narrow lane for a parade
March 3, 1913 Crowds press in on the suffrage procession along Pennsylvania Avenue, March 3, 1913. Pennsylvania AvenueNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F81- 3937A [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women on horseback and on foot lead a parade with banners down a wide avenue toward the Capitol dome
March 3, 1913 The head of the Woman Suffrage Procession on Pennsylvania Avenue, March 3, 1913, with mounted marshals, banners and the Capitol beyond. Pennsylvania AvenueBain News Service, Library of Congress · LOT 11052-2 [item] [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A woman in a long white cape and crown sitting on a white horse among spectators
March 3, 1913 Inez Milholland, in a white cape on a white horse, at the suffrage procession of March 3, 1913. Pennsylvania AvenueBain News Service, Library of Congress · LOT 11052-2 [item] [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women in white putting up a large poster announcing a suffrage procession
1914 Suffragists paste up posters for the "Votes for Women" procession from Lafayette Square to the Capitol, 1914. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 3457 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A line of women carrying banners walking along a tree-lined avenue
1914 Suffragists march with banners, one reading "Connecticut", along the street by the White House in 1914. The White House and Lafayette SquareHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 3458 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A woman on a dark horse beside women in white holding a large lettered banner
1914 Juliet Rublee sits on horseback among suffragists in white with a banner demanding passage of the Bristow-Mondell amendment, 1914. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 3887 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Hundreds of women in white gathered on the Capitol's steps
1914 Suffragists in white fill the Capitol steps, 1914. The CapitolHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 3901 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A crowd of women holding a banner under bare trees
February 1914 Suffragists with a banner at the White House, February 1914. The White House and Lafayette SquareNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F81- 1054A [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women in white dresses carrying garlands march past streetcars
May 1914 Women in white with garlands march in the suffrage parade of May 1914, past streetcars on a downtown street. Pennsylvania Avenue place probableHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 3880-B [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
An open car completely covered in flowers in a street
May 1914 A motor car smothered in flowers in the suffrage parade of May 1914. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 3882 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A woman on a dark horse with suffrage banners behind
May 1914 A mounted marshal and banners in the suffrage parade of May 1914. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 3888 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A horse-drawn wagon with a big lettered banner on a street
May 1914 A wagon carrying a large suffrage banner in the parade of May 1914. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 3898 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women holding banners at the White House gates
c. 1909–20 Suffragists picket the White House gates with banners. The White House and Lafayette SquareNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F81- 3648 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Three women holding banners on a street corner in front of a large stone building
c. 1909–20 Suffrage pickets with banners stand outside the Senate Office Building. The CapitolNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F81- 3874 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A procession of women in white dresses on a city street
1915 Women in white march in a suffrage parade, 1915. Around the cityNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F81- 44568A [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A woman in a long coat and hat beside a lettered banner at a building's rounded doorway
c. 1910–20 A suffragist stands guard beside a lettered banner at the doorway of the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H25- 912 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women in long coats and sashes holding American flags on a city sidewalk
c. 1910–20 Suffrage pickets in sashes stand with American flags and banners outside a row of townhouses. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H25- 2224 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A horse-drawn omnibus decorated with flags and a large pageant sign by a tree
c. 1915–16 A horse-drawn car hung with flags and placards advertises the suffragists' Susan B. Anthony Pageant at Convention Hall, around 1915. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 6125 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A long line of women with flags curving across a wide plaza, cars and trees beyond
1916 A long column of suffragists with flags winds across the Capitol plaza in their 1916 march on Congress, watched by onlookers and mounted police. The CapitolHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 6141 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Two women in sashes beside a large lettered banner at an ornate gateway
1917 Suffragists stand at a gate in June 1917 with a banner addressed "To the Envoys of Russia", accusing President Wilson of deceiving them. The White House and Lafayette Square place uncertainNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F81- 44560A [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women and police officers at the gate of the White House grounds
1917 Suffragists at the White House gate, 1917. The White House and Lafayette SquareNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F81- 44562A [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A large group of women on the broad steps of the Capitol
1917 Suffragists gathered on the Capitol steps, 1917. The CapitolNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F81- 44563A [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A group of women in hats and sashes holding a banner on stone steps
1917 Pennsylvania suffragists who joined the White House pickets, 1917, with their sashes and banner. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 3998 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A procession of women with banners filing up the broad steps of the Capitol
1917 Suffragists in white and dark robes climb the Capitol steps carrying tall banners, 1917. The CapitolHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 6607 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women with sashes and striped banners lined up before a building, one holding a placard
1917 Suffragists with tricolour banners leave their headquarters in 1917 carrying a placard: "Mr. President, how long must women wait for liberty." Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 6795 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women in long coats carrying placards across a street corner past shop signs
1917 Suffragists parade through downtown with placards inviting the public to "Come to White House Sunday at 3," 1917. Downtown and F Street place uncertainHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 7104 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women with banners and umbrellas marching on a wet, reflective street
1917 Suffragists with tricolour banners and umbrellas march along a rain-soaked street in 1917, their reflections shining on the wet pavement. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 7116 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women in long coats beside banners for Minnesota suffrage groups at a curved doorway
1917 Minnesota suffragists stand with lettered banners at the doorway of the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage headquarters, 1917. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 7128 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A woman in a white hat and sash beside a banner reading DEMOCRACY SHOULD BEGIN AT HOME
1917 Mrs. Swing, a suffrage picket at the White House in 1917, stands beside a banner reading "Democracy should begin at home." The White House and Lafayette SquareHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 8969 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A large crowd of men in straw hats gathered before a gate under tall trees
1917 A crowd of men in straw boaters masses outside the White House gate during a suffrage disturbance in 1917. The White House and Lafayette SquareHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 8981 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A dense crowd of men in straw boaters outside a stone gatepost and iron fence
1917 A crowd of men and boys in straw hats mills outside a gateway during the woman suffrage riots of 1917. The White House and Lafayette Square place probableHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 9327 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A woman in a long coat holding up a lettered banner
1917 A suffragist holds a banner addressed to the President, 1917. The White House and Lafayette Square place probableHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 9657 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women with banners walking past a fountain and trees
1917 Women of the National Woman's Party march in a picket parade, 1917. The White House and Lafayette Square place probableHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 10098 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women in long coats and sashes holding protest banners on a sidewalk by an iron fence
1917 Suffrage pickets in sashes hold banners addressed to "Mr. President" beside a gatepost on the White House fence, 1917. The White House and Lafayette Square place probableHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 12065 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A crowd with mounted policemen on a plaza, women wearing sashes, a domed library behind
1917 Mounted police move among a crowd of women in sashes and men on the Capitol plaza, April 2, 1917. The CapitolHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 2927 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Three women in white with sashes and banners standing before an iron gate
1917 Three Congressional Union pickets in white with sashes stand with banners at the White House gate in 1917. The White House and Lafayette SquareHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H27- A-361 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Two women standing in front of a townhouse with flags
1918 The National Woman's Party headquarters on Lafayette Square, 1918, with women at the door under the party's flag. The White House and Lafayette SquareHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 24300 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women in white with banners gathered on a statue's base above a crowd of onlookers
1918 Suffragists in white with tall banners stage a demonstration at the foot of a statue before a large crowd, 1918. The White House and Lafayette Square place probableHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 29663 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women in white dresses with striped banners standing at the base of a bronze statue
1918 Suffrage demonstrators in white stand with banners at the base of the Lafayette statue in 1918. The White House and Lafayette SquareHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 29671 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women in white with banners grouped around a large statue
1918 Suffragists with banners at the Lafayette statue in Lafayette Square, 1918. The White House and Lafayette SquareHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 29672 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Two women holding a long banner with a printed protest message in front of a building
1918 Two suffragists hold a banner protesting against the "thirty-four wilful senators" who delayed the vote for women, 1918. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 29728 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women beside a small fire on the pavement in front of the White House fence
1918 Suffragists keep a bonfire burning on the pavement in front of the White House, 1918. The White House and Lafayette SquareHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 29861 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A crowd around a large statue in a park
1918 Suffrage demonstrators gather at the Lafayette statue in Lafayette Square, 1918. The White House and Lafayette SquareHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 30164 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women in white with banners on the Capitol steps
c. 1918–20 Suffragists with banners at the Capitol, about 1919. The CapitolNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 3142 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A row of women in hats and sashes standing among tall columns
1919 Suffragists on the Capitol steps, 1919, the year Congress passed the Nineteenth Amendment. The CapitolHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 30380 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A horse-drawn wagon with big lettered signs surrounded by men in overcoats
1919 A horse-drawn suffrage bus, its signs announcing a "monster mass meeting" at the Belasco Theatre to welcome envoys of the women voters, draws a crowd in 1919. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 30674 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A long low brick prison with chimneys behind bare trees and rough grass
c. 1915–23 The Washington Jail, where ninety-seven members of the National Woman's Party served terms for picketing the White House. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H27- A-90 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women in summer dresses below flags on a building
1920 Suffragists gather at their headquarters as the ratification banner is raised, 1920. The White House and Lafayette Square place probableNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 9339 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women on a balcony hanging a large banner while a crowd watches below
1920 Women of the National Woman's Party unfurl their tricolour banner from the balcony of their headquarters on Lafayette Square to mark the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, 1920. The White House and Lafayette Square place probableNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 9340 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A woman on a balcony hanging a starred banner while women below raise their arms
1920 Alice Paul unfurls the ratification banner from the balcony of the Woman's Party headquarters as suffragists cheer below, after Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify in August 1920. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H27- A-1112 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women in coats beside a smoking urn on the steps of a house with a large flag
January 7, 1920 National Woman's Party members tend a fire outside their headquarters, January 7, 1920, part of their "watchfire" protests. The White House and Lafayette Square place uncertainNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 6344 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Six women holding a lettered banner under a doorway marked National Woman's Party
June 2, 1920 Suffragists hold a banner quoting Susan B. Anthony beneath the National Woman's Party sign, June 2, 1920. Around the cityNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 8181 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
People around a large crate with a sculpture visible inside at a stone archway
February 5, 1921 The crated Suffrage Memorial, Adelaide Johnson's sculpture of Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, arrives at the Capitol, February 1921. The CapitolNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 11907 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A wrapped statue on a wooden ramp beside scaffolding at a columned building
February 12, 1921 The suffrage memorial statue is hauled up a timber ramp on the Capitol's east front, February 12, 1921. The Capitol place probableNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F81- 11995 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Women in sashes and hats walking along a street
c. 1923–29 Members of the National Woman's Party in sashes walk along a city pavement, 1920s. Around the cityHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H27- A-9393 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

Other collections: Streetcars, motor cars and wagons · The war years, 1917–1919 · Parades, inaugurations and ceremonies · Building the monumental city · The cherry trees and the parks · Union Station and the railways · Daily life