The Maryland Woman Suffrage Association (MWSA) was a woman's suffrage organization in Maryland, USA, founded in 1889.

About

The MWSA was created to fight for women's suffrage in Maryland.[1] Carolyn Hallowell Miller started the group on January 11, 1889.[2][3] The group included both men and women.[4] MWSA met in members' homes and worked to plan statewide conventions and conferences.[1]

The first president was Miller, though only for a short time. She was followed by Mary Bentley Thomas.[2][5] In 1902, MWSA opened a headquarters in Baltimore.[2] In 1904, Emma Maddox Funck became president.[6] MWSA invited the National American Woman Suffrage Association to hold its 1906 conference in Baltimore.[1]

In 1910, MWSA worked closely with Elizabeth King Ellicott and presented a bill for suffrage for all to the Maryland House of Delegates.[7] The bill was soundly rejected by the delegates.[7] In 1911, there was a split in the group, with some leaving MWSA to form the State Equal Franchise League of Maryland.[8] MWSA continued to provide an amendment for women's suffrage in the Maryland Constitution in 1912, 1914 and 1916, with no success.[1]

Notable members

References

  1. ^ a b c d Schaefer, Kate Murphy. "Maryland Woman Suffrage Association, 1867–1920(?)". Biographical Database of NAWSA Suffragists, 1890–1920 – via Alexander Street.
  2. ^ a b c Weatherford, Doris, ed. (2004). A History of Women in the United States : State-by-state Reference. Danbury, Connecticut: Grolier Academic Reference. pp. 167-168. ISBN 0-7172-5805-X. OCLC 52631499 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ Farquhar, William Henry; Moore, Eliza Needles; Miller, Rebecca Thomas; Thomas, Mary Moore; Kirk, Annie B. (1909). Annals of Sandy Spring or Fourteen Years' History of a Rural Community in Maryland. Vol. 3. Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. Baltimore: Cushings & Bailey. pp. 172 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ "Sandy Spring". Evening Star. January 24, 1895. p. 10. Retrieved January 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "Demand the Right to Vote". The Baltimore Sun. January 7, 1906. p. 8. Retrieved January 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Spiegelman, Hannah. "Biography of Emma Maddox Funck, 1853-1940". Biographical Database of NAWSA Suffragists, 1890-1920 – via Alexander Street.
  7. ^ a b Miyagawa, Sharon (2014). "Elizabeth King Ellicott (1858-1914)". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  8. ^ "Third Suffrage League". The Baltimore Sun. September 22, 1911. p. 14. Retrieved January 13, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.


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