Bullock Museum commemorates suffrage centennial with symposium, gallery installation

JUNE 25, 2019 (AUSTIN, TX) — The Bullock Texas State History Museum will commemorate the centennial of Texas' ratification of the 19th Amendment with a symposium on Friday, June 28 at 7 pm. The free program coincides with the Museum's newly unveiled gallery, Sister Suffragists, featuring artifacts and media highlighting the suffrage movement in Texas and the United States.

"Thousands of Texas women worked tirelessly to earn the right to exercise equal power in the voting booth," said Bullock Museum Deputy Director of Interpretation Kate Betz. "This gallery and its related programs tell the story of the fight for women's suffrage as well as fights for equality beyond the right to vote."  

Beginning as early as the 1850s, women had been working to end state laws restricting female suffrage. On June 28, 1919, Texas became the ninth state to ratify the amendment that would become the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. In August 1920, the amendment received final ratification, finally granting women in the U.S. the right to vote. 

To mark the centennial anniversary of the amendment's ratification in Texas, the Bullock Museum will host a free symposium on Friday, June 28 from 7 to 9 pm. The program will explore the movement leading up to women's suffrage, provide historical context for this era of Texas history, and highlight issues of continuing relevance today. Panelists include Jessica Brannon-Wranosky, Distinguished Professor of Digital Humanities and History at Texas A&M University-Commerce, Rachel Gunter, Professor of History at Collin College in Plano, and Celina Stewart, Director of Advocacy and Litigation at the League of Women Voters.

During the program, attendees will have the opportunity to explore the Museum's newly unveiled gallery space, Sister Suffragists. The collection features rare scrapbooks, speeches, letters, posters, pamphlets and cartoons, as well as a selection of textiles that demonstrate the changing roles of women in American society. Visitors can also dive deeper into the suffrage movement and equal rights for women with interactive multimedia. 

"Understanding the story of this ongoing struggle is critical to understanding the story of our state, and the value of commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. We celebrate all the Texas women who continue to shape our state's history," said Betz.

For more information about the Suffrage Centennial: Texas Women and the Right to Vote symposium on June 28 or the Sister Suffragists gallery, visit TheStoryofTexas.com.

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Sponsored by Texas A&M University-Commerce with additional support by the Texas Bar Foundation and Texas State History Museum Foundation.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-COMMERCE 
Located in beautiful Northeast Texas and founded in 1889, A&M-Commerce is one of the oldest universities in the state. Our vision is to transform lives by providing a relevant, personalized education to diverse learners; advance knowledge and pursue impactful research; serve an inclusive community where all are valued; and foster collaboration to solve contemporary problems.

ABOUT THE TEXAS BAR FOUNDATION 
Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $20 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation's largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

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​​The Bullock Texas State History Museum, a division of the State Preservation Board and an accredited institution of the American Alliance of Museums, creates experiences that educate, engage, and encourage a deeper understanding of Texas. With dynamic, award-winning exhibitions that illuminate Texas history, people, and culture, educational programming for all ages, and an IMAX® theater with a screen the size of Texas, the Museum collaborates with more than 700 museums, libraries, archives, organizations, and individuals across the world to bring the Story of Texas to life. For more information, visit www.TheStoryofTexas.com or call (866)369-7108.

The Bullock Texas State History Museum is a division of the Texas State Preservation Board. Additional support for educational programming provided by the Texas State History Museum Foundation.