OPB Radio’s Think Out Loud program recently aired a show on Aug. 26 focused on “The Political Power of Women“:

    You’ll hear it all over the press this week: ninety years ago women across the United States won the right to vote. This came, of course, after a decades-long suffragist movement and after a slow progression of women gaining rights, state by state. In Oregon, women were actually granted the right to vote eight years before the 19th Amendment was ratified on August 26, 1920. To a large extent this was thanks to local activist Abigail Scott Duniway. . . .

This show did not feature a representative of Century of Action (CoA), but the conversation and online comments relate directly to many of the topics that the CoA project is covering. Also, CoA Project Director Jan Dilg posted a comment.

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Three recent news items on the the most recent proposal to secure funding for the Oregon Historical Society and other heritage institutions in Multnomah County:

Steve Law, “Historical society may ask voters for tax levy,” Portland Tribune, Aug. 12, 2010.

Sarah Mirk, “HState History Museum Will Run Out of Cash in 2011, Pitches Tax to Stay Afloat,” Portland Mercury’s Blogtown, Aug. 13, 2010.

Sarah Mirk, “Historical Society Tax Will Head to Ballot: Is Our History Worth $10 a Year?,” Portland Mercury’s Blogtown, Aug. 19, 2010.

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Take 1 octagonal barn, 1 suffrage lecturer, 2 venerable women political figures, 15 Suffrage Players, and 161 history enthusiasts and you get one packed, fun, sing-along educational evening at the Century of Action-Oregon Encyclopedia History night at McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse July 20th. Kimberly Jensen provided an engaging illustrated overview of Oregon woman suffrage history, The Oregonian’s David Sarasohn made a fine acerbic town hall moderator, and Washington County Auditor elect John Hutzler embodied the Men’s Equal Suffrage League leader William “Pike” Davis with aplomb.

In addition to learning about how Oregon women got the right to vote in Oregon in 1912, we had shining examples of the important contributions women have made to the state in the century since then. Joining the festivities were former Secretary of State, and COA Advisory Board co-chair Norma Paulus, and former Oregon Supreme Court Justice, and COA Advisory Board member, Betty Roberts. Also attending the event were former state Senator Jane Cease, and former Multnomah County Commissioner Tanya Collier. Current state Rep. Mitch Greenlick not only attended, but joined with more than 30 supporters at the event who collectively donated over $2500 to the Northwest History Network’s Century of Action project! Thanks to all the NHN Associates who have donated funds to the Century of Action project; almost one third of the project’s donors have been NHNers.

The success of this event was made possible by many NHN Associates who participated behind, or in front of, the scene: Andrew Bryans, Eliza Canty-Jones, Jan Dilg, Kim Jensen, Heather Mayer, Rebecca Ortenberg, Liz Paulus, Amy Platt, Sandy Polishuk, Sara Stroman, Emily Stuckman, Mary Margaret Wheeler Weber, and Morgen Young! And thanks to the many NHN Associates who attended the event and cheered and sang along!

For a glimpse at some of the festivities go to the Century of Action Facebook Page or see the YouTube video below. Thanks to Todd Jarvis for recording the event.

 

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