February 15th is Susan B. Anthony's Birthday

Dear Friends,

Today, February 15th, is the anniversary of Susan B. Anthony's birthday. As many of you know, Susan B. Anthony, an iconic representation of the woman suffrage movement, dedicated her life to women's rights, most especially working to expand women's citizenship by winning the right to vote.

In 2010, we are celebrating the 90th anniversary of the hard-won victory which resulted in the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution. The 72 year campaign to win women's right to vote was described by Carrie Chapman Catt, the last president of the National American Woman Suffrage Movement when she wrote...millions of dollars were raised, hundred of women gave the accumulated possibilities of an entire lifetime, thousands gave years of their lives, and hundreds of thousand gave constant interest and such aid as they could.

Young suffragist who helped forge the last links of that chain were not born when it began. Old suffragist who forged the fist link were dead when it ended.

As important as it is to honor Susan B. Anthony, it is equally important to honor all the women and men who work and have worked to make this country a more perfect union.

The accomplished and nationally-recognized poet and author, Lucille Clifton passed away last week, but she, like Anthony, knew that when people of good purpose worked together Failure is Impossible.

Clifton also knew the power of naming and in one of her poems, she wrote:

I need to know their names
those women I would have walked with...
all those women who could have known me.
Where in the world are their names?

In celebration of the lives of Susan B. Anthony, Lucille Clifton, and countless others, please consider visiting the extraordinary website, HerStory Scrapbook (http://www.herstoryscrapbook.com/).

Each day it pays tribute to a different woman who has worked for justice and who believed that Failure is Impossible. This month in honor of Black History Month, Black suffragists are featured.

For more women's history information, resources, or materials visit our website www.nwhp.org.

Sincerely,
Molly Murphy MacGregor
Executive Director and Cofounder