Margaret Fay Whittemore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret Fay Whittemore
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Margaret Whittemore, 1925
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| Born | May 14, 1884 Chicago, Illinois
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| Died | December 2, 1937 (aged 52–53) Santa Barbara, California
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Suffragist |
Margaret Fay Whittemore (1884–1937) was an American suffragist. A suffragist was someone who worked hard to get women the right to vote. Margaret Whittemore believed that women should have the same voting rights as men.
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Who Was Margaret Whittemore?
Margaret Fay Whittemore was an important woman who fought for women's rights in the early 1900s. She was a key part of the movement that helped women gain the right to vote in the United States. This movement is known as the women's suffrage movement.
Early Life and Family
Margaret Fay Whittemore was born on May 14, 1884, in Evanston, Illinois. Her grandmother was Eliza Seaman Leggett, who was also a Quaker suffragist. This means that fighting for women's rights was something that ran in her family.
Fighting for Women's Vote
Margaret Whittemore was very active in the suffrage movement. In 1912, she joined a group called the Equal Suffrage League of Wayne County. This was just the beginning of her work.
In 1914, she joined the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage (CU). Later, she became a member of the National Woman's Party (NWP). These groups were dedicated to getting a federal amendment passed. A federal amendment would give all women across the country the right to vote.
In 1915, Margaret helped set up branches of the Congressional Union in California, Michigan, and Ohio. Her sister-in-law, Marjorie Miller Whittemore, even became the head of the Michigan branch of the National Woman's Party.
Protesting for Change
Through the NWP, Margaret worked to get women the right to vote in western states. These states included Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. She was very dedicated to her cause.
In 1917, Margaret and other suffragists protested in front of the White House. They were trying to get President Wilson's attention. For their protest, she was arrested and spent three days in jail.
In 1918, she led a campaign in Idaho. She tried to convince Senator William Borah to support the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This amendment would finally give women the right to vote across the country. Even though she worked hard, she was not successful in convincing him at that time.
After the Vote Was Won
Women finally won the right to vote in 1920 with the Nineteenth Amendment. But Margaret Whittemore didn't stop her activism. In 1922, she and Mabel Vernon traveled from Indiana to California. They were supporting women who were running for office in the 1924 elections.
In 1925, Margaret Whittemore became one of five vice-presidents of the National Woman's Party. This shows how important she was to the organization.
Later Years
Margaret Whittemore passed away in Santa Barbara, California, on December 2, 1937. She left behind a legacy of fighting for equality and women's rights.
