NTDMG5768.xml Guide to the Collection on Woman Suffrage in Idaho1895 Collection on Woman Suffrage in Idaho Finding aid prepared by Julie Monroe University of Idaho Library © December 2013 Finding aid encoded by Laura Guedes2013 Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard). University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives MG 5768 University of Idaho. Library. Special Collections Dept. Collection on Woman Suffrage in Idaho 1895 0.25 cubic feet Holographic manuscript of a joint resolution passed in the 1895 Idaho Legislature to amend the state constitution to extend the vote to women. This collection is in English.

This collection consists of a three-page holographic manuscript of Joint Resolution No. 2 of the Third Session of the Idaho Legislature, 1895; the purpose of the resolution was “to submit to the electors of the State of Idaho for their rejection, or approval, an amendment to section 2, article VI of the Constitution of the State of Idaho relating to suffrage and elections.”

In November 1896, the voters of Idaho adopted the amendment, thus making Idaho one of the first states in the nation to grant to vote to women.

Also in the collection are a metal plaque and a fountain pen. The plaque reads, “Both this document, which amended the Idaho Constitution to make it legal for women to vote and the pen used in signing that bill, are displayed here to honor Mrs. Martha Whitman, first women Regent of the University of Idaho and President of the Equal Suffrage Association. The bill was presented to the University of Idaho on behalf of the State by Secretary of State Pete T. Cenarrusa, and the pen was presented by the family of Mrs. Whitman.”

Based on this information, as well as that found on a “Post-It” note found with the collection, that reads, “From Wallace Residence Hall c. 2002,” it appears these items, along with the joint resolution, were once on display, perhaps in Whitman Hall, a residence hall located in the Wallace Residence Center on the University of Idaho Moscow campus.

The manuscript group is open to the public. Researchers must use the collection in accordance with the policies of the University of Idaho Special Collections and Archives.

Collection on Woman Suffrage in Idaho, MG 5768. Special Collections and Archives, University of Idaho Library, Moscow, Idaho.

Acquisition information is not known, but it is believed that an official of University Housing transferred the items to the University of Library, via Nathan Bender, Head of the Library’s Special Collections and Archives, in 2002.

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Whitman, Martha J. Women--Suffrage--Idaho. Idaho Women