TSM | Junior Curators - Women's History

Category: Women's History

1-31-23

The First of Many - Part II: Suffrage

By Philip Staffelli-Suel I desire no quarrel with the W.C.T.U., but my love for the truth is greater than my regard for an alleged friend who, through ignorance or design misrepresents in the most harmful way the cause of a long suffering race…. -Ida B. Wells-Barnett Welcome back to an exciting adventure of Ida B. Wells-Barnett. When we last left off Mrs. Wells had retired from the newspaper in 1897. Today we are going to talk about her trailblazing work in getting women... Read More

Posted by Christopher Grisham at 1-31-23

Black History Women's History

10-26-21

The Nashoba Community: A Tennessee Utopia?

By Katie Yenna What do you think an “intentional community” means? Well, the name speaks for itself! It is a planned community where people with similar beliefs and values decide to live and work together as a team. These communities usually have a goal for their residents, much like the Nashoba establishment in Tennessee. This Nashoba Community was established in 1825 by Francis Wright, an abolitionist from the United Kingdom. Her intention was to create a “utopian” ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-26-21

Black History Communities Statehood/Early Tennessee Women's History

3-30-21

An American Nurse The Story of Catherine G. Sinnott

by Matthew Gailani In 1917, just over 100 years ago, the United States officially entered World War I. This was a major moment in American history. America was entering a large war with terrible fighting between many different countries. To help the Allies and the United States win the war, American women served in different roles, both at home and overseas. For example, many women filled jobs in their hometowns that were left by men serving in Europe. This included many jobs in factories an... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-30-21

Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

3-23-21

The Secret City

by Lauren Grizzard Hey you! Yeah, you! Can I let you in on a secret? It’s a very big secret. The size of an entire city type of secret. That’s because this secret WAS an entire city. A city that didn’t exist when Pearl Harbor was bombed and was built entirely by the government in 1942: Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Before 1942, Oak Ridge looked like the landscape often seen in East Tennessee: large plots of land with many hills and valleys. For that reason, it became the site ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-23-21

Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

3-18-21

Which Tennessee Musician Are You?

by Lauren Grizzard In honor of Women’s History Month, we are celebrating something Tennessee is most well-known for: Our musicians. Answer each question and write down your answer. At the end, tally up what letter you have the most of to discover which female Tennessee musician you are! 1. What genre of music do you like the most? A. Country B. Blues C. Rock 2. Which song sounds the most interesting to you? A. Coat of Many Colors B. Down Hearted Blues C. River D... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-18-21

History of Music/The Arts Women's History

3-16-21

Adelicia Acklen: The Lady of Belmont

by Jennifer Watts Throughout history, women have been restricted on what they can and cannot do. Some women were able to overcome those restrictions, control their own lives, and become successful. Adelicia Hayes Franklin Acklen Cheatham was a Tennessee woman who did just that. She became one of the wealthiest women in the Antebellum south and the owner of Nashville’s Belmont Mansion. Portrait of Adelicia by Washington B. Copper in 1834, Tennessee State Museum Collection. A... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-16-21

Civil War and Reconstruction Women's History

3-11-21

Mystery Artifact: Guess that Tennessean

by Lauren Grizzard Items from the past, or artifacts, can teach us about the culture and technology of a different time. They teach us about the people that used them and what their lives might have been like. Today, we are going to look at three artifacts and see if you can determine who might have used them. Hint: They all belonged to the same Tennessean. What do you notice this is made from? Does it look like something you’ve seen before? What do you think th... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-11-21

Jacksonian Tennessee Women's History

3-9-21

“They call me the Book Lady”: The Story of Dolly Parton

by Morgan Byrn If I were to walk into a classroom right now and holler “Dolly Parton,” most of the students would probably know who I was talking about. Many kids know her as the lady who sends free books. But did you know people around the world know Dolly as the Queen of Country Music? Let’s take a look at this amazing Tennessean. Parton family photo, taken from Dolly Parton's official website dollyparton.com. Replica of Parton family cabin located ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-9-21

History of Music/The Arts Modern Tennessee Women's History

3-2-21

The Unstoppable Josephine Groves Holloway

by Joyska Nunez-Medina Girl Scout troops are groups where girls can come together to learn and grow. The Girl Scouts of America started in 1912 in Savannah, Georgia. Juliette Gordon Low, the organization’s founder, visited Britain in 1911 and learned about the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides. She thought that a similar organization in the United States could teach girls important skills and lessons. Girl Scouting was supposed to be open to all girls, but that was not the case everywher... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 3-2-21

Black History Communities Women's History

2-25-21

The Fastest Woman in the World: Wilma Rudolph

by Lauren Grizzard Did you know that a Tennessean was an Olympic athlete? Do you know where “The Fastest Woman in the World” was from? To learn the answers and more, check out five things to know about Wilma Rudolph below! 1. Wilma Rudolph was born in St. Bethlehem (now Clarksville), Tennessee on June 23, 1940. If you visit Clarksville today, you will see a street and buildings named after her, and even a life sized statue! ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-25-21

Black History Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

2-23-21

More than Music: The Important Legacy of Julia Britton Hooks

by Grace Allen Image courtesy of Memphis and Shelby County Room at Memphis Public Library. Julia Britton Hooks was a very talented musician and teacher. In her lifetime, she was dedicated to teaching music to people of all ages in Memphis, Tennessee. They called her “The Angel of Beale Street.” Julia inspired and taught some of the most famous Black musicians of the early 1900s including W.C. Handy, later known as the Father of the Blues. But Julia Britton Hooks was more than ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 2-23-21

Black History History of Music/The Arts Women's History

12-8-20

“December 7, 1941 – A Date Which Will Live in Infamy."

by Lauren Grizzard It was a clear morning on December 7, 1941 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The weather conditions were perfect for Tennessee native, Cornelia Fort, to take a student out for a flying lesson. Cornelia was the first female pilot in Nashville and had taken a job in Honolulu, Hawaii as a flight instructor earlier that year. When Cornelia first applied to be an instructor, they wrote back to “Mr. Fort” thinking she was a man. Because of the lack of trained pilots in World ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-8-20

Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

12-1-20

Tina Turner: From Nutbush City Limits to Life as the Queen of Rock & Roll

by Mamie Hassell In the mid-1940s, you would have found young Anna Mae Bullock in class at Flagg Grove School. This was an all-Black, one-room schoolhouse in Nutbush, Tennessee. Nutbush is in West Tennessee. It is one hour from Memphis. During that time, most folks in West Tennessee were farmers, and so was Anna Mae’s family. Her parents, Floyd and Zelma Bullock, were sharecroppers. Sharecroppers rented small plots of land from a property owner and grew crops on it, but each year they ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 12-1-20

Black History History of Music/The Arts Women's History

10-13-20

From Chattanooga to the “Empress of the Blues”

by Matthew Gailani You may already know that Tennessee is famous for its music. Nashville is “Music City,” Memphis is the “Home of the Blues,” and Bristol is the “Birthplace of Country Music.” Tennessee artists have been so important to the history of music in the United States that many of them are known just by their nicknames. Elvis Presley was known as the “King.” W.C Handy was known as the “Father of the Blues.” Johnny Cash was... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 10-13-20

Black History Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

9-29-20

Tennessee Women in the Civil War

by Jennifer Watts Tennessee women played a big part in the American Civil War. Even though they were not allowed to fight, they found other ways to serve. They worked in their homes and towns, clothed soldiers, and became nurses. Some even worked as smugglers and spies. Other Tennessee women broke the social rules and disguised themselves as men to serve as soldiers in the war. Back then, traditional women’s roles included jobs done in the home like cooking, cleaning, sewing, and taki... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-29-20

Civil War and Reconstruction Women's History

9-9-20

What is Suffrage?

by Christopher Grisham Suffrage has been something that people have fought for throughout Tennessee’s history, but what is it? The word doesn’t sound very nice. It sounds like suffering, and why would anyone want that? It turns out that suffrage means the right to vote. If you have suffrage, that means you have a voice. You get to help choose the people that make rules and laws for everyone else. This is necessary to make sure the things that are important to you are important to... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-9-20

Black History Women's History

9-3-20

Ratified! Statewide!

by Lauren Grizzard Did you know that Tennessee has 95 counties? Now, did you know that all 95 counties had a part in the women’s suffrage story? Using the State Museum’s Ratified! Statewide! link below, see if you can click your way through the state to see how each county shaped the 19th amendment (women’s vote) journey: https://tnmuseum.org/Ratified-Statewide Challenge! If you are up for an extra challenge, see if you can find the answers to the questions below: Find ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 9-3-20

Communities Women's History

8-27-20

The War of the Roses in Tennessee: Woman Suffrage turns 100

by Grace Allen One of my favorite events in Tennessee history happened 100 years ago on this very month, Aug. 18, 1920. It has all the parts of a great story: a fight for equality, a last-minute letter, and a decision that changed the country. It’s the true tale of how women got the right to vote in the United States. Tennessee State Museum Collection. Did you know women couldn’t vote in some places in the United States until 1920? Women fought for the right... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 8-27-20

Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

8-25-20

Cats, Colors and Causes: How Symbols Won the Vote

by Katie Yenna How do you express yourself to the world? Do you wear brightly colored clothes, wild hair or big jewelry? These are all symbols of ourselves. They tell others who we are and what we believe is important. This idea was certainly true during the women’s suffrage movement in the United States, and Tennessee. Suffragists carefully chose colors, objects and clothing to communicate to others. One of the most well-known ways these suffragists expressed themselves, and their vi... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 8-25-20

Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

8-20-20

Voting Rights Scavenger Hunt

by Grace Allen Do you know what suffrage means? It means the right to vote. Right now, you might be hearing a lot about the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage, but it wasn’t the only time people have challenged the law for the right to vote. Here is a scavenger hunt to test your knowledge on the history of voting rights in Tennessee! Using the link below, click on any lock and answer the question. If you need a hint, click on the lightbulb. When you type the answer in, click ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 8-20-20

Black History Women's History

8-18-20

Showdown in Nashville

by Christopher Grisham The final fight to ratify the 19th Amendment occurred in Nashville, Tennessee, in August 1920. The Tennessee State legislature was called into special session. Their one job was to vote on the 19th Amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote. The amendment had been passed by Congress the year before. Under the U.S. Constitution, it needed to be approved by 36 states. Thirty-five states had approved it by the spring of 1920. S... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 8-18-20

Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

8-17-20

Tennessee to Commemorate Ratification of the 19th Amendment with Reenactment of Historic Vote on the House Floor

Happening tomorrow, August 18th at 9:30CT, be sure to watch a reenactment of the historic events that took place here in Tennessee 100 years ago! Watch the reenactment! Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 8-17-20

Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

8-13-20

Suffrage Matching Game

by Lauren Grizzard Suffrage Matching Game Tennessee had an important part in giving women across the United States the right to vote. To celebrate Tennessee's role, we wanted to show you artifacts about women's suffrage (the right to vote), but to do it with a twist: A matching game! To play, click the word and picture that match each other. Click the right word and picture and the pair will turn green and go away. If you click the wrong pair, the cards will turn red and you can tr... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 8-13-20

Women's History

8-11-20

“Lifting as We Climb” Mary Church Terrell and the 19th Amendment

by Matthew Gailani August 18, 2020 will be 100 years since the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. This amendment, or change, to the Constitution says that, “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” In other words, you can’t keep someone from voting just because they are a woman. While this still did not mean everyone could vote at the time, it was a big st... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 8-11-20

Black History Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History

6-16-20

Standing Up by Sitting Down

by Christopher Grisham Have you ever heard of Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks? For many of us, they are the first names that pop into our minds when we think of the fight for civil rights. What about the name Ida B. Wells? Portrait of Ida B. Wells, TSM Collection. When Ida B. Wells was born in 1862, the United States was fighting the Civil War and most African Americans were still enslaved. The war and slavery ended just a few years later in 1865, but African Americans were still ... Read More

Posted by Katie Yenna at 6-16-20

Black History Women's History

5-5-20

The WASP That Doesn't Sting

by Lauren Grizzard Doris Brinker Tanner was a WASP. No, not the insect that flies around and stings. WASP stands for Women Airforce Service Pilot. During World War II, most men were needed as soldiers. Because of this, the military turned to women for help. One of these ways was to become a pilot! Doris Tanner Many women in Tennessee served as WASPs. One of them was Doris Tanner. Doris learned to fly planes in college. She went to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. When World War... Read More

Posted by Joseph Pagetta at 5-5-20

Tennessee in the 20th Century Women's History