1919: Massachusetts Debates Women’s Suffrage!

The Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum hosts a reimagining of the June 25th, 1919 MA House of Representatives women’s suffrage debate. 

Adams, MA (5/24/24)—The Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum will commemorate the 105th anniversary of the June 25th, 1919 Massachusetts ratification of the 19th amendment with a live debate at the museum. 

The event, a performance entitled “1919: MA Debates Suffrage,” will take place on Saturday, June 1st at 5:00 PM at the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum in Adams, MA. The public is invited to attend the debate, cast their ballot, and attend a reception afterwards.

What were the arguments for and against women’s suffrage? How did the Massachusetts legislature debate before voting on June 25th, 1919? Sina Mansouri and James Capuzzi re-imagine the final suffrage debate in Massachusetts! 

James Capuzzi, executive director of the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum, served as Tulane Debate Team President from 2016-2017 and was awarded the Edward Ambrose Bechtel for extracurricular achievement at graduation.

Sina Mansouri, Tulane University ’17, served as Tulane Debate Team president from 2015-2016. A talented speaker, he won multiple top speaker awards for argumentation during his tenure on the debate team.

How does this relate to suffragist Susan B. Anthony?

Although Susan passed away in 1906, her legacy lives on in the 19th amendment, also referred to as the “Susan B. Anthony Amendment”. Beginning formally in 1869, Susan dedicated her activism to women’s suffrage. She co-founded the National Woman’s Suffrage Association, and, after some years of division, became president of the new National American Woman’s Suffrage Association in 1892. At the 38th Annual Convention ofNational American Woman Suffrage Association in Baltimore, MD on February 15th 1906, less than a month before her death, she delivered a speech for future women’s suffrage advocates: 

“I am here for a little time only and then my place will be filled as theirs was filled. The fight must not cease; you must see that it does not stop. 

There have been others also just as true and devoted to the cause — I wish I could name every one — but with such women consecrating their lives, failure is impossible!”