The Iowa Women’s Foundation hosted an event at Old Capitol on Friday, January 24th, for supporters and the League of Women Voters of Johnson County. The event gave attendees a preview of a special exhibit that opened to the public the following day.
About 50 people join us at the Old Capitol Museum on the University of Iowa Pentacrest. Along with viewing the exhibit, Caroline Radesky, a U of I Visiting Professor, gave a presentation on the history leading up to the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the work done on behalf of the women’s suffrage movement. A number of Iowans played key roles in the suffrage movement, including Carrie Chapman Catt, Annie Nowlin Savery, and Mary Jane Coggeshall. This exhibit is the start of a year-long schedule of programs with the Johnson County League of Women Voters, and the state League of Women Voters celebrating the centennial of the 19th Amendment. The IWF Luncheon will be the wrap-up of 19th Amendment celebrations. You can keep up to date on all the centennial events across the state by clicking this link: https://19th-amendment-centennial.org/
Bailey Adolph, University of Iowa Research Assistant, created the materials for the exhibit, and Jessica Smith, UI Exhibit Graphic Designer and Communications Coordinator, helped design the pieces for the exhibit.
Other University of Iowa officials involved with the exhibit include Liz Crooks, the Director of the Pentacrest Museums, Shereena Honary from the Pentacrest Museums, and Lead Exhibit Curator Cindy Opitz who is the Director of Research Collections.
MidwestOne Bank sponsored the exhibit and IWF sponsored the program and reception.