Mary Talbert

Alongside well-known suffragists like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucretia Mott, women in upstate New York supported the cause as mothers, writers, marchers, reformers, authors, and organizers. They drew strength from each other and from the Haudenosaunee women who lived among them. Discovering New York Suffrage Stories explores the lives of Matilda Joslyn Gage, Paulina Kellogg Wright Davis, Hester Jeffrey, and Mary Burnett Talbert—women who carried the torch for suffrage and women’s equality throughout its 70 years, and yet whose significant contributions are not as well-known as they should be. Along the way, they tirelessly navigated issues of religious intolerance, sexism, politics, and racism, both outside and inside the movement. These women of New York informed the movement, gave it momentum, and contributed to its ultimate success.

Reflect on the experiences of Black women during the suffrage movement. This bonus video contains extended interview clips from Discovering New York Suffrage Stories which illustrate and more deeply explain the particular challenges and struggles Black women faced in the 1800s. Then, review the background reading and vocabulary to deepen students' understanding.