Rikard says. “And the Yet, nationally things major push came in were changing. Mis1915.” sionary societies formed Jacobs became an in the late 1880s, and advocate from the women soon began goSouth for a federal ing to college in increasamendment to the U.S. ing numbers, forming Constitution. In doing literary clubs and studyHer conclusion? The only way to so, she broke with other women who ing world and national affairs. change this was if women had the were worried about states losing their Several women began to speak out. right to vote. And to gain this, she and authority and the implications on civil One was Pattie Ruffner Jacobs from others had to come into the suffrage rights for black residents. Birmingham. movement through the back door, Ri“So she bucked the trend,” Rikard Educated in Nashville at Wards kard says. “They came into the movesays. “But she convinced them.” Seminary, Jacobs’ family had little ment in order to get what they needed Jacobs became a leader in the money. Her parents separated, and done. And they needed to vote.” National American Women’s Suffrage as a teen she lived with her mother No national organization was Association. She testified bein Birmingham, accounts of which are detailed in her di“We were not a democracy when we were founded. There were fore Congress, and pushed for too many people excluded… and with half the population being that federal amendment to go ary found years later. female… you had a broad group who were excluded from the through. It passed Congress “She had this idea that marriage was not going to be government and not represented in taxation. They had no voice.” in 1918 – the 19th Amend– Dr. Marlene Rikard, retired history professor, Samford University ment – and it was sent to the the salvation of women, and states for ratification. Thirtyshe was hampered by the fact six states were needed for ratification, that she could not get an education,” dedicated to women’s rights until and Tennessee was the state to tip says Rikard. “She was beautiful, and the late 1860s, a movement stronger it over. Alabama didn’t immediately ended up marrying Solon Jacobs, who in the North where the abolitionist ratify it, but it didn’t matter. was older than Pattie and a businessmovement had been prevalent. When Women actually gained the right to man who was well-established.” national organizations began to form, vote in the 1920 presidential election, With newfound financial security, it was primarily by suffragists who Rikard says. The Alabama Equal SufJacobs began to involve herself in civic wanted to amend the Constitution. discussions. She worked against child And that presented a problem in the frage Association transformed into the League of Women Voters. And Jacobs labor and tuberculosis, and promoted South, due to concerns for preserving became its first national secretary. She art in Birmingham schools. However, states’ rights. also became Alabama’s first national she often came up against politics “But of all the women getting inDemocratic committee woman. A that were aligned against her. volved, Jacobs is the most prominent,”
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