Mural Celebrating 100 Years of Women’s Right to Vote

by Terra Fox, Acting President, League of Women Voters of Northeastern North Carolina

On the portico of the Museum of the Albemarle, a mural celebrating 100 years of women’s right to vote has come to life. The mural, a long-awaited dream of the League of Women Voters of Northeastern North Carolina, made its appearance, appropriately, during Women’s History Month in March—to commemorate the centennial anniversary of women’s right to vote, which resulted from ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

A collaboration between the local league and MOA, the mural began taking shape in 2018, when the league formed a committee to mark the centennial and, coincidently, Elizabeth City business owners were looking to add murals to the downtown district. While searching for the right location, the museum approached the league about considering a place that would tie to the museum’s Women Breaking Barriers in Northeastern North Carolina exhibit. It was a natural fit.

The mural recognizes many brave women suffragists who protested and picketed for equal voting rights in North Carolina and celebrates the diversity of women activists, past and present. The illustrations are intended to honor the suffragists who forged a path for ratification of the 19th Amendment, as well as the women organizers and activists who continue to fight for a democracy that includes all races and genders.

In 2018, when a mural was first discussed, the league could not find any information on local suffragists. Through the museum’s research, the mural now features the following women:

Annie E. Jones (ca. 1875–1950)

Pasquotank County, primary school educator and community organizer

Elsie Riddick (1879–1959)

Gates County, women’s suffrage activist

Minnehaha Etheridge (1871–1938)

Dare County, suffragist and organizer of the first suffrage parade, which took place during 1913 in Washington, DC

Lillie Blake (1833–1913)

Bertie County, author and suffragist

Gertrude Weil (1879–1971)

Wayne County, suffragist, one-time president of the North Carolina Equal Suffrage Association, and founding president, North Carolina League of Women Voters

Louise Lassiter (1916–1993)

Northampton County, community activist and appellant in a 1959 US Supreme Court case advocating for removal of restrictions to voting based on literacy tests

Annie Holland (1871–1934)

Gates County, suffragist, founder of the state’s first Negro parent-teacher association, and state supervisor, Negro elementary schools

Lida Tunstall Rodman (1859–1932)

Beaufort County, officer of the North Carolina Equal Suffrage Association

Two artists have been involved in design of the mural. Savannah Nash, league member, worked many hours with the mural committee early on; she then handed off duties to Jessa Kimbra, of Dear Alchemy in Elizabeth City, who completed the league’s vision.

The mural was included in April’s First Friday Art Walk on April 9, with a separate dedication ceremony held on April 17 at the Museum of the Albemarle’s portico and lawn. Elizabeth City’s first woman mayor, Bettie Parker, offered a dedication speech, and Jo Nicholas, president of the League of Women Voters of North Carolina, spoke, as well. A performance of modern line dancing, provided by Suzy Thomas, also highlighted the ceremony.