Columbia Citizens

WOMEN'S VOTES, WOMEN'S VOICES: The Campaign for Women's Suffrage in Washington State
This year we are fortunate to have Shanna Stevenson of the Washington Women’s History Consortium with us to present “Women’s Votes, Women’s Voices.” This informative and entertaining presentation covers more than fifty years of political struggle by a fascinating array of women – Progressives, Populists, Prohibitionists, and others – to win the right to vote in Washington State. As Ms. Stevenson says, “Women in Washington were not given the right to vote. They earned it.” The women’s suffrage movement is also the subject of an exhibit at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma – up through September 27th.

BEYOND THE LAUNDRY: The Changing World of World Changing Women in the Rainier Valley
Our program also includes a presentation by RVHS Director Mikala Woodward about Rainier Valley women leaders. Our corner of Seattle may not have produced prominent suffrage leaders, but the women of the Rainier Valley have been active in public life in many other ways – from the Rainier Beach Women’s Club, which founded one of the first kindergartens in Seattle, to Denise Gloster, who organized the first March for Youth to protest youth violence in 2008. In the 1950s Marion Southard Weiss used her social work training in volunteer public service with the Seattle Housing Authority and Planned Parenthood, among other worthy causes. In the '70s Ruby Chow defied stereotypes to emerge as a leader in the Chinese community and the world beyond. And Dawn Mason has worked tirelessly on behalf of women, minorities, and other marginalized members of our community. We are working on a window display to highlight these and other remarkable women – come check it out!

We'll also have a slide show of the historic photographs that have been donated to the collection since last year, show off our brand new web site (www.rainiervalleyhistory.org), and conduct some brief RVHS business. After the program, please join us for a buffet lunch and a chance to view our historic displays and chat with your fellow-members and neighbors. Bring a friend!

Note: this is a New Location!
We will be meeting in the Lions Club’s Charles Lamb Memorial Hall, right next door to our office on Ferdinand Street. Street parking is available, and there is a $1 lot on Ferdinand Street just east of Rainier, and a $3 lot on Edmonds Street just west of Rainier (where the Columbia City Farmers Market sets up on Wednesdays). We will have volunteers stationed at the curb to assist with passenger drop-off and pick-up for your convenience.

Any questions, please contact:

Mikala Woodward
Rainier Valley Historical Society
3710 S. Ferdinand St.
Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 723-1663
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www.rainiervalleyhistory.org