Nashville, Tenn. (August 12, 2019) – More than 40 Nashville organizations are joining forces to commemorate the centennial of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, granting the right for women to vote. Tennessee was the 36th and final state to ratify the amendment, and the deciding vote was cast in Nashville.
Participating organizations are planning a series of events to create opportunities for the entire community to participate in dialogue, learning, performances, exhibits and voter education, and to recognize the work it takes to maintain a thriving democracy. Events will run through 2020, with a key focus on the period surrounding the centennial date of the Tennessee ratification on August 18, 1920, and the subsequent certification by the U.S. Secretary of State on August 26, 1920.
“Tennessee played a pivotal role in ratifying the 19th Amendment, and the centennial presents an opportunity to explore this history and engage with our community and visitors in meaningful ways,” says Rebecca Price, President and CEO of Chick History. “This series of special events and performances, presented by Nashville’s diverse and dedicated arts and humanities organizations, businesses, and other partners, welcomes people from across the state and around the country to commemorate this moment in American history and reflect on its continuing legacy on our democracy.”
The list of participating organizations encompasses nonprofit, advocacy, education, government, performing arts and other institutions, including Chick History, Frist Art Museum, League of Women Voters, Metropolitan Historical Commission, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Children’s Theatre, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, Nashville Opera, Nashville Public Library, Nashville Rep, Nashville Symphony, Nashville Public Television, The Parthenon & Centennial Park Conservancy, Tennessee Historical Society, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Tennessee State Museum, Tennessee State Parks, and Vanderbilt University. Local businesses involved in the citywide initiative include the Hermitage Hotel and Parnassus Books.
“Led by a group of dedicated Nashvillians including native Anne Dallas Dudley, our city played an important role in the ratification of the 19th Amendment,” says Mayor David Briley. “We should always be proud of and celebrate our city’s progressive values, and it’s great to see so many local organizations coming together to honor the upcoming anniversary. I encourage everyone to participate in the many events that will take place to commemorate this milestone in American history and to be mindful of the power we all have in shaping our democracy. I look forward to sharing more news regarding this anniversary very soon.”
Visit https://www.visitmusiccity.com/19thamendment for a full listing of events, education resources and participating partner organizations.
Organizations and businesses interested in participating in the 19th Amendment Centennial Commemoration are encouraged to contact 19thAmendmentCentennial@gmail.com for more information.
Upcoming Events Include:
On View Through August 2020
HISTORIC WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE EXHIBIT
Explore a display of The Hermitage Hotel’s private collection of historic artifacts dating from the summer of 1920, when Suffragists were headquartered in the hotel. thehermitagehotel.com
August 16-17, 2019
VOTES FOR WOMEN! COMMEMORATING WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE
Join Tennessee State Parks, the State Museum, and the State Library and Archives for two days of activities commemorating the 99th anniversary of the 19th Amendment ratification. The free event on August 16, 10am-4pm at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, includes living history programs, handson activities, a walking tour, and more. The Perfect 3.6 Race for Ratification offers a 1-mile course and a 3.6-mile course at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park at 7am on August 17. Register for the race online. tnstateparks.com
August 18, 2019
THE WOMAN’S HOUR: THE GREAT FIGHT TO WIN THE VOTE
The public is invited to the Main Library for a conversation with Elaine Weiss, author of The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote, and Callie Khouri. Taking place on the 99th anniversary of Tennessee’s deciding vote, this event marks the finale to Nashville’s 2019 citywide summer book club and will be held in anticipation of the 2020 opening of Votes for Women, a permanent exhibit at the Main Library dedicated to the legacy of the 19th Amendment. library.nashville.org
August 24, 2019
WOMEN’S RIGHT TO VOTE – 99 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Organizations honoring the women suffragists in Tennessee who secured the right in 1920 for all women to vote will lay wreaths at the foot of Woman Suffrage Monument in Centennial Park at 11 am. tnsuffragemonument.org
October 2 & 8
COMPOSING A MOVEMENT: WOMEN IN CLASSICAL MUSIC
The Nashville Symphony’s Young People’s Concerts series for schoolchildren celebrates the vital but often forgotten histories of female composers in classical music, with works by Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn, Amy Beach, Lili Boulanger, and Florence Price. Students will learn about the legacy these women created, and path they forged for composers and musicians today. Registration required. nashvillesymphony.org/ypc
October 9, 2019
TENNESSEE STATESMAN HARRY T. BURN: WOMAN SUFFRAGE, FREE ELECTIONS AND A LIFE OF SERVICE
Tyler Boyd, author and great-grand-nephew of Harry T. Burn who cast the tie-breaking vote to ratify the 19th Amendment, will lead this lecture. The event is presented by the Tennessee Historical Society and takes place at 5:30pm at Fort Negley Visitors Center. tnwoman100.com
October 20, 2019
TEA WITH HARRY T. BURN
The League of Women Voters of Nashville hosts an afternoon “suffrage tea” featuring Tyler Boyd, author and great grand-nephew of Harry T. Burn, who will give a book talk about his illustrious relative who cast the final vote that passed the 19th Amendment. lwvnashville.org
November 21, 2019
BY ONE VOTE: WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN THE SOUTH
NPT’s original documentary includes interviews with dozens of experts, including nationally recognized Southern suffrage expert Marjorie Spruill and Elaine Weiss, author of The Woman’s Hour. wnpt.org
February 17-20, 2020
72 STEPS
Nashville Ballet is excited to partner with TPAC’s HOT Season for Young People to present 72 Steps for school audiences. 72 Steps takes an empowering and celebratory look at the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the vital role Tennessee played in it. tpac.org
February 2020
JOURNEY
Intersection will explore the connections between the 19th Amendment and the Civil Rights Movement through the music and story of Florence Price and excerpts from Nkeiru Okoye’s opera Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line to Freedom. This events will kick off Intersection’s 2020 initiative LISTEN, a year-long project celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. intersectionmusic.org
March 2020-March 2021
WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE COMMEMORATION AT THE PARTHENON
The Parthenon and Centennial Park were the destination for the years-long struggle and debate for a woman’s right to vote. The Parthenon will celebrate this history-changing accomplishment with an exhibit spotlighting the creators of the Woman’s Building at the 1897 Centennial Exposition. nashville.gov
March 18, 2020
WIKIPEDIA EDIT-A-THON: WOMEN OF PEABODY COLLEGE
Learn how to edit Wikipedia and improve the representation of women on one of the internet’s most popular sites for gathering information. All are welcome; no editing experience necessary. This event will focus on editing Wikipedia pages about the women of Peabody College. This event will be held at Peabody Learning Lab 304 at Vanderbilt University. library.vanderbilt.edu
March 25, 2020
WIKIPEDIA EDIT-A-THON: ART + FEMINISM
Join Rebecca Vandiver, Vanderbilt University assistant professor of history of African American art, at the Fine Arts Gallery at Vanderbilt University, for an editing event to improve the quality of Wikipedia pages that focus on women involved with the arts, including artists, curators, critics, conservators, collectors, art historians and more. library.vanderbilt.edu
April 2020
MUSICA NUEVE
Intersection presents a program in collaboration with the Global Education Center featuring the music of Cuban composers Tania León and Ileana Perez Velazquez. Other works on the program will include the world premiere of a new guitar concerto by Leo Brouwer. Dates and locations to be announced. intersectionmusic.org
May 23-October 4, 2020
WE COUNT: FIRST-TIME VOTERS
We Count: First Time Voters, at Frist Art Museum, honors the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women’s constitutional right to vote by highlighting the history of voting in the United States and the first voting experiences of a diverse group of Nashvillians. Individuals will share their stories with artists, who will create visual representations of their voting experiences. The five artists include Beizar Aradini, Megan Kelley, Jerry Bedor Phillips, Thaxton Waters and Donna Woodley. fristartmuseum.org
June 2020
A CELEBRATION OF SUFFRAGE
Nashville Repertory is proud to present an evening of original works commemorating the historic passage of the 19th Amendment. Featuring song, dance and spoken word creations by both local and national theatrical artists, this one-night-only special event is a celebration of the trailblazing women who would change the landscape of our country. nashvillerep.org
June-August 2020
SUMMER 2020 FEMALE-ARTIST MUSIC SERIES
In celebration of the centennial of women’s suffrage, Nashville women musicians will perform on the first Friday of June through August. Appreciate Nashville’s treasured female talent in the historic Grand Lobby of The Hermitage Hotel. thehermitagehotel.com
August 6, 2020
YELLOW ROSE GALA
Enjoy a spectacular evening in the setting of the Suffragists’ headquarters, The Hermitage Hotel. This ticketed, multi-course dinner will feature notable women chefs brought in from across the country to celebrate the centennial of women’s suffrage and the passage of the 19th Amendment. thehermitagehotel.com
August 13-20, 2020
PROHIBITION-ERA & SUFFRAGIST THEMED POP-UP BAR
In the summer of 1920 from inside the Oak Bar beneath The Hermitage Hotel, Suffragists lobbied the men of Capitol Hill for the right to vote. Travel back in time to the final battleground of women’s suffrage and honor this unique moment in history for an immersive, pop-up bar experience inside the storied Oak Bar. capitolgrillenashville.com
August 2020
SONGS OF SUFFRAGE
Nashville Opera presents a semi-staged story propelled by music of the suffrage movement, newly arranged for Nashville Opera. An all-local cast will perform songs written both in support of and against the movement, portraying women’s struggle for equality. nashvilleopera.org
August 2020
CONTINUED WORK
Intersection wraps up its 2020 initiative LISTEN with a world premiere performance in partnership with dance company New Dialect. This work will explore the lessons we can learn from the passage of the 19th Amendment. Dates and locations to be announced. intersectionmusic.org
September 10-12, 2020
WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION FEATURING THE NASHVILLE SYMPHONY Dedicated to the women and men who worked in support of ratification, this concert features the world premiere of a work co-commissioned by the Nashville Symphony from Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Julia Wolfe and will also celebrate the legacy of American composer Florence Price with a performance of her Piano Concerto in One Movement. nashvillesymphony.org