Good evening. Its a pleasure to welcome you to the william g. Mcgowan theatre this evening here at the National Archives. And a special welcome to our viewers on cspan and our own youtube channel. Tonights program, womens history on the horizon, the centennial of the womens suffrage in 2020, it is presented in commemoration of womens equality day, 2014, and the 94th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment to the constitution, which granted women the right to vote. And forever changed the face of the american electorate. Before we begin the bram, i would like to tell you about two upcoming programs that will take place in this theatre. On thursday, august 28 at 7 00 p. M. , awardwinning documentary filmmaker nancy burski will be here to introduce and discuss her latest film afternoon of a fawn. Tanna quill awe claire. The story of a fame prim ma ball rin ma whose career was tragically struck short when she got polio in her early 20s. The most cited legal scholar discuss his latest book conspiracy theories and other dangerous ideas. A compilation of his most insightful and relevant pieces. A book signing follows the program. To learn more about these and all of our programs and activities, consult our monthly calendar of events in print or online. There are copies in the lobby as well as the signup sheet. We receive the calendar by regular mail or email. Youll also find brochures about other archives and events. Another way to get more involved with the National Archives is to become a member for the foundation of the National Archives. The Foundation Supports all of our wrork in education and outreach. There are applications in the lobby. And no one has ever been turned own down for membership for the foundation of the National Archives. It was on august 18, 1920 that the fate of the 19th amendment was decided. 35 states, one short of what was needed had ratified it and it came down to the tennessee legislature. The Tennessee Senate had approved it but the state house had deadlocked a young representative named harry byrne who was opposing it listened carefully to the debate. And then he opened a letter from his mother that said dont forget to be a good boy and put the rat in ratification. He was indeed a good boy and changed his vote to yay, thus ratifying the 19th amendment. The National Archives holds many text youll photograph call rorz including the 19th amendment itself as well as petitions in support of suffrage signed by susan b. Anthony, Elizabeth Katie stanton and frederick douglas. And even records opposing womens suffrage, including a petition for mrs. Jane w. Wadsworth jr. , president of the National Association opposed to womens suffrage, because, quote, it would be an official endorsement of nagging as the national policy. It would give every radical woman the right to believe that she could get any law she wanted passed by pestering her city council, her legislature or her congressman or her president. No matter how the people voted or what National Crisis existed. And if feminism can be put through by pestering regardless the will of the people, so can pa passivism, socialism and other isms. How 100 years of Voting Rights have had an impact on present day political, social and economic roles for women. The Panel Includes bridgette howe, management of Program Services for Girl Scouts National capital, dr. Idae. Jones, assistant curator of manuscripts at the mor lan springarm Research Center at Howard University, cindy ballonick from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Mr. Libby oconnell, chief historian for history, formerly the History Channel. And nancy e. Tate, executive director of the league of women voters of the United States. Tonight marks the fifth Consecutive Year the National Archives has presented this womens equality day program in partnership with the sewell Belmont House and museum, home of the Historic National womens party located here in washington, d. C. And its now my pleasure to introduce our moderator for tonights discussion and executive direct sewell Belmont House page arrington. She brought her passion to the role of executive director. Previously she served as the Vice President of the operations for the United StatesNavy Memorial and architectural memorial at the Preservation Firm of architect mill ford, wayne donaldson. She earned two masters degree from the university of san diego. Her first in public history, and second in nonprofit management and leadership. And in addition to her work at sewell belmont, page serves on the board of directors for the National Collaboration for women history sites. Please welcome page harrington and our panel. [ applause ] good evening. So much for that wonderful welcome. We have the privilege of being here in this wonderful theatre and we are desighted to celebrate this equality day with you. Tom does a fantastic job and makes us feel very welcome. So those of us who work directly in womens history organizations or sites have been talk act the Centennial Anniversary for suffrage in 2020 for many years now. I know that there are several of my colleagues who work at different Womens Organizations and history sites in the audience here tonight, including those from the womens history project, turning point suffrage memorial and again the National Collaborative for women history sites. Its our goal, however, tonight to actually expand the conversation. We hope this dialogue will be one that not only women historians have, and not only other women organizations, but that we actually get it into the public mainstream. And hopefully that will give us a chance to once again remind the citizens of this country about the bravery and sacrifice for those who committed themselves of empowerment and Citizen Engagement for all. The museum is a National Landmark and has an extensive collection of suffrage banners, other documents, papers, and art facts. Theyre all part of broad reaching, well respected organizations. The girl scouts reached their Centennial Anniversary just a couple of years ago. The National Womans Party, my organization, will celebrate our centennial in 2016. The league of women voters will celebrate theirs along with the 19th amendment in 2020, and Howard University predates all of us, being founded in 1867. Tonight, you will hear from this distinguished panel. Not only about their own organizational histories, but also how theyre moving the conversation forward. Looking ahead to upcoming centennial and other anniversaries and also seeking new partnerships. The National Womans Party used many effective tactics and strategies during their campaigns for both suffrage and equal rights. One of the most effective was a publication of the weekly magazine, first the suffragist and then the equal rights. At a high point, the circulation reached over 20,000. And provided critical updates, necessary calls to action, and celebrated many victories for the cause in the days before social media and twitter, of course. Sometimes you have extra copies. Well, the nwp is no different. In 200, staff rediscovered hundreds and hundreds of extra copies of the equal rights magazines. And it is our goal to be able to redistribute those magazines that were never distributed originally in the 0s, 0s, 50s and even into the 1960s. By finding new organizations, archives and other wonderful Collaborative Partnerships that we can turn ownership of some of those documents over to, so that they can reach a whole new generation of researchers. Its taken more than ten years to get this project off the ground. Im happy to say that through a generous grant through our friend lisa smith who is in the audience tonight, we have actually started. And today was the first day of our new intern. So im excited to tell you that. We look forward to new organizations both locally, nationally and also internationally so that we can share these treasures with them. Tonight, we have pulled together an outstanding panel for a lively conversation. Womens suffrage, equality, what 100 years of the womans vote has meant for the economy, for our own organizations, and also for our country. We will start with just introductory remarks from the group and then i will moderate what i think will be a very lively discussion, if we pick up on what we were already talking about backstage. And then we also have an opportunity for questions and comments from the audience. So theres microphones on both sides. You all can cue up. I will give you the hi sign when were about there. Thank you very much. Its nice to see everyone tonight. Can we start with you . Am i on . Thanks page for the introduction and the opportunity to be on this panel. Were the largest Girl Scout Council in the country and we serve about 64,000 girls with 25,000 adult members and volunteers. In 25 counties in maryland, the District Of Columbia, virginia and west virginia. We are i am very lucky to be part of an organization that is so well known. I think everyone has heard of girl scouts. And such a part of american culture. Quick question, how many in the audience and on the stage were girl scouts . Just as i suspected. The evidence shows that women who are girl scouts are more civically engaged as they become adults, and clearly thats holding true in this room. If you were a girl scout 20 years ago, 0, 40, 50 years ago, you might not know what were doing today. So i would like to share some of that with you. Of course, girls still go camping in girl scouts. Theyre never going to skop going camping, because outdoor experiences develop valuable skills like team work. And i would be remiss if i didnt acknowledge probably our most famous program, the Cookie Program. The Cookie Program is a great way for young women to learn firsthand the ins and outs of running a business. They learn goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills,ing and inprobably most importantly, they learn business ethics. And the importance of being ethical in everything they do. And of course, girls still earn badges. Badges have not gone away either but we as an organization are on a mission to do more than cookies, camping and crafts. For 10 2 years since 1912, girl scouts has been the premier Leadership Organization for girls and thats still true today. Every experience a girl has in girl scouts prepares her to be a leader today and a leader tomorrow. We value Civic Engagement, we want the girls to value Civic Engagement, to not only feel comfortable sitting to the table but to move ahead of the table. We do this by providing fun, high quality programs that help girls discover their skills, strengths, values and connect with their communities and take action to make the world a better place. We have. 2 million members nationally and over 50 million alumni so weve definitely reached a lot of girls. 70 of female members of congress were girl scouts and every female secretary of state was a girl scout. I spent a lot of time thinking about how girl scouts relate to the other organizations on the panel and the subject of the panel, and i think sharing some of the girl scouts history would be appropriate. We were founded by Juliet Gordon lowe in 1912 and we celebrated our centennial right here in 2012 with the Worlds Largest sing along called rock the mall. It was a great day. A little bit warm, but a great day. Girl Supreme Courts actually had its First National headquarters here in washington, d. C. In the muncie billing, just a couple of blocks down pennsylvania avenue where was also headquartered the American Womens National suffrage ceremony. I have an imaginary image of Juliet Gordon lowe waiting for the elevator and those she might have run into. Maybe one day well find out. Through its history, girl scouts have been known for Civic Engagement. From your first badge book in 1916 called how girls can serve their country girls have become knowledgeable about government. And in 1916, there was a civic badge available, along like signaling, needle woman and laundress. And the requirements were not easy. There were about 15 requirements, but im going to share a coup. Because it gave me a lot of insight. A girl must have been able to recite the preamble to the constitution, to state the chief requirements of citizenship of a voter in her state, territory or district. And keep in mind, this was in 1916 when girls could not vote nationally. Know how the governor of her state, the lieutenant dpofr nor, senators and representatives are elected and their term of office. Know the principal officers in her town and city and how theyre elected and term of office. Thats an awful lot of emphasis on voting and Civic Engagement. Theres never been a girl scout badge book without a badge that encourages Civic Engagement and our promise asks our members to promise to serve their country. Today we have a series of citizen badges from celebrating community to inside government to behind the ballot and public policy. Locally, we have a program entering its 0th year. Im sorry, we just completed our 40th anniversary where girls spend a week on capitol hill doing internships with members of congress. Were also looking to 2016, which will be the 100th anniversary of girl scouts highest award. In 1916, it was the golden eaglet of merit. Now its the girl scout gold award. But were also, and im winding up here, very excited to make sure that girl scouts have a seat at the table for the centennial of suffrage. Todays girls have a lot of opportunities, but that means its all the more important they know the history. Im looking forward to generating ideas to my fellow panelists and looking at ways to engage girls in the celebration in six years. Thank you. Four years ago, i was here moderating this panel at the 90th. And actually this week that just passed was 50 years since the Mississippi FreeDemocratic Party met in Atlantic City with the assertion of rights to be represented in Atlantic City. Were also celebrating page being six years at the sewallbelmont home, as well as the Voting Rights act of 1964. I want to make some comment, but i also want to give you some texts to also read as University Representative historian, there is some lis chur out there that would be very helpful. Online is the publication that would be black women in the United States 2014. Progress and challenges by the National Coalition on black civic participation. Published by the black womens round table. And progress and challenges looks at 50 years of the war on poverty, 50 years on the civil rights act, and 60 year s of brown versus board of education. Two publications that are seminal textbooks. Some of us are brave is a seminal work in black womens history. And finally, a colleague of mine, africanamerican and the struggle for the vote, 1850 to 1920, really helps you understand the struggle for africanamerican women who are at the nexus of both being women and africanamerican, are doubly marginalized in light of their participation and membership in both groups. So in light of discussing what we would see in 2020 with regards to the suffrage movement, it had a very rocky start. We cant ignore the history that there was Class Divisions as well as race divisions within the suffrage movement. We still have not ameliorated all those issues, but for africanamerican women in particular, what i have looked at through the literature, black women, once they received the franchise understood the important of Civic Engagement on the basic level. Ptas, school boards, City Councils and changing policies that would once again Impact Education and economics. And education, politics and policy still remains very much an issue. In the essay written by l. C. Scott whos at the ron walters chair at Howard University, she talks about shirley chissolm and carrie moseley braun. The only africanamerican woman elected