Suffragists
The East Tennessee women highlighted below–and thousands more across the state worked–tirelessly to create a strong suffrage organization; their dedication and personal sacrifice made it possible for the “march to victory” to culminate in Tennessee. Despite what appeared to be the end of the Woman Suffrage Movement, the fight for equal rights was far from over.
WHITE, ELIZA SHAUT (1883-1965)
Eliza Shaut White, photograph, courtesy of Stacey White FerrenMrs. White … is one of the leading spirits of the Johnson City branch of the Congressional Union and a woman of force and charm.Often overlooked in the history of woman suffrage in Tennessee,...
MCTEER, MARY WILSON (1853-1898)
Mary Wilson McTeer, carte de visite, courtesy of Maryville College“An Equal Suffrage Club was organized at Maryville, in East Tennessee. The husband of its President [McTeer] wore the blue through the long struggle of “the hot Sixties,” while the husband of the...
FRENCH, ELIZABETH CROZIER “LIZZIE” (1851-1926)
Elizabeth Crozier “Lizzie” French, photograph, courtesy of Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, Knox County Public Library“I wish I could say ‘Fellow Citizens,’ but since I am not accepted as a citizen by the government, I must say ‘Citizens and Fellow...
BURKE, CORA E. (1876-1962)
Cora E. Burke, photograph by Cloud Photo, The Nashville Globe, October 12, 1917“Mrs. Cora E. Burke … has contributed more to Knoxville’s fraternal, spiritual, educational, civic, and social life than the average local woman.... [She] is very popular with all classes...