Proclamation_Women's History MonthP
THE CITY OF
DuB
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
0 CLAMATION
WHEREAS, the suffragist "Army of the Hudson" marched the 225 miles from Newark to Washington,
D.C., in 16 days, culminating in nine bands, four mounted brigades, more than 20 floats,
and over 5000 marchers parading down Pennsylvania Avenue on March 3, 1913; and
WHEREAS, in 1870, the first Iowa woman - suffrage convention was chaired by the first female lawyer in
the country; and in October 1871, a 27- year -old teacher in Taylor County successfully used
the 15th Amendment to vote in an election; and
WHEREAS, in 1894, the Iowa Legislative General Assembly passed an act allowing women to vote
regarding city, incorporated town, and school board bond measures. This limited suffrage
was later extended to allow women to vote for presidential electors; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Congress approved the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on May 19, 1919.
On July 2, 1919 Iowa became the 10th state to ratify the amendment, in a special session
lasting just one hour and forty minutes — the shortest session in Iowa history. On August 27,
1920 the first woman in Iowa voted under the 19th Amendment. The Iowa Supreme Court
was one of the first courts to hold that the 19th Amendment, by allowing women to vote,
also made them eligible to serve on juries in State v. Walker of 1921; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, the word "women" was added to the Iowa Bill of Rights, Rights of Persons, Section
1 to read "All men and women are, by nature, free and equal, and have certain inalienable
rights — among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring,
possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness."
NOW THEREFORE, 1, ROY D. BUOL, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, ON BEHALF OF
THE CITY COUNCIL, STAFF AND CITIZENS OF DUBUQUE DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE 100TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE PARADE AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF
IOWA'S WOMEN'S RIGHTS LEADERSHIP DURING
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
IN THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, AND URGE RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT AND WORK TOWARD
FULL GENDER EQUALITY AND REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING WOMEN IN THE
CITY OF DUBUQUE
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my
hand and caused the Great Seal of the City of
Dubuque to be affixed this 18th day of March,
2013.
Roy D. Buol, Mayor
Attest:
Kevin S. Firnstahl, CMC, City Clerk
2013: Submitted by Vice -Chair R.R.S. Stewart of the Dubuque Human Rights Commission (DHRC)
on behalf of DHRC and received by Commissioner Stewart and DHRC Chair Anthony Allen.