Hello! My name is Kelly Gardner, a senior in my final semester at SUNY Cortland. I have been interning for the Cortland County Convention & Visitors Bureau during this spring semester.
I major in history and minor in political science. Originally, I was studying to become a high school social studies teacher. However, I realized that I enjoy working with people much more than teaching history content.
I am now very much interested in community relations and working with the public. Interning at the Cortland County CVB has allowed me to work with the public through history. For the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote, I will be writing blogs about iconic women from Cortland County, including those that were born, lived or worked here. These remarkable women have achieved many accomplishments and left long legacies in their respected career paths.
Check back next week for the first blog of the series. I will be highlighting Homer native, Amelia Jenks Bloomer, an early suffragist, editor, social activist and fashion advocate who worked to change women's clothing styles.
The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted American women the right to vote, a right known as women’s suffrage, and was ratified on August 18, 1920, ending almost a century of protest.
The legendary crusade for women's suffrage began in 1848 at a historic meeting in Seneca Falls, New York. Following the convention, the demand for the vote became a centerpiece of the women’s rights movement. Activists began raising public awareness and lobbied the government to grant voting rights to women. The lengthy battle culminated in 1920 when the country ratified the Susan B. Anthony Amendment.
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, the Experience Cortland staff will be releasing a blog series celebrating the achievements of Cortland County women throughout history. From an Army general to a women's rights advocate, to a charity executive and Television's first Better Crocker, "Iconic Cortland County Women: Celebrating the Centennial of the 19th Amendment" will showcase the area's rich women's history.
Interested in Cortland County history? Check out the websites of our local museums to unearth some some delightful historic treasures!