The 19th Amendment and the League of Women Voters in Rye

By Alison Cupp Relyea, Rye Historical Society

The Rye Historical Society is kicking off spring with a new in-person exhibit, honoring Women’s History Month through a look at the 19th Amendment and the League of Women Voters in Rye. The exhibit is viewable on the second floor gallery space at the Square House through May.

Over two years ago, the Rye Historical Society hoped to have a pop up exhibit exploring local tie-ins with the 19th Amendment in honor of its centennial in 2020 but work was delayed due to COVID. With the work of two dedicated Rye High School interns, each with her own passion for women’s history and Rye history, this exhibit is finally here. The Society thanks to Fiona Degnan for researching the League of Women Voters and to Lili Waters for researching women’s suffrage and the 19th Amendment.

The exhibit begins with a timeline highlighting historic events and the intersection between the 19th Amendment and the League of Women Voters. The exhibit then continues along the tables with a more in-depth look at each topic, including the people that made this history possible. These stories come to life through documents and artifacts from the Rye Historical Society collection with the help of archivist Jake Griffith-Rosenberger and researcher Christine Moore.

Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker and League of Women Voters President Doug French provided their interviews and insights for the exhibit. An online version with additional resources will soon be available.