Nevada’s Ratification Of 19th Amendment Celebrated

By CATHERINE ELLERTON

Moapa Valley Progress

A large group of Mesquite residents gathered at City Hall last week for a re-enactment of Nevada’s ratification of the 19th Amendment, an event which took place a century ago on Feb. 7, 1920. PHOTO BY CATHERINE ELLERTON/Moapa Valley Progress.

Members and supporters of the Mesquite Women’s History and Culture Center (WHCC) and the general public came together on Friday, Feb. 7 at Mesquite City Hall to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Nevada’s ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution which gave women the right to vote.

During the celebratory event, the signing of the resolution of ratification; which took place 100 years earlier to the day on Feb. 7, 1920; was re-enacted in the main entry at City Hall. Mesquite Mayor Al Litman did the honors acting as as Governor Emmett D. Boyle who was the original signer.

Later Litman stated that he urged “young women to get a good education so you can stand toe to toe with men.”

Litman added that Mesquite has quite a few women represented in City government and staff positions.
The 19th amendment passed both Houses of Congress in 1919 and was sent to the states to be to be ratified. Thirty-six states had to ratify the amendment for it to become law. This was completed in August of 1920.

The amendment came to be after a long struggle by the women’s suffrage movement that lasted almost a century. The Wyoming Territory had granted women the right to vote in 1869 and had elected the first female governor. That year the National Women’s Suffrage Assoc. and the American Women’s Suffrage Assoc. were begun. In 1890, Colorado, Utah and Idaho had suffrage amendments passed in their State Constitutions. Nevada passed a state suffrage amendment in 1914.

Last week’s event in Mesquite was organized by WHCC president Jean Watkins and Secretary Carol Saldovar. Watkins stated that the MWCC is dedicated to empowering both women and men to accomplish great things.

This reenactment was a kick-off to a series of centennial year events being hosted by the WHCC this year. The events will aim to recognize and celebrate great women in history.

To find out more about these events and about the WHCC organization visit whccnv.org.