Most of the afternoon talks were about the new and ongoing projects with other partnerships so we got to hear about the ways that others are utilizing primary sources in their work. There was a theme of using primary sources to engage students in civics, which ties directly into our work, especially with Election Edge.  Friday morning Victoria and I trekked off on our own to see the LoC’s exhibit on women’s suffrage: Shall Not Be Denied. This was the highlight of the trip for me (other than the food provided by the LoC, which was decadent). The exhibit is beautiful and very informative. They had a lot of primary sources in the exhibit that aren’t currently available online, so I got to see the full range of their collection, which is expansive. The exhibit features a few different “rooms” that are organized chronologically and by theme. I especially enjoyed the section and sources on the opposition the suffragists faced. The anti-suffragists had amazing political cartoons and over-the-top photos that they used to advertise against suffrage. Looking back on the movement it can be difficult to understand why anyone, especially women, were opposed to equal suffrage, but looking through anti-suffrage propaganda provides insight into the fears that so many people had. They also have pillars throughout the exhibit that helps divide the “rooms” and each of the pillars feature information about a different minority leader of the movement. These women are often forgotten or overshadowed by the main characters of the movement such as Susan B. Anthony and Alice Paul, so it was great that they got their own special place within the exhibit and that the LoC is working hard to shed light upon their many accomplishments and contributions. 

          After we had explored the exhibit for a while and bought a few suffrage mementos from the gift shop we headed back to the LoC meetings. The afternoon meetings were all about the Shall Not Be Denied exhibit, so we got to hear about it from the perspective of the curators who built it. In a way it was nice to have the image of the exhibit in mind while they were talking about it, but it also made me want to go look back through it to see the things that I had missed. One thing that I missed while viewing the exhibit were oral history clips from African American suffragist, Mabel Vernon. If I were to go back to the exhibit, I would definitely listen to those and hear her perspective, ideas, and recollections about different aspects of the movement.

          The trip, for me, was a success. It was uplifting to be in a room surrounded by teachers and historians who are so passionate about teaching and engaging their students with primary sources. I’ve basically lived in the suffrage movement for the past few months and I was still able to learn a lot from theirexhibit. I returned home with some new ideas and new sources I wanted to include. I overall felt reinvigorated to provide a great learning tool for teachers and students about a movement that is so important to our history and to women everywhere.

          I look forward to sharing more. You can follow us @2ndAveLearning and see our #Suffrage100 series.