
Women’s Suffrage Lesson Plans and Links
Five African American Suffragists You Should Know
When the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in August 1920, African American women were denied equal access to the ballot and had to fight for the right to vote until the 1960s. Here are the stories of five African American suffragists you should know.
National Youth Summit – Woman Suffrage: The Ballot and Beyond
The National Museum of American History’s 2019 National Youth Summit looked at woman suffrage as an example of how groups with limited political power have shaped and continue to shape our democracy.
The Suffragist
These videos from the National Museum of American History examine the actions taken by suffragists in 1917 as they fought to win the right to vote. Students learn through the experience of Rebecca, a historical character who is deciding whether to join the movement.
Girlhood (It’s complicated)
Get a behind-the-scenes preview of the upcoming exhibition, “Girlhood (It’s complicated),” with Jean Case, co-chair of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative Advisory Committee; Dr. Kathleen Franz, curator and chair of the National Museum of American History’s Division of Work History; and Megan Smith, senior creative developer in the museum’s Education and Impact team. The exhibition will open at the National Museum of American History this fall, and SITES will travel the exhibition beginning in 2023.
Women’s Liberation Playlist
This playlist of songs of activism and protest was compiled by Meredith Holmgren, Curator of American Women’s Music at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
Because of Her Story: Activism
Progress on every major social issue of our time has its roots in the activism and advocacy of everyday people in the past. Read stories about women activists, explore objects from the Smithsonian’s collections, and dive into other related resources.
PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES
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Did You Know?
Votes For Women: A Portrait Of Persistence
The story of woman suffrage is a story of voting rights, of inclusion in and exclusion from the franchise, and of our civic development as a nation. “Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence” is a free, dynamic poster exhibition from SITES based on the National Portrait Gallery’s exhibition of the same name. For more resources, visit the exhibition website.
HCHS Primary Sources & Lesson Plans
In addition to the Museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions and the research materials available at our Archives and Research Library, the Society also offers field trips and lectures, as well as our annual tour of historic homes every December.

Tours of the Howard County Historical Society’s Museum, Archive, and Library are available for field trips. If you like, we can also present programming at your institution. To work with us to develop a program or field trip that fits your educational needs, please contact us at info@hchsmd.org or 410.480.3250.