Special Collections and Archives: Through the Decades with GSU Women: 1910-1919

1910

In the U. S. the number of women attending college has increased 150% since 1900 and women are now 39% of undergraduates and 30 % of faculty.

1912

1912: Juliette Gordon Low founds the first American group of Girl Guides (later, Girl Scouts), in Savannah; the organization encourages self-reliance and resourcefulness, and prepares them for varied roles as adult women.

The Georgia Woman Suffrage League is formed in Atlanta.

1913

GSU is founded as the Georgia School of Technology Evening School of Commerce in order to provide Georgia Tech students training in business.

Alice Paul and Lucy Burns organize the Congressional Union (later the National Woman's Party). Members picket the White House and engage in other forms of civil disobedience, drawing attention to the suffrage cause. Mobbed by abusive crowds along the way, a March 3rd parade of 5000-8000 suffragists in Washington, D.C., draws people away from newly-elected President Wilson's arrival in the city.

1914

World War I begins; the Equal Suffrage Party of Georgia is organized, with branches across the state.

1915

A transcontinental automobile tour by suffragists gathers over a half million signatures on petitions to Congress.

1917

During WWI women move into jobs working in heavy industry, in mining, chemical manufacturing, automobile and railway plants, running street cars, conducting trains, directing traffic, and delivering mail.

Jeannette Rankin of Montana becomes the first woman elected to Congress.

1918

World War I ends.

1919

Annie T. Wise, the principal at Atlanta's Commercial High School, receives a B.S. degree in Commerce from the Evening School. She is the first female graduate in Georgia State University history.

The League of Women Voters is established. In May women are given the right to vote in Atlanta city elections.

The National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs is founded to address the needs of white collar women workers; 26,000 women join the first year.

The House of Representatives passes the woman suffrage amendment, 304 to 89. The Senate passes it with just two votes to spare, 56 to 25.