LibGuides: October 1920: Celebrating the Centennial of Women's Suffrage: Voter Registration Cards

Suffrage Workers: Ruth M. Dadourian

Ruth McIntire Dadourian was a suffragette from her days as a Radcliffe undergraduate. She helped plan the strategy to get the 19th amendment passed in Connecticut, and it was a disappointment to her that Tennessee ratified before our state. Ruth later served as the Director of the Connecticut League of Women Voters, as well as its President and legislative representative. She championed rights of children. Through the years Ruth remained active in local politics, and advocated for Hartford's change to the council-manager form of government. Ruth passed away in 1983 at age 91.

Fanny M. Earl: Registered at Age 80

Fannie was born in Tennessee in 1840 to Col. Seth Clark Earl and Deborah Earl. In the 1860 census they are listed as residents of Illinois, and Fannie's occupation is Librarian. Beginning with the 1880 census, Fannie is living in Hartford, and is listed as the Secretary and Treasurer of Insurance Journal. Per the 1910 and 1920 censuses, she was sharing a home with Antoinette Webster, a widow.

Born Abroad: Which Country?

Esther Gold Freedman lists her birthplace as Palestine. Later census data lists her as either a native of Turkey or Russia. Discrepancies such as this are common when conducting genealogical research. Regardless, her parents were considered Russian, and she spoke Yiddish. Esther arrived in the United States in 1908, and married Max Freedman, who had been here since 1897. By 1920 the couple had four sons. Esther died in 1926 at age 42, and is buried in the Hartford Free Burial Association cemetery.

Born Abroad: American Parents

Today, being born abroad to citizens of this country, regardless of their gender, automatically grants a person American citizenship. In 1920, though, a child acquired the citizenship of their father. Such was the case for Mary L. Hastings, born in present-day Sri Lanka.

Date of Birth and Date of Naturalization

Fannie Earl, with her age written on the card, was the exception. Most women either had no information on that line or, as was the case with Sally Zwillinger (alphabetically the last woman on the list of October 1920 registrants), had the name of her husband. Similarly, in 1920, a woman's immigration status was tied to that of her closest male relative - either her father (even if he had passed away) or her husband.

Tax Exemption

Many of the voter registration cards for men listed their military service as a reason for a tax exemption. While this was uncommon for women, Helen M. Riley Healey, a Bookkeeper in 1920, does list service as an Army Nurse.

Disenfranchisement

The right to vote can also be lost. Olga Lundholm Blasdell came to this country from Norway at age 2. When she registered to vote, she was a saleslady at Sage Allen. In 1925, following arrest for theft, Mrs. Blasdell was disenfranchised. A later article in the Hartford Courant states she later moved to New York and was working in Brooklyn.

Suffrage Workers: Julia M. Hinaman

Julia was a journalist, and was living at the home of Mary Bulkley, Hartford District Supervisor for the CTWA. After the 1920 election, Julia moved to Washington, DC, to work for the newly formed National League of Women Voters. She later returned to Hartford, and started her own business doing publicity for non-profit organizations. She died in 1927, a week after having appendix surgery.

Suffrage Workers: Ruth M. Dadourian

Ruth McIntire Dadourian was a suffragette from her days as a Radcliffe undergraduate. She helped plan the strategy to get the 19th amendment passed in Connecticut, and it was a disappointment to her that Tennessee ratified before our state. Ruth later served as the Director of the Connecticut League of Women Voters, as well as its President and legislative representative. She championed rights of children. Through the years Ruth remained active in local politics, and advocated for Hartford's change to the council-manager form of government. Ruth passed away in 1983 at age 91.

Fanny M. Earl: Registered at Age 80

Fannie was born in Tennessee in 1840 to Col. Seth Clark Earl and Deborah Earl. In the 1860 census they are listed as residents of Illinois, and Fannie's occupation is Librarian. Beginning with the 1880 census, Fannie is living in Hartford, and is listed as the Secretary and Treasurer of Insurance Journal. Per the 1910 and 1920 censuses, she was sharing a home with Antoinette Webster, a widow.

Born Abroad: Which Country?

Esther Gold Freedman lists her birthplace as Palestine. Later census data lists her as either a native of Turkey or Russia. Discrepancies such as this are common when conducting genealogical research. Regardless, her parents were considered Russian, and she spoke Yiddish. Esther arrived in the United States in 1908, and married Max Freedman, who had been here since 1897. By 1920 the couple had four sons. Esther died in 1926 at age 42, and is buried in the Hartford Free Burial Association cemetery.

Born Abroad: American Parents

Today, being born abroad to citizens of this country, regardless of their gender, automatically grants a person American citizenship. In 1920, though, a child acquired the citizenship of their father. Such was the case for Mary L. Hastings, born in present-day Sri Lanka.

Date of Birth and Date of Naturalization

Fannie Earl, with her age written on the card, was the exception. Most women either had no information on that line or, as was the case with Sally Zwillinger (alphabetically the last woman on the list of October 1920 registrants), had the name of her husband. Similarly, in 1920, a woman's immigration status was tied to that of her closest male relative - either her father (even if he had passed away) or her husband.

Tax Exemption

Many of the voter registration cards for men listed their military service as a reason for a tax exemption. While this was uncommon for women, Helen M. Riley Healey, a Bookkeeper in 1920, does list service as an Army Nurse.

Disenfranchisement

The right to vote can also be lost. Olga Lundholm Blasdell came to this country from Norway at age 2. When she registered to vote, she was a saleslady at Sage Allen. In 1925, following arrest for theft, Mrs. Blasdell was disenfranchised. A later article in the Hartford Courant states she later moved to New York and was working in Brooklyn.

Suffrage Workers: Julia M. Hinaman

Julia was a journalist, and was living at the home of Mary Bulkley, Hartford District Supervisor for the CTWA. After the 1920 election, Julia moved to Washington, DC, to work for the newly formed National League of Women Voters. She later returned to Hartford, and started her own business doing publicity for non-profit organizations. She died in 1927, a week after having appendix surgery.

Suffrage Workers: Ruth M. Dadourian

Ruth McIntire Dadourian was a suffragette from her days as a Radcliffe undergraduate. She helped plan the strategy to get the 19th amendment passed in Connecticut, and it was a disappointment to her that Tennessee ratified before our state. Ruth later served as the Director of the Connecticut League of Women Voters, as well as its President and legislative representative. She championed rights of children. Through the years Ruth remained active in local politics, and advocated for Hartford's change to the council-manager form of government. Ruth passed away in 1983 at age 91.

October 1920: Celebrating the Centennial of Women's Suffrage

Hartford Wards/Voting Districts, 1920

Voter Cards

Use the arrows on the side to page through this sample of cards.

Suffrage Workers: Ruth M. Dadourian

Fanny M. Earl: Registered at Age 80

Born Abroad: Which Country?

Born Abroad: American Parents

Date of Birth and Date of Naturalization

Tax Exemption

Disenfranchisement

Suffrage Workers: Julia M. Hinaman

Suffrage Workers: Ruth M. Dadourian

Fanny M. Earl: Registered at Age 80

Born Abroad: Which Country?

Born Abroad: American Parents

Date of Birth and Date of Naturalization

Tax Exemption

Disenfranchisement

Suffrage Workers: Julia M. Hinaman

Suffrage Workers: Ruth M. Dadourian